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Tips To Tutors |
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Successful tutoring, like teaching, is not an exact Science it’s an Art too; which demands planning, good communication and a lot of skills.
The most important single characteristic you need as a Mentor is a real caring for young people. This feeling must be genuine. |
Here are a few tips to help you develop that special rapport with your students.
- Introduction - Introduce yourself and get to know the student. Don't start tutoring straight away. Find out what they like and dislike, their strengths and weaknesses. Ask questions that the student would like to answer. Build up a rapport so you can avoid "Yes" and "No" responses!
- Give your name on a card, so the student can remember and spell it. Include your telephone number.
- Listening - to the student is more important than lecturing. Begin tutoring at a level which you know that the student is happy with. Be prepared to adjust the work and your style as you learn more about the student's abilities and nature.
- Beginning - Start at the beginning with the easy stuff.
- Constantly monitor the student's understanding of the subject. Does he or she have the necessary skills? Be sure to make notes for later discussion with the parent.
- Look at the body language - this can tell you great deal. Often students let you know what they are thinking and feeling in subtle ways.
- Two way process - get the student to tell you what they know. There is nothing worse than going over something that they have always found easy!
- Be creative and imaginative in your tutoring methods. Look for ways to motivate and involve the student.
- Breaks - No one likes to do the same thing for a long time. Break your tutoring time into nice short slots. Perhaps pause for a drink and a chat in the middle of a long session. The length of the session and the exercises should depend on the student's concentration.
- Variety - Students take in information differently. Some have a visual bias and some have an audio bias. Adapt to the student and be prepared. Use a bit of variety in your tutoring - each new piece of information could be in a different colors. Also consider using videos and interactive CD ROMs with your students.
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On Homework Front |
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Only assign what’s necessary to augment instruction. If you can get sufficient information by assigning only five problems, then don’t assign fifty. Age must be important factor before assigning homework.
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Focus on practice and review. Give students a chance to try new material, further practice skills they have recently learned, and review something they already know.
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Share a list of homework rules before handing out the first assignment. A written explanation of expectations will increase the likelihood that assignments are completed. Let students know that homework is important, and that not doing an assignment will have consequences, which may include lower grades.
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Let students know ahead of time when homework will be assigned. Some teachers always assign homework on specific nights—every Tuesday and Thursday, for example. This lets students and parents know when to expect homework.
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Designate a Homework Collector. Assign a student to gather the papers at the start of class while you take roll or attend to other administrative tasks.
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Have a weekly prize drawing. Students get a ticket for each homework assignment they complete, and at the end of the week, a winner is randomly chosen. (Plus, this activity can serve as the motivation for a probability lesson!)
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Employ a “While You Were Out” form for students to fill out indicating any class periods they missed. (Leave blank copies of this form in a location accessible to students.) When students return these forms, fill out the form indicating the class work, homework, or tests that students missed, and return the forms to students. When students complete the make-up work, they should attach the form. Having a system for missed work will help you with organization, and it will reduce the number of last-minute assignments turned in at report-card time.
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Give constructive feedback. Students are more apt to complete assignments and advance their learning when they get consistent and constructive feedback. Make an effort to provide written comments on student work that lets them know what they did well and what they need to improve.
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