Let's Talk Tutoring!

2/15/2019

Welcome to the discussion! Use this space to discuss anything tutor related. Leave a comment. Ask a question. Share your stories. This space is for you, whether or not you are a member of the NTA.

43 Comments

Laurel Nelson-Cucchiara

2/28/2019 06:00:25 am

Hello!

I have been a Marketing Communications Copywriter for 18 years. Before that, I was a high school English teacher. At this point in my career, I would like to start giving back to people by becoming
a tutor and sharing what I have learned about writing for clarity and impact.

What advice can you provide about defining a path for reaching my goal?

Kind regards,
Laurel Nelson-Cucchiara
LNC Consulting

Joe Caniglia

3/4/2019 07:32:48 am

Hi Laura:

I commend you for wanting to assist others. You might also want to check out becoming a part - time tutor at one of the local colleges in you area. I too was a public school teacher. After a while, I went to work in the business world. I missed teaching, and wanted to re- enter the field, but at a higher level. I began tutoring at a local community college, where I am now a tenured Associate Professor. I hope this helps you.

Kaitlin Cruit link

5/10/2019 02:16:38 pm

Hi Joe,

I would love to become a professor but currently only hold a Bachelor's Degree. Were you able to become an Associate Professor with only a Bachelor's Degree? Or do you have a Masters or PhD? And do you have any recommendations for someone who would like to teach and tutor at the same time?

Thank you!
Kaitlin

Ishmael Brown Jr link

3/15/2019 08:32:20 am

Hi Laurel,

I am glad that you have considered becoming a tutor. It is considered a highly noble profession, and outside of the classroom, students are provided a significant amount of educational support to students of all ages.

Some questions you may want to address to yourself as you enter into the tutoring realm are:

1. What are my strengths and weakness as a tutor?

2. What am I comfortable with tutoring?

3. Do I want to tutor temporarily or long-term?

These questions will help you define your path. Once you answer these questions, you may have a better idea of how you would like to proceed. A suggestion is to start tutoring students at the level you comfortable with by "advertising" at the local schools or school district. You are not necessarily advertising (because that's actually against most school district policies), but some school districts have what is called a "private tutor list" which comprises of tutors and tutoring companies that parents can seek out for assistance.

Hopefully this helps. Welcome to the NTA, Laurel!

TRISTAN A MATLOCK link

8/17/2019 10:59:36 pm

Hello everyone, I am currently a student at TCC in my first year of college. I want to start a tutoring service that focuses on teaching students in a way that they learn the most efficiently.

I am going off of David Kolb’s learning style theory and wanted to make it clear that it is better for the student to use their learning style as a stepping stone to eventually learn in all 4 styles.

Its called Ez-A I already have a website up where I hope to host this service as well, feel free to explore! https://ezadotonline.wpcomstaging.com/

But the problem is that I don’t have any tutors on standby and it’s just me at the moment. And wanted to know if anyone had any advice, guidance or even questions (Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any help is appreciated!)

But yes, I'm glad to have stumbled upon a community that cares about helping the development of students and helping them better themselves in general. It's been a pleasure!

Lidya Solomon

10/12/2019 10:51:33 am

Hello,

I’m currently a sophomore Math major at ORU. If you want someone to join your team, I’m open to it. I was looking for working in tutoring for next few years, so I’d love to join your team!

Sincerely,

Lidya Solomon

Sean Griffis link

3/22/2020 04:04:37 am

I am interested in the math tutor certification. How much does the membership cost to a student who took the semester off, just 1? I’m a junior in applied Mathematics at Northeastern Illinois University. I tutored as a peer leader in basic mathematics, algebra, and Calculus. I have over 100 hours of tutor time with NEIU. I go back summer semester. I still have access to my student email and portal. Can I still qualify for the student discount?

Sean Griffis link

3/22/2020 03:59:20 am

I have copyrighted ebook material I need rewritten. I’ve been looking for someone with a lot of experience to guide me in the right direction. Any input on how I go about making my own copyright ebook based partly on another copyrighted ebook?

Brandy Daingerfield

3/4/2019 05:13:12 am

Hi, Laurel!

