Greetings

Greetings are the next hurdle on the way to completing a successful tutoring session. Greetings are easy to implement, but are sometimes skipped over in a hurry to get tutoring underway. By ignoring this step, the tutee is not given the opportunity to get comfortable with the tutor. Without this comfort level, the tutee will find it more difficult to disclose information needed to resolve issues. Greetings help establish a rapport that will be carried throughout the session.

Greeting New Tutees

Greeting Returning Tutees

Review Expectations

Greeting New Tutees

Coming to tutoring for the first time can be very intimidating. Because of this, you will need to allow some time for both the tutor and tutee to get to know each other. To do this, start out the session by telling the tutee a little about yourself-- major, hobbies, etc. After letting them know something about you, ask the tutee about him/her self. What is his/her major? Who is his/her instructor? What are his/her hobbies and likes/dislikes? This information can later be used in the session. Relate new material to material in which the student is already familiar. This will increase his/her rate of comprehension. For example, if the tutee likes horses, the tutor might relate a math problem to the furlongs on a race track.

At this point in the tutoring process, it is very important to listen carefully to any questions and concerns your tutee may have. This will aid you in determining the focus of your tutoring session.

Top of Page

Greeting Returning Tutees

When a session starts, we don't mean to say that you should carry on an extensive conversation with a returning tutee. A few minutes of general conversation should suffice to allow both the tutor and tutee to feel comfortable with each other and their expected roles.

Top of Page

Review Expectations

It is also important to review expectations. Tutees should know that:

YOU (Tutor)

You are not a homework machine.

You are not a miracle worker.

If the tutee procrastinated throughout the semester,
cramming with you during finals week will not produce
great results.

You will not know ALL the answers to EVERY question ALL
the time.

You are not an instructor.

THEM (Tutees)

Tutoring is a two-way street, one in which tutees
should play a very active role.

Tutees are expected to be an active participant and contributor in their sessions.

Tutees should bring all relevant materials, including
textbook, the syllabus, class notes, past papers, and past tests to tutoring sessions.

Tutees should come prepared by:

Attending class
Taking notes
Reading assignments
Trying homework problems

Once these guidelines have been established, you should give tutees the opportunity to discuss their expectations from tutoring. Do they want a certain grade in a class? Do they want help with study skills? Are they performing poorly on tests? The answers to these questions will give you a good indication of what role to play in their learning.