While there are many ways to be a tutor, and receive tutoring services, it is important to consider how to maximize the impact of this additional support.

Again, tutoring is different from teaching – but the goals are similar in that the person receiving the support should be learning new skills. So how can we maximize the tutoring situation?

Clarity is Key

Being clear about what the tutoring is for, and what the student will learn, is one of the main ways to ensure tutoring makes a meaningful impact. I usually recommend staying away from “Homework Help” because the homework changes each day. But if you want tutoring for Math or tutoring for Reading fluency, these give all involved a much clearer picture of what will be practiced during the sessions.

Goal-oriented

Tutoring should have a specific goal in mind. Even if the goal shifts over time – as the student learns and grows – there should be specific objectives to measure progress along the way. This helps the tutor by focusing the activities, but it also helps parents/families understand what is, or is not, expected from the tutoring situation. Goal should be clear and also ambitious given the students’ skills.

Contract/Agreement

A “contract” may seem over the top when it comes to tutoring, but laying out clear expectations at the beginning is helpful in preventing issues in the future. How long is the session? What should the tutor (or student) prepare ahead of time? What is the cancellation policy? Who addresses issues?… a contract can help everyone consider these things from the same perspective. It is impossible to predict all potential issues, but having an agreement (signed by all involved) reduces the chances of extra stress down the road.

Student Buy-In

Of course, having the student be motivated to participate helps tutoring go much smoother. By its nature, learning is challenging. As tutors, we want to stretch and push the students to learn new skills. We are there as a support, but it is impossible to avoid all discomfort and build confidence over time. So having the student’s motivation linked to the tutoring activities will increase the chance of a student pushing through discomfort.

While some of these may seem self-explanatory, it is always worth reviewing the foundations of what makes tutoring most effective. There are many tutoring situations – retired teacher, family friend, classmates, etc. – and these four (4) considerations can help provide a foundation for any/all tutoring used. Everyone’s needs are different, so this is not an exhaustive list. These are a few general tips to check for as you work with others – or seek a tutor for someone you know.