Our Approach
At Glenview Tutors Inc., we believe students learn best not by being told what to think, but by learning how to think for themselves. That’s why we use the 6-step Socratic method — a time-tested approach that helps students build deeper understanding, greater confidence, and long-term academic growth. We also emphasize error monitoring, guiding students to recognize and correct their own mistakes, which strengthens critical thinking, reinforces mastery, and promotes lasting independence.
Socratic Method
The Socratic method is a teaching approach based on asking thoughtful, open-ended questions that lead students to explore ideas, uncover assumptions, and develop deeper understanding. Rather than giving direct answers, the tutor acts as a guide, helping the student reason through problems and arrive at conclusions independently. This method encourages active participation, sharpens critical thinking skills, and fosters long-term learning by helping students understand not just what the answer is, but why it’s true.
MATH EXAMPLE
Step 1- Start With a Guiding Question
Tutor: “What do you notice about this triangle based on what the problem gives us?”
Student: “It’s a right triangle, and we know two sides.”
Step 2- Let the Student Explore
Tutor: “Good. When we know two legs of a right triangle, is there a way to find the third side?”
Student: “Yeah, with that formula... the one with squares.”
Step 3- Ask for Clarification
Tutor: “Can you tell me what the formula is and what it means?”
Student: “It’s a² + b² = c²... it shows how the sides are related.”
Step 4- Apply the Concept Through Questions
Tutor: “Exactly. So if one leg is 6 and the other is 8, how would you set that up?”
Student: “6² + 8² = c²... so 36 + 64 = c².”
Tutor: “And what does that give you?”
Student: “100 = c². So the hypotenuse is 10.”
Step 5- Push for Deeper Understanding
Tutor: “Why do you think this formula works for right triangles but not others?”
Student: “I’m not sure... is it because the right angle creates a specific relationship?”
Tutor: “Yes — the squares of the legs add up only when the triangle has a 90° angle. That’s why the theorem only applies to right triangles.”
Step 6- Reflect and Extend
Tutor: “Could we work backwards? If I told you a triangle had sides of 10, 6, and 8, how could you check if it's a right triangle?”
Student: “I could plug them into the formula and see if it works.”
What the Student Gained:
Mastery of the Pythagorean Theorem
A deeper understanding of why it works
A method for checking triangle types
Stronger reasoning and problem-solving skills
Error Monitoring
Another key part of our approach is teaching students how to recognize and fix their own mistakes — a process known as error monitoring. Instead of simply pointing out what’s wrong, our tutors guide students to revisit their work, identify where the reasoning went off track, and correct it themselves. This builds metacognitive awareness, sharpens attention to detail, and helps students develop academic independence. When students learn to monitor their own thinking, they become more attentive, precise, and independent problem-solvers — not just in class or on tests, but in life as well.
At Glenview Tutors Inc., we believe that true academic growth comes from curiosity, not just memorization. By combining the Socratic method with intentional error monitoring, we empower students to think critically, reflect on their own work, and take ownership of their learning. Whether it’s solving equations, interpreting literature, or exploring scientific principles, our goal is to help students become confident, independent thinkers who understand not just what to do — but why they’re doing it.