From my experience, students appreciate the connection of learning to real-world experiences. I've heard students groan about all types of writing saying things such as, "it isn't like I'm going to need this in the 'real world.'" Your extensive professional experience will be vital to students trying to connect their learning to its greater purpose as they grow academically and professionally.

As online learning has gained popularity (I'm an online student myself), so has the need for writing support. In the various online programs I've participated in, writing has been the primary method of illustrating learning objective achievement (through discussion board posts and weekly essay prompts, for example.) Helping students understand the importance of clear, concise writing in all forms, even everyday writing (i.e. emails, scholarship applications, discussion posts, etc.) will assist them in connecting their learning to their professional growth. Your experience with your clients could provide real-world examples of this so that your students begin to understand the "why" behind academic writing.

It is also important to never stop learning; students look to their educators as examples and all educators are lifelong learners. We continually learn through training, our own academic journeys, and our students. If your student recognizes that you are not only willing, but also excited, to learn from them just as they will learn from you, then you will likely (from my experience) connect to that student, thus building an authentic and safe learning environment.

A quick side note--I do not run my own private tutoring business, but I know several board members do have their own private programs and can provide fantastic information about how to market yourself as a tutor. Additionally, if you complete your training and certification through the NTA, you will be added to the NTA's database of tutors so that potential students can find you through the website.

I am sure the other board members will provide feedback as you move forward and define your path, but I guess my key bit of advice is to always remember to connect the student's learning to application in real-world scenarios and always be open to learning opportunities with your students.

Welcome to the NTA, Laurel!

DR. FAUZI KHAN

12/18/2019 05:02:35 pm

Hi Laurel, I just joined the NTA! I am researching into starting a tutoring business and would love some networks to consult with.
Could you please forward the contact info of those board members who have their own private programs and can provide me information about how to market myself as a tutor. I would really appreciate it!
Thanks!

Brandy Daingerfield

12/18/2019 06:47:50 pm

Dr. Khan,

Welcome to the NTA! If you'll look in the "About" tab above on our website, you will see a drop down menu to contact members of the NTA's Executive Board of Directors. You can use those links to contact us directly. Alternatively, you can email me at ntatutor@ntatutor.com and I am happy to point you in the right direction.

NTA Board, for those of you with private practices, do you mind chiming in on this thread? Thanks!
Brandy

Adrian N

6/4/2019 08:56:49 pm

Hello,

I am currently an undergraduate student undertaking studies in aviation. I have currently served one and a half years with my institution as a peer tutor, and I was hoping to further hone my skills in the summer through providing my assistance to students in the online world.

Upon browsing through the NTA's website, I am certainly interested in possibly applying as a member to undergo certification and webinar training. However, I am attending my flight training I am restricted to tutoring as a freelancer upon my own schedule. As such, I was hoping if there could be any advice from members before I commit to the NTA membership.

I understand that this is one of the better well known tutoring associations in the online world, and I would be glad to become a member.

Regards,

Adrian N

Brandy Daingerfield

6/20/2019 05:33:10 pm

Adrian,

I’m sorry I missed this! We are so glad you found our website and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
I personally started out with an NTA membership (over five years ago) and it was one of the best decisions I ever made! I think I had a membership for about a month before I took the plunge and started taking trainings. I set a goal of taking one webinar a month and I think I took them all within two months. LOL (I am an extreme overachiever….LOL) The webinars are easy to access through the website. I would recommend starting with the Basic Tutor Webinar; this would give you an overview of the fundamentals of tutoring and will serve as a foundation for the subsequent tutor trainings.
If you wanted to start with just membership—that’s great, too! Membership has a plethora of benefits including:

*Receive an official personalized membership certificate.
*Qualify to apply for NTA sponsored research grants and scholarships
*Ask for a professional mentor.
*Receive online access to the NTA newsletter
*Attend annual conference.
*Eligible to receive discounts on NTA products and services when advertised
*20% discount from Legal Shield
*One month free from Tutor Cruncher
*One free premium level membership from Cram.com
And much more! Check out this link for details: https://www.ntatutor.com/join.html

I hope this helps you in your investigation; if you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to me via this link: https://www.ntatutor.com/contact--board-of-directors.html and clicking the hyperlink next to my name.

