Why Students Have A Tutor

What are some reasons students need a tutor? 

• to get “readiness” skills for the next grade level or a new subject—review basics to get off to a great 

• build skills in a specific subject area

• improve study skills

• catch-up and/or fill in gaps in learning

• go deeper in a subject which a student is finding boring/too easy —extra challenge can be very motivating

• a quiet one-on-one learning environment 

• individualized learning approaches and methods other than those being used in the general classroom 

• behind due to physical or mental health issues, family/home issues, grief or other emotional issues

• special needs (physical, emotional, behavioral, intellectual, etc.)

• test anxiety

• build a basis for future learning skills 

A private tutor can help students overcome many difficulties and challenges. Personalized tutoring in your home or the library can improve confidence and study skills. Online tutoring is also effective in improving skills for all subject areas , especially math and science. 

Steps to Academic Success

Middle school, high school and college students may strongly benefit from learning new organizational and time management skills. Strong organizational and time management skills are the basis of success in all academic classes including courses such as biology, math, chemistry, history and English. Techniques such as the Cornell note taking system and making study guides using a highlighter are keys to reducing anxiety for tests and creating a system for good study habits. Mind maps and cognitive mapping create an easy, tangible way for kids to freely start an otherwise daunting writing assignment, essay or research paper.

Organizing teacher handouts in binders seems like a chore, but clearly leads to a smoother process when it comes time to mastering the material for the next big test. Going back to basics such as making flash cards, using post it notes, using color coding and making outlines and study guides of key points and studying the material for 30 minutes a day for three or four nights before and exam or quiz helps convert academic material from short term memory into long term memory. A strong long-term memory increases performance on science, math, Spanish, history and English tests.

Using a planner and tracking small tasks for each short term or long term assignment breaks down overwhelming deadlines into smaller more manageable blocks. Setting a times during study time can help. Taking breaks or a short walk can bring your mind back into sharper focus to get through a long period of studying. All of these organizational and time management techniques lead to reduced stress and higher test scores.

What Makes An Effective Tutor?

Answer: passion for education, excels in math and written language , great communication skills, patience, and a proactive style of teaching.

Each student's learning style is usually very different. Do students prefer to learn through visualization ? For instance, do they have a better understanding when they see an example of how it is done rather than reading the directions? Do they enjoy working with analogies or metaphors in order to put things in perspective? Or, do they understand better when the information is given verbally?

It's important to practice active listening during each tutoring session. Listening not only allows students to express themselves better, but it also helps to see how they are making progress. Active listening focuses on the speaker's words and emotions. This not only ensures that the tutor gives a student their undivided attention, it also encourages them to share their thoughts freely.

Tutors should be aware that the student may seem to understand and grasp the homework, but may not be ready for the test or quiz. Giving a mock quiz or test before the actual real test can really make a difference in how the student performs. Overall , a prime tutor is a great listener, can adapt to a student’s learning style either visually or auditorily, and encourages challenging test taking skills.