More Than Someone Who Knows the Subject

Knowing mathematics or reading well is important, but tutoring also requires the ability to explain a concept in a way that makes sense to the individual student.

Students do not all become confused for the same reason. Sometimes a student needs a different explanation. Sometimes an earlier skill needs to be reviewed. In other cases, the student understands the concept but needs more practice before being able to use it independently.

A tutor therefore needs to pay attention not only to whether an answer is right or wrong, but also to how the student approached the problem and where the reasoning began to break down.

Explain, Guide, Observe and Check

During tutoring, students may need different levels of support at different times. At the beginning of a difficult skill, the tutor may need to explain the concept carefully and work through examples with the student.

Once the student begins to understand, the tutor can reduce the amount of direct help and allow the student to attempt problems independently.

This gives the tutor an opportunity to see whether the student truly understands the concept or was simply following the tutor’s steps.

Students Should Feel Comfortable Asking Questions

Students often arrive at tutoring after feeling confused in school or frustrated by an assignment. Some students may hesitate to admit that they do not understand something.

We want tutoring to provide an environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and try again without feeling that they must already know the answer.

A mistake can be useful because it gives the tutor information about what the student understands and where additional explanation or practice may be needed.

What We Expect From Our Tutors

• Listen to the student. Understanding what the student is confused about should come before rushing into an explanation.
• Explain concepts clearly. Difficult material should be broken into manageable steps when needed.
• Check understanding. A student saying “I understand” is not always enough. Tutors should give students opportunities to demonstrate the skill.
• Encourage active participation. Students should solve, read, write, explain, and think during tutoring rather than simply watch the tutor work.
• Notice repeated difficulty. Recurring mistakes may indicate an underlying learning gap that needs additional attention.
• Support independence. Help should gradually decrease as the student’s understanding and confidence increase.

Different Students Need Different Types of Support

Helping With Homework Without Simply Doing the Homework

Students may bring school assignments to tutoring, and helping them understand difficult homework can be an important part of a session.

However, there is an important difference between helping a student understand an assignment and completing the assignment for the student.

Tutors should use homework as an opportunity to explain the underlying concept, ask questions, and guide the student through the process. The student should remain actively involved in doing the academic work.

Tutors Are Part of a Larger Learning Process

Tutoring works best when the tutor’s observations contribute to a clearer picture of the student’s learning needs.

A tutor may notice that a student repeatedly struggles with the same type of problem, completes a skill easily, becomes confused by a particular prerequisite concept, or is ready to move to more advanced work.

Those observations can help guide what the student should practice next and whether the learning focus needs to change.

Academic Support With Respect and Encouragement

Students are more likely to participate when they feel respected and comfortable admitting that they do not understand something.

Encouragement does not mean telling students that every answer is correct. It means recognizing effort, showing them how to learn from mistakes, and helping them see that difficult skills can improve through practice.

Our tutors should help create an environment where students can work seriously while still feeling comfortable asking for help.