Have a great night, and we hope to welcome you to the NTA family soon!

Brandy

Janellie

6/20/2019 04:23:29 pm

Hey there, I'm a little confused. I became a NTA member, yay, but I want to become a certified tutor. How do I go about that? Step one was to become a member, now step two is to take courses, however what course? Where would I take them? What are the costs?

:( Help, please.

Brandy Daingerfield

6/20/2019 05:09:03 pm

Janellie,

Welcome to the NTA family! There are basically six steps in the certification process. You've completed step one (YAY!!) Next, you need to take the training. The training you take will depend on the level of certification you seek. For example, if you want to become a Basic Level Certified Tutor, you would need to take the Basic Tutor Webinar and Learning Preferences: The Holistic Dialogue Webinar. Both of these can be accessed on the website here: https://www.ntatutor.com/recorded-webinars.html. Each webinar comes with an assessment; if you pass the assessment with an 80% or higher, then you will have successfully completed the training portion of the certification process. Next, you would complete the certification application form (found here: https://www.ntatutor.com/certification-application-form-and-checklist.html). There is a checklist so you can make sure you have all of the requirements for certification. :) Then, you upload the documentation required on the application checklist. Next, you would complete the background check form (and pay the associated fees) as directed on the certification application (use package code NG50). Lastly, you would pay the certification fee.

That's it! :) I think you will enjoy the webinars--I recommend starting with the Basic Tutor Level Webinar and then the Learning Preferences Webinar. These will give you a solid foundation on NTA training and are the fundamental learning objectives you need for all levels of tutor certification.

Good luck and, again, WELCOME! :)
Brandy

Constance

7/7/2019 02:16:21 pm

Hi, Brandy,

Once you complete your training in as a basic level tutor, can the school districts use these certifications to qualify for their positions?

Brandy Daingerfield

7/18/2019 12:19:59 pm

Constance,

Good question and I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner--I "unplugged" for our family vacation and am catching back up on what I missed while we were disconnected computers. :)

NTA certifications are nationally recognized and some school districts use these are requirements for their positions. However, I would check with your state/district/school board/etc to see what their requirements are. Where I live, tutor/coach/mentor certifications are encouraged, but not required for most positions, though some positions require a state educator's license as well as tutor/coach/mentor certification. I suppose it would depend on the position you are looking at and your state/district's specific requirements.

Having national certifications on your resume will illustrate to potential employers that you have specific training on tutoring and would not hurt your chances in the least! :) Check out this link on our website for 15 reasons to hire NTA certified tutors! https://www.ntatutor.com/fifteen-reasons-to-hire-nta-certified-tutors.html

Good luck and keep us posted!
Brandy

Constance

7/23/2019 02:11:30 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Brandy. I will definitely keep you posted.

Allison Hester

7/10/2019 06:57:36 am

I have a student who requested personal one on one tutoring with me. She is from Italy and has a strong Italian accent. She said she does not want fluency or pronunciation help but wants to communicate more effectively with her coworkers and in everyday situations. She wants information on phrasal verbs and idioms and to understand American(me) when we speak. Any advice will be appreciated. I really think she needs some fluency and grammar help, as it's difficulty to understand her and she speaks word by word, stumbles over her words and she seems to believe this is ok.

Joseph Pascale

7/15/2019 08:08:53 am

Hi Allison,
I have worked with students in similar situations in the past. My experience has been that they tend to have a pretty good grasp of English, but there are little things that come up in conversation that they are unable to follow. Because of this, students have appreciated having someone with whom they can practice their conversation skills and ask questions. I would encourage her to keep a notebook where she writes down unfamiliar words or phrases she hears in conversation that she would like to learn. You could use free resources to develop lesson plans such as these: http://blog.tesol.org/6-websites-for-learning-english-idioms/ or purchase an English language learning workbook if you wanted something more structured to work from. It is always best to get as much feedback from your student as possible so that you can tailor your lessons toward what she feels will be helpful. Encourage her to bring in questions and topics to each session, and I suspect you will both find the tutoring sessions to be highly productive. Best of luck to you both!
- Joseph

Allison

7/18/2019 09:25:48 am

Thank you for your feedback. This is very help and the resources you mentioned are perfect.

