The Mentoring Model

Welcome to Socratics Mentoring where I help students from elementary to graduate school grow into success through a guided academic apprenticeship in which I and student together investigate the many complex study and subject skills academic work demands. Much like the developing artist, athlete, or physician who works with a master in the field, the Socratics Mentoring student learns the rich craft of academic work such as essay writing, test taking, and strategic problem solving through guided transmission with an academic expert. As a mentor, I am much more than a traditional tutor. I design instruction systematically customized to individual growth needs and learning styles and work closely with teachers and parents to take into account the student’s emotional development, family situation, and cultural background.

The aim is to nurture self-directed learning so that the mentee internalizes academic skills and, equipped with a powerful mental tool kit, evolves into his or her own guide. In daily practice the work, often using the Socratic method, is usually subject specific, involving regular homework assignments related to English, history, science, math, or foreign language, but mentoring sessions focus on developing flexible cognitive strategies that can be applied across subject areas long after completing any particular course.

Erik is a genuine person whose ability to help students shows both in our mentoring sessions and in the academic results. He knows how to steer me to discover themes and nuances I had not seen in material and provides a creative approach to improving my information-gathering and organizational skills.

Sam Blau
Lick-Wilmerding High School