Techniques in Tutoring
Explaining vs. Lecturing
Please do not get caught in teaching the student a whole lecture plan. Remember you were hired as a tutor. We do not have that kind of time during our sessions to teach the student! So please, stick to tutoring ;-).
But honestly,
As a tutor, you must recognize your position and stick to it. You will compromise your integrity, the Defining Wizard's integrity, the students instructor’s integrity, and the institutions integrity if you try to take on the role of the instructor. However, as tutors, we play a vital role in a students learning experience.
Simply put, as tutors we are to explain topics as clearly as possible with the intentions of making the subject matter easier to understand - being able to communicate is important!. We answer any questions the student may have concerning their course work, current notes, or study skills. Don’t get caught-up lecturing too much; lecture only when necessary. If you see necessary to lecture, keep your lectures to a minimum. Use the instructor’s notes, the textbook and other resources available to you to reinforce the material to the student. Teach the student how to utilize the resources available to them as well. This will be of much value to them, and serves as a skill they can use away from their tutoring sessions while they study alone.
Gauge Comprehension Techniques
Here are some guidelines you can use to gauge your tutee’s comprehension. Remember, never assume the student understands everything; make them show/prove to you their understanding:
- Frequently ask if they understand.
- Ask them vocabulary words.
- Rephrase your questions differently.
- Make up your own challenging question for the student to answer.
- Tell the tutee to tutor you on the subject: “To Learn, One Must Teach”.
- Give your tutee a quiz ranging from definitions to problem solving.
- Give your student a problem to solve and tell them to justify every step to solve the problem.
- When the tutee tutors you, make sure they use the correct terminology.
- Can the tutee draw a picture, when appropriate?
- See if they can go through the steps of solving the problem in their head w/o writing anything down. (They don’t necessarily have to do the calculations that go with the problems).
Questions and Listening
As a tutor, you should aim to allow the tutee to do most of the explaining while you guide them and actively listening to their responses. This will reinforce the students learning and allow you (the tutor) to identify the students problem areas.
Ask question that require more than a yes/no, (What is the definition?). Ask follow up questions, (What made you think that?). Rephrase questions, repeat questions in a slightly different manner, reword the original question, break original question into smaller parts, or even changing the inflection in your voice while repeating the question are all techniques you may use when asking the students questions.
In addition to asking questions that facilitate the student to explain concepts, reinforcing their ideas, you as a tutor must pay attention and listen carefully. Listen careful enough to read in between the lines. Slow down and concentrate (just as you would like your tutee to do) and determine if he/she grasps the concepts. Can he/she explain the concept to you easily, or is it difficult for them? What does their body language say? Answers to these questions require you as the tutor to listen carefully and observe purposefully.
Drawings and Diagrams
There is no better way to convey information than to draw a picture. Especially when it comes to word problems where you have to completely understand what the problem is, draw a picture to make sure the tutee understands all parts of the problems. For some tutees that are more hands on, you may allow them to draw the diagrams. If the tutee could see how these diagrams are drawn and used (or even if they could learn to draw these diagrams for themselves), this will reinforce their learning.
Tutee Summarizing Notes
Frequently, require your tutee to give you a summary over concepts that you have covered. Can the student give you a report with ease, or are they having problems remembering the concepts when asked to repeat the steps? Are the steps that he’s giving satisfactorily, meaning they are detailed and in order? Can they repeat the steps to you in their own words?
This summary will allow you to determine if the tutee understands the concepts well enough to move on to other topics.
Using Reinforcements
Reinforcements give the tutee a sense of accomplishment. Continue giving the student an incentive to do more by noticing their successes as well as their mistakes. When giving reinforcement you don’t want to be facetious about the student’s gain.
As far as reinforcements, there are verbal reinforcements: “Good job on________” or “You are doing much better with ___________”.
There are also non-verbal reinforcements: High-fives, head nods, thumbs-up, facial expressions—smiles, or surprised look. Go ahead and get your Oscar DW Tutor!
Try some of these reinforcements during your next session.
Silence
Silence can be used in your tutoring sessions to allow your tutee to think critically and become more independent. Although it may be uncomfortable for both the tutor and tutee to sit in silence, it can be beneficial if used appropriately in your session. Incorporating silence into your sessions can be difficult and shouldn’t be forced. As a tutor, anticipate when your tutee is utilizing the silence, and be patient while they sort their thoughts out; remember, the silence is more beneficial to them, not to you. When you ask a question, wait for an answer; don’t be disturbed by the silence. 8-15 seconds my pass before you get a response from your tutee; just relax until they begin to respond to your questions. Silence is Golden.
Your Tutee Must Do The Work
As tutor’s you should be working yourself out of a job. If the student is unable to do his/her homework unless you are there, then your duties toward this student are incomplete. Once the student becomes more independent in doing their work, then and only then can you consider your job complete.
You accomplish this task by restoring control to the tutee. Help them develop their skills in utilizing all their resources as you coach them during the tutoring session. Let them open their books and look up terminology! Let them write out the problem! Let them draw the diagram! Let them write out the steps of the solution! Let them have control of their learning experience! Let them do for themselves always! Tutoring just allows students to work in front of you while you aid them in utilizing their learning resources and developing study strategies. The student will be able to succeed academically without you if they know how to use their resources, and this is our philosophy: “To tutor you don’t even need a pencil”.