Allison

Lara Giles

7/22/2019 09:54:56 pm

I’m not sure what I need to do aside from becoming a member, I know that much but, to teach my children from pre k - 6th grade is it basic level, intermediate? I am considering homeschooling my kids until they get into junior high and high school. I’ve already started teaching my kids for preschool, I have a curriculum of my own, we turned our family room into our home preschool, I take them to places like the library for events and socializing. We do family field trips. My 4 year old has been reading phonics and easy reader books on his own for months now, he’s got a solid grasp on math concepts that his 6yr old cousin hasn’t learned yet. We have another little one who’s barley toddling around that I’ve started teaching. We’ve enrolled our 4 yr old into a private school for Pre-K and he’s bored, granted it’s currently the summer program and more about making friends and having fun but, they do have weekly lesson plans they send to us parents. However, we’re really considering teaching the kids at home for awhile. I just don’t really know how to go about it so I can legally do it and their educations will be recognized.

Giles

7/23/2019 03:26:18 pm

I did some poking around online and I’m just more confused now. I read that if I join a charter school I don’t have to be a member of anything but the school and I don't need credentials.

Brandy Daingerfield

7/23/2019 04:28:45 pm

Hi, Lara!

I have a couple of questions--are you looking to become a certified tutor or to homeschool your children? If you are looking to become a certified tutor through the National Tutoring Association, we can definitely help you with that here. The first step, as you mentioned, is becoming a member. Then, you'll want to start with Basic Tutor Certification--that information can be found here: https://www.ntatutor.com/procedures-and-guidelines-for-individuals.html. If you have more questions about that process, I am happy to help!

I'm not familiar with homeschooling, personally, as both of my kiddos attend public schools; however, I would recommend seeking out a homeschool forum or blog online. From my limited knowledge, I'm sure you'll need to research your state's requirements for homeschooling; there will probably be some required state-mandated test the students would need to take at the conclusion of the academic year. I know my children's school district has a link for homeschool parents on their website. I'm sorry I cannot be of more assistance on the subject of homeschooling, but I'm sure you can find a plethora of information online! :)

I hope this helps!
Brandy

Carol Baber

8/5/2019 08:51:21 am

Hello,

My name is Carol Baber. I live in Frederick, MD. I am a member of the National Tutor Association. I am retired. I worked as a medical transcriptionist for many years. I have an Associate degree in Medical Secretarial.

Since I am retired, I would really like to tutor reading to any age group that would be available to me. I think it is imperative that people of all ages be able to read English in order to succeed in the US.

I am also interested in tutoring the poor. It would be very rewarding to me to see a student get up to speed in their classwork and succeed at the dream for their life.

Reading is one of my hobbies. I really enjoy learning about different people, countries, animals, etc.

Can you help me by telling me where to start. Thanks.

Carol Baber

Brandy Daingerfield

8/6/2019 12:20:59 pm

Carol,
Welcome to the NTA family! I would recommend starting with the Basic Tutor Certification. As you are already a member, you would start with the training; required training webinars for Basic Tutor Certification are Basic Tutor Training and Learning Preferences: The Holistic Dialogue. These are two of my FAVORITE webinars, and will give you a great starting foundation. Once you finish your training and the accompanying assessments, you would need 10 hours of documented tutoring, if you do not already have that. All of the details for certification can be found here: https://www.ntatutor.com/procedures-and-guidelines-for-individuals.html.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Brandy

Zach Fabry

8/6/2019 12:09:19 pm

Hello! I have a question on the proper order of things; do the documented hours of tutoring have to come after membership and training, or can I get credit for hours that I have completed in the past? I want to make sure I start with the proper certification level.

Thank you,
Zach Fabry

Brandy Daingerfield

8/6/2019 12:37:04 pm

Zach,

Great question! You are absolutely allowed to use past tutoring hours in your tutoring documentation. :) For example, if you already have 10 hours of documented tutoring, you can work toward the Basic Tutor Level of certification. If you want to go to the next level, you have two options: 1. Go ahead and complete the requirements and earn certification at the Basic Level, continue tutoring, and then submit within two years for the next level (Intermediate requires 30 hours of documented tutoring). 2. Complete the training required for Intermediate level certification and continue accumulating the required hours for that level.

