Especially if you live in a metropolitan area, you’re familiar with specialty high schools, wherein the focus centers on one particular area. Some high schools focus on science, while others concentrate on the arts. We’ve written previously about the Common Core, and how it’s the litmus test for admittance to these kinds of schools.
With so much chatter buzzing around among parents and educators on our private Facebook group, it’s obvious that online tutors need to develop skills with respect to specialty schools. This is especially pertinent for students who attend science high schools.
Also know at STEM high schools, these institutions attract students who want to learn about math, engineering, and technology. As a tutor, you can help facilitate that direction with these strategies.
Keep the focus on logical thinking.
STEM high school students think in mostly logical terms. That means, bringing up a movie as an example might not work to your advantage. Instead, use more sterile logic to drill down your lessons.
Even in non-scientific subject matter, the logical approach can be used. For example, when tutoring literature to STEM high school students, ask about the thinking process of the characters and whether or not those characters made proper decisions based on logic.
Don’t forget the imagination.
Just because STEM high school students tend to prefer logical thinking, that doesn’t mean that imagination should be tossed out the window. Without imagination, there is no science! Think of all the authors who inspired NASA. Imagination and logical science are hardwired together.
Upgrade writing and communication skills.
Going into a scientific field such as engineering doesn’t indicate that good writing skills are not a valuable part of the recipe for success. Without proper written communication, students end up behind.