Back - Next: Learning Styles
Please do not get caught in teaching the student a whole lecture plan. Remember you were hired as a tutor. We do not have that kind of time during our sessions to teach the student! So please, stick to tutoring ;-).
But honestly,
As a tutor, you must recognize your position and stick to it. You will compromise your integrity, the Defining Wizard's integrity, the students instructor’s integrity, and the institutions integrity if you try to take on the role of the instructor. However, as tutors, we play a vital role in a students learning experience.
Simply put, as tutors we are to explain topics as clearly as possible with the intentions of making the subject matter easier to understand - being able to communicate is important!. We answer any questions the student may have concerning their course work, current notes, or study skills. Don’t get caught-up lecturing too much; lecture only when necessary. If you see necessary to lecture, keep your lectures to a minimum. Use the instructor’s notes, the textbook and other resources available to you to reinforce the material to the student. Teach the student how to utilize the resources available to them as well. This will be of much value to them, and serves as a skill they can use away from their tutoring sessions while they study alone.
Gauge Comprehension Techniques
Here are some guidelines you can use to gauge your tutee’s comprehension. Remember, never assume the student understands everything; make them show/prove to you their understanding:
- Frequently ask if they understand.
- Ask them vocabulary words.
- Rephrase your questions differently.
- Make up your own challenging question for the student to answer.
- Tell the tutee to tutor you on the subject: “To Learn, One Must Teach”.
- Give your tutee a quiz ranging from definitions to problem solving.
- Give your student a problem to solve and tell them to justify every step to solve the problem.
- When the tutee tutors you, make sure they use the correct terminology.
- Can the tutee draw a picture, when appropriate?
- See if they can go through the steps of solving the problem in their head w/o writing anything down. (They don’t necessarily have to do the calculations that go with the problems).
Questions and Listening
As a tutor, you should aim to allow the tutee to do most of the explaining while you guide them and actively listening to their responses. This will reinforce the students learning and allow you (the tutor) to identify the students problem areas.
Ask question that require more than a yes/no, (What is the definition?). Ask follow up questions, (What made you think that?). Rephrase questions, repeat questions in a slightly different manner, reword the original question, break original question into smaller parts, or even changing the inflection in your voice while repeating the question are all techniques you may use when asking the students questions.
In addition to asking questions that facilitate the student to explain concepts, reinforcing their ideas, you as a tutor must pay attention and listen carefully. Listen careful enough to read in between the lines. Slow down and concentrate (just as you would like your tutee to do) and determine if he/she grasps the concepts. Can he/she explain the concept to you easily, or is it difficult for them? What does their body language say? Answers to these questions require you as the tutor to listen carefully and observe purposefully.
Drawings and Diagrams
There is no better way to convey information than to draw a picture. Especially when it comes to word problems where you have to completely understand what the problem is, draw a picture to make sure the tutee understands all parts of the problems. For some tutees that are more hands on, you may allow them to draw the diagrams. If the tutee could see how these diagrams are drawn and used (or even if they could learn to draw these diagrams for themselves), this will reinforce their learning.
Tutee Summarizing Notes
Frequently, require your tutee to give you a summary over concepts that you have covered. Can the student give you a report with ease, or are they having problems remembering the concepts when asked to repeat the steps? Are the steps that he’s giving satisfactorily, meaning they are detailed and in order? Can they repeat the steps to you in their own words?
This summary will allow you to determine if the tutee understands the concepts well enough to move on to other topics.
Using Reinforcements
Reinforcements give the tutee a sense of accomplishment. Continue giving the student an incentive to do more by noticing their successes as well as their mistakes. When giving reinforcement you don’t want to be facetious about the student’s gain.
As far as reinforcements, there are verbal reinforcements: “Good job on________” or “You are doing much better with ___________”.
There are also non-verbal reinforcements: High-fives, head nods, thumbs-up, facial expressions—smiles, or surprised look. Go ahead and get your Oscar DW Tutor!
Try some of these reinforcements during your next session.
Silence
Silence can be used in your tutoring sessions to allow your tutee to think critically and become more independent. Although it may be uncomfortable for both the tutor and tutee to sit in silence, it can be beneficial if used appropriately in your session. Incorporating silence into your sessions can be difficult and shouldn’t be forced. As a tutor, anticipate when your tutee is utilizing the silence, and be patient while they sort their thoughts out; remember, the silence is more beneficial to them, not to you. When you ask a question, wait for an answer; don’t be disturbed by the silence. 8-15 seconds my pass before you get a response from your tutee; just relax until they begin to respond to your questions. Silence is Golden.
Your Tutee Must Do The Work
As tutor’s you should be working yourself out of a job. If the student is unable to do his/her homework unless you are there, then your duties toward this student are incomplete. Once the student becomes more independent in doing their work, then and only then can you consider your job complete.
You accomplish this task by restoring control to the tutee. Help them develop their skills in utilizing all their resources as you coach them during the tutoring session. Let them open their books and look up terminology! Let them write out the problem! Let them draw the diagram! Let them write out the steps of the solution! Let them have control of their learning experience! Let them do for themselves always! Tutoring just allows students to work in front of you while you aid them in utilizing their learning resources and developing study strategies. The student will be able to succeed academically without you if they know how to use their resources, and this is our philosophy: “To tutor you don’t even need a pencil”.
Back - Next: Learning Styles