I recommend working on the initial certification for which you already have the required hours completed. That way, you have the benefit of being a nationally certified tutor, and you can also move to a higher certification level during the two-year period of your initial certification at no charge for the certification upgrade.

To begin the process of tutor certification, you would start with NTA membership. After that, you would complete the required training for the level of certification you are working toward. Upon successful completion of the webinars and the accompanying assessments, you can then apply for certification. Specific information on the steps to certification can be found here: https://www.ntatutor.com/procedures-and-guidelines-for-individuals.html.

I hope this helps, and if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Have a happy Tuesday!
Brandy

Laurie McKay

8/10/2019 01:57:39 pm

Hi -

I've worked as a Biology instructor for about 15 years. I've mainly worked as an instructor in the community college system in NC. I've also taught biology, chemistry and some math in the Virginia Governor's Schools for dual enrollment credit.

I was certified in gifted education while working in Virginia and I have about 15-18 hours of graduate coursework in education, and a MS in science (biological oceanography), but I do not have a teaching certification.

I would like to do private tutoring in my area - starting with general biology and possibly adding disciplnes from there.

I just had two questions:
1. I've worked a lot with students - in classrooms, office hours and independent studies. How does that count with regards to experience toward certification?

2. I joined the NTA but I'm unsure how to register so I can log in. Will that info be sent via mail?

Thank you!

Laurie

Queen Smith link

8/13/2019 06:04:27 am

Good Morning,
I am interested in becoming a Tutor for Preschool and Elementary school level students, k-2nd grade. My goal is to prepare and set the Foundation for Reading Achievements. I am a retired Kindergarten Para educator of 23 years. I have just recently made a decision to introduce young students to the world of Reading! So my initial goal is to become a Reading Tutor, to prepare and open their imaginations ! I will need advice Procedures and Protocols to get started with achieving my Goal. This website demonstrates the necessary training needed! I will continue further research with NTA. thank you for your time, I look forward to future solutions!

Kayla

10/7/2019 11:30:25 am

Has anyone ever heard of creating a volunteer tutoring program for community college students? Is there a certain point where tutors should be paid for their services rather than volunteer their hours? Especially if the program expects tutors to help in high level math and science courses?

If anyone knows of a program already in existence like this - please let me know. I'd love to see how it works out for them.

Tristan

10/9/2019 12:18:50 am

Ah, I’m currently working on starting a program just like this, but unfortunately it’s just me at the moment and it still is in it’s early stages. If you’re interested I’ll get you up to speed and hopefully one day you’ll get to meet Alice Kolb (she helped develop the ELS theory).

Zaily Peterson

11/26/2019 11:10:33 am

Hi, I am just a high school graduate, four years ago, and I was thinking about becoming a tutor, but I don’t know where to get started. What degrees do I need or classes to take? Like how would I get there? Thanks it seems like you have really good answers and I was thinking I could pursue this, I love teaching all ages and different studies, I’m just not sure where to start. Thanks!

Brandy Daingerfield

11/26/2019 04:29:14 pm

Hi, Zaily!

My first recommendation would be becoming an NTA member. :) Here is the link if you want to take that step. https://www.ntatutor.com/join-the-nta.html

Next, if you are interested in becoming a certified tutor, I would recommend starting with Basic Tutor. There are two required trainings for Basic Tutor Level Certification: Basic Tutor Training and Learning Preferences: The Holistic Dialogue. Upon successful completion of the webinar, you could then apply for certification. You will need the following:
1. Current NTA Membership in good standing
2. High School Diploma required (Peer Tutors in high school must be at least 16 years old)
3. 10 hours of documented tutoring
4. Competency proven through the following:
Successful completion of Basic Level Tutor Webinar.
Successful completion of Learning Preferences Webinar.
5. Payment of the appropriate NTA Certification fee.

