Past Tutor Strategies of the Week

When tutoring writing, tutors can help tutees make some decisions about their writing by talking about who they are writing for,
noting that this will affect how formal or informal the writing should be,
what vocabulary is appropriate,
and what to assume readers already know.
​
Carol Simpson-Warner
NTA Senior Board Member
​University of Guam
When tutoring writing, have the student read the paper aloud and backwards to proofread.
Start in the conclusion, then the final body paragraph, and so on.
Sometimes, reading and rereading the same thing the student spent hours writing can make it difficult to critically analyze his/her work.
​Read alouds and backward verbalization forces the student to concentrate on the sentence structure while also giving them something different to look at.

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
When a student seems overwhelmed by the thought of putting together an essay, sometimes it is helpful to take a break and discuss why humans invented writing systems, i.e., the desire to communicate ideas. If we wish to communicate ideas, it is in our best interest to make it easy for others to follow our ideas.  Most of the things we learn in writing class are tools to make it easy for readers to follow our thoughts, e.g., organization of related ideas into paragraphs; separations of sub-ideas into separate sentences; use of punctuation to separate details; introductions for new subjects, ideas, and sources; subject-verb agreement; subject-pronoun agreement; etc. Suggesting to students that they try to put themselves in the shoes of the reader when they are writing gives some students the focus they need to feel less overwhelmed.

Patricia Willard, Esq.
Senior Writing Tutor
Middlesex County College
Make effective use of scaffolding strategies:
“I’ll do this,” “We do this,” “You do it together,” and “You do it alone.”
This strategy provide useful instructional feedback while allowing students to correct their own work,
solve problems independently, and develop a sense of confidence in their ability. ​

Dr. Bill Miklosey
Aesop's Attic
NTA Reading Projects Chair
Keeping credentialed benefits you and your clients:
(1) It validates that you have had professional development in the tutoring profession, and
(2) it shows that you are serious about the tutoring profession and your clients recognize that.

Ishmael Brown, Jr.
​InfiNeXt Educational Solutions, LLC
NTA President-Elect
Promote metacognition by making thinking out loud a habit in your tutorial sessions:
​describe your thought process as you work on tasks such as analyzing an assignment, reading text, or figuring out how to solve a problem.

Carol Simpson-Warner
Senior NTA Board Member
​University of Guam
There is no failure. Only feedback.
— Robert Allen

Once in tutoring in essay writing, a student wrote in the comments section [paraphrased], "I really have been failing in my English class.
I don’t think I’m cut out for this and don’t feel I will pass. I feel like a failure."
A bad grade will do that to you.
Help your student understand that there is no such thing as failure.
​There is only feedback and the opportunity to do better next.

Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Choosing the individual over the outcome will pay dividends.
Embrace the process. Think journey, not destination. ​

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
— Albert Einstein

Perhaps you are tutoring or have tutored the student that just wants you to tell him the answers to every problem or practically write his paper for him.
​Resist the urge. Teaching is not giving answers; it is empowering students to find the answer. Explain, make the path simple, but not easy.

Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Collaborative strategies during sessions can help tutees maximize their learning experiences.
As you prepare for your next session, think about in what ways you can engage your tutees.
It is often much easier to simply re-lecture and share what you may know as a tutor,
​but tutees will benefit in the long run from a tutor who asks them to identify ways to answer their own questions. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Aim for two outcomes for each tutee:
​to help each individual increase confidence and improve performance. 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
There is no failure. Only feedback.
 Robert Allen

Once in tutoring in essay writing, a student wrote in the comments sections [paraphrased], "I really have been failing in my English class.
I don’t think I’m cut out for this and don’t feel I will pass. I feel like a failure."
A bad grade will do that to you.
Help your student understand that there is no such thing as failure.
​There is only feedback and the opportunity to do better next time.

Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
The tutorial setting helps foster successful academic skills.
In addition to sharing appropