Being
Prepared and Organized
Know What is Expected of You As A Tutor:
• Knowledge of and Dedication to Subject. You have been selected to
tutor because you have shown that you're knowledgeable in the
subject area. But, in order to be an effective tutor, you need to
love your subject. The enthusiasm you bring to tutoring is
contagious.
• Exemplary Attendance. You need to be very consistent in showing up
for your tutoring appointments. It's also important to be early (at
least on time) for your sessions. Students depend on you and learn
from your behavior.
• Teach Study Skills. The lesson on the page is often not the most
important lesson to learn. Most students need to improve their study
habits. These should be incorporated into your guidance.
• Remain Flexible. Vary the way you explain and illustrate concepts.
Use a variety of examples, materials, and resources.
• Make Efficient Use of Tutoring Time. Be prepared for your tutoring
sessions. Envision how you'll use time with a student, whether it be
15 minutes or a full hour. Think of the best way to get from point A
to point B. Begin sessions with an introduction and background
information. End sessions with a summary and a plan for the future.
• Put Students in Charge of Their Own Learning. Tutors should never
do a students coursework for them. At all times a tutor should be
thinking of ways and methods for bringing about student
independence. Try to make a student someone who can be successful
without you.
• You Will Benefit More Than Your Students. Tutors learn more from
tutoring than the students they assist. If you take your job
seriously, you will develop skills and understanding that will
enhance your education and life.
• Honesty. Don't be afraid to admit when you don't know the answer
to a question or solve a problem. Nobody knows all the answers. Show
students how to research information.
• Empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of the student who comes to
tutoring. It can be humbling for students to ask for help. Give them
your respect and attention. Never treat students like they're
inferior to you, and never say "It's easy."
Sexual Harassment
As an employee of Lake Tahoe Community College it’s important to be aware
of campus policies and procedures. Please review the
Sexual Harassment policy.
Setting Up the Tutor Session
The better you are prepared; the better you will be able to tutor.
Arrive early for your tutoring session.
•
This provides a good example for your tutees.
• This puts you and your tutees at ease.
• Check in at the tutoring desk or office and complete any
necessary paperwork.
• Reflect on your previous session., and the goals of tutoring.
• Review your notes and plan your approach.
Prepare the tutoring environment.
•
Lighting – move to a place with adequate lighting
• Noise – some students are sensitive to too much noise or
quiet
• Temperature – If you can’t control the temperature, don’t
complain about it, make it work.
• Seating – sit next to your tutee, not across the table.
• Materials – place all materials in front of the student.
This puts them in control of their own work.
• Supplies – have any supplies (i.e. dictionary, charts,
textbooks, models) available before the session.
Meeting Your Client's Needs
Be familiar with the
demographics
of the College. This will give you an understanding of the overall
picture of the institution. Tutors should be aware that student
diversity is wide range and includes a full spectrum of unique
backgrounds which include:
ethnic, religious, educational, economic, health, social, and
psychological, as well as learning style.
The better you meet your client's needs during a session, the
better the session . Asking a few simple questions will allow you to
conduct a
Tutee Assessment.
This illustrates the importance of listening well, remaining
open-minded, and being flexible. But tutors cannot solve all of a
person’s problems. It’s a good idea to have an awareness of
facilities on campus that can help, such as Financial Aid, Child
Care, and Psychological Services.
It’s important for a tutor to be familiar with ingredients for a
good session. Here are some aspects that will help you get
organized:
Five Steps to Being an Effective Tutor. Keep the tone of the
session positive, and remain honest with your tutees. Have a sense
of humor. Have the ability to "lighten up" a situation. Have a good
interaction with your client, a good give-and-take. Employ the
Tutoring Cycle. Know your client's strengths and weaknesses.
Work through your client's strengths to improve his/her weaknesses.
Make your client feel good about him/herself and his/her
accomplishments. End the session on a positive note.
Ending the Tutoring Session
When you are through tutoring a student , rather than just say
goodbye, you should positively assess the work that was done during
the session. Talk to the student about what’s next. Have the student
think about how s/he is going to apply what was learned today to the
overall assignment or class. Rather than automatically setting up
the next tutoring session, ask the student if s/he feels a follow-up
session is necessary. This puts the responsibility where it belongs
– the tutee decides if s/he will follow through. It’s important to
end the session with a positive comment so that the student feels a
sense of hope, as well as welcome to return for further tutoring.
After the student has left, take a few minutes to complete any tutor
paperwork needed. Update your notes regarding this persons
circumstances. You may have learned something new about this
person’s background or condition. Make note of any follow-up you’ll
want to do with this student.
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