Troubleshooting: "How to keep my student engaged?"

Question: How can I keep my tired student engaged during the lesson? 

1. Move faster.  

Make each step tighter and quicker.  When flashing cards, turn them as quickly as the student can read them. Work on eliminating your thoughtful pauses as you consider what step or word comes next. 

2. And competition and drama

Add some drama with timed tests when flashing word cards:  “Last time you read 18 cards in one minute. Do you want to try to beat that?”  

Or play games. Get a double set of word cards or sight word cards, and play a quick game of Concentration or Go Fish. 

3. Cut down on tedious exercises. Most students know what they need to work on, so if it’s boring or tiring, it’s often because they’ve mastered it. Try cutting it. (And record this decision in Lesson Log so the other tutor can follow suit!)

3. Take frequent breaks. Your student may have been up since 4:30 am and working hard all day. They may be exhausted. Keep them awake and alert with five-minute breaks.