Characteristics of Successful Tutors
Successful tutors:
- Are on time and prepared.
- Always find out your student’s strengths and weaknesses before starting the class.
- Encourage the student to develop good examples/discover examples provided in the text.
- Use questioning rather than answering strategies.
- Are able to explain concepts from several different angles.
- Eliminate the weaknesses and channelize the strengths.
- Make learning fun for the student rather than intimidating.
- Assess the student’s progress continuously and discuss the assessment with the student.
- Involve the parents.
- If one approach does not work, don’t give up. Try an alternate approach.
- Insist on learning the basics really well before moving on.
- Practice is the key to success. Do as many revisions as possible.
Successful Tutors DO NOT:
- Expect the student to hear and remember everything they’ve said.
- Say, “This is easy” or use any other phrase that might imply the student is not smart.
- Put down or criticize the student or their abilities.
- Start a session without understanding the student’s needs.
- Go by the approach that worked best for you. Rather, go by the approach that best suits the student.
- Intimidate the student. He has had enough stress at school. Try to be a friendly guide more than an instructor.
- Get upset if you don’t get the desired results. Instead, motivate your student to get better.
- Solve the problem or give the answer. The student should be holding the pencil.
- Criticize a teacher or the assignment.
- Go too fast.
- Waste the student’s time talking about themselves.
