Becoming a Great Tutor

Most people will be a tutor to someone, whether they realize it or not. Whether it's helping a friend with that really hard math question the teacher went over in class, helping your own child study for a test, or helping someone solve any kind of problem, many interactions that a person may have on a daily basis could be considered tutoring. Here are some tips that will help you be a better tutor.

Listen--You won't be able to help someone if you don't know what they are asking. Listen, not only to the question that they ask, but also to any other information about where they are in the process of answering that question.

Read--If the person is asking about a specific problem in a book or for a homework assignment, reread the question yourself to make sure that the person understands what the question is actually asking. Many word problems give extra information, and it is important to know what information is actually important. Read the section in the text book or in the person's notes that relates to the question they are asking about. Even if you think you know the material, it's always a good idea to refresh your memory.

Ask Questions--Find out exactly what the person knows about the problem. Ask leading questions that will help the person solve as much of the problem on his/her own. Avoid just giving the answer. The more the person figures out by his/herself, the more likely the person will remember and understand the information. Guide the person's thought process if he or she gets stuck, but do avoid giving information that they might be able to figure out.

Encourage--Encourage the person and remind them that they are doing a good job. Keep the attitude positive. Also, encourage the person to explain the problem back to you or to another person to make sure that he or she fully understands the material and how to solve the problem. One measure of how well a person knows material is how well he or she can explain it to another person.

Explain 2 or 3 times--If you try to explain something two or three times and the person still does not understand, move on to the next question. If another person is around that could help, have that person try to explain the material. Going beyond three times can sometimes lead to the mood turning negative and the person you are trying to help just getting frustrated. Don't feel bad if the person does not understand. Keep positive and move on.