As a tutor, it is essential to take the time to build a meaningful connection with your student and their family. You should be both caring and compassionate, as well as professional and organized. Establishing a good relationship with your student is key to taking your tutoring from good to great. Allow your student to speak freely about the topic so that you can get an understanding of their current knowledge level.
This will make them feel valued and appreciated. It is also important to instill confidence in your student. Don't make them feel bad when they make mistakes, instead focus on what they are good at so that they don't lose motivation. When it comes to setting goals, keep them simple and achievable.
Don't have more than two or three goals in a single lesson and try to get into the main part of your lesson plan within 15 minutes. As a tutor, it is your job to help students learn the problem-solving process and build their confidence and knowledge of the content. When planning your tutoring classes, don't set a strict limit on the time allowed for feedback. Ask about deadlines and their current levels so that you can create shared goals with your student. Punctuality is essential for tutors; being late for class, taking a week to respond to parents' emails, or any other lack of punctuality can be detrimental to your success as a tutor.
To make learning more relevant for students, try to connect it with their interests. It is also important to have a bank of resources and references that you can draw on when teaching. Make sure that you are up to date with your student's grade level and program of study so that you can quickly identify any areas where they may be struggling. Establishing a personal relationship with your student is essential for their success; the more connected they feel to you, the more trust and respect they will have for you. To avoid any misunderstandings during tutoring sessions, be honest with all agreements. When you first meet the student, evaluate what they know and their goals so that you can prioritize what needs to be taught during each session.
Setting goals, creating benchmarks, and planning backwards will help prepare students for academic progress. Taking notes of all the positive aspects of your tutoring will help you repeat successful processes in the future.