The general steps for certification (and all of the necessary links) can be found here: https://www.ntatutor.com/certification.html.

In a nutshell, that's how you'll get started! If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through the "Contact the Board of Directors" under the About tab above!

We hope you decide to join the NTA! :)
Brandy

Carol Heavern

1/20/2020 09:49:47 am

My tutor supervisor has asked me to consider upgrading from my current Advanced Level Tutor certification so I become eligible to assist her with training other tutors at our college. We are all going into a higher level of Educational Technology, and I am already a Microsoft Certified Educator (21st Century Ed Tech Education.) To become a Master Tutor requires 5 yrs experience which i will have in the next school yr 2020-21.

I read that I need the NTA Adv Level Academic Coaching & Adv Level Mentor training for Master Tutor. Am I required to complete the Basic Level Coaching & Basic Level Mentor courses as pre-requisites first before I can take the Advanced versions?

Thank you, Carol Heavern

Ishmael Brown Jr link

3/23/2020 11:51:38 am

Hi Carol,

If I understand your question correctly, you are inquiry if the prerequisites of Basic Level Coaching and Mentor courses are required in order to take the Advanced Level of each. If that is your question, yes, they are required. There is no particular order, meaning you can complete the tutor certification then go to the mentor certification, but in order to complete the Advanced (of any course), you must have completed the Basic.

I hope this answers your question.

Ishmael

Tracy Hudson link

2/5/2020 09:40:29 am

Hi!

I recently accepted a position as coordinator of my 2-year college's tutoring center and also just joined the NTA. As I get to know the tutors in my center, I'd like to conduct observations of them to provide constructive feedback for them. Do any of you have a tutor observation document that you think is particularly good for this sort of thing?

Thanks so much!

Ishmael Brown Jr link

3/23/2020 11:47:22 am

Hi Tracy,

Would the document you are inquiry about be for the tutor or the client?

I have one (for a tutor to self-observed him/herself). If you would like to email me (ibrown@infinexted.com), I can send it to you.

Allison Hester

2/15/2020 07:22:32 pm

I have been tutoring online and at a local community center for over 2 years and have several private students that I've obtained.
I want to provide my students with a quality tutoring experience but and build a good curriculum but I feel my students are now asking me more than I can deliver for the price I am receiving.
I enjoy tutoring students in speaking/conversation for the IELTS and other exams but I also enjoy helping students improve their speaking skills through pronunciation and technique exercises such as learning linking, pausing, stretching, stress and intonation techniques and understanding how to speak the correct sounds. I want to be able to combine this with my love for reading and conversation instruction as well. I believe students need conversation to effectively communicate both written and orally. How can I incorporate my 3 passions: 1)IELTS speaking/pronunciation, 2) techniques and 3)reading in a curriculum that my students will see beneficial in building their overall speaking confidence? Any help will be appreciated.

Susan Oliver link

2/20/2020 11:10:22 am

I am brand new to NTA.

Is there an assessment process so I can gauge where I stand for certification preparation??

Ishmael Brown Jr link

3/23/2020 11:43:50 am

Hi Susan,

Unfortunately, we don't have an assessment process set up for that yet. We are looking into create an assessment made for that in the near future.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Vali Engles

3/4/2020 08:57:30 pm

Does anyone have experience explaining spatially related topics in STEM? I'm trying to explain how organic chemistry molecules and diagrams of molecules are rotated. Essentially, the students have to be able visualize 3d stuff from different angles. They must see something from one perspective and draw it in another. I've explored Sheryl Sorby's research on spatial abilities in STEM fields being like a gatekeeper to the expert level in specific fields, so I would like to enable students to use their visualization skills for chemistry. If anyone has any tips on helping students to "see" shapes and objects in their head from different angles, it would be highly appreciated! Currently i've been trying model kits, drawings from different angles, and imagining they are holding different parts of the object to rotate it.

Heydi

3/20/2020 10:18:03 am

Hello Sir or Madam,

I am a new member, I started working as an after care teacher in a public school for 6 months and now I am an ESL & Spanish tutor at a High School. I really like it ! so I would like to pursue tutoring as my next career. Which of the training that you have in your website should I choose first to start the certification program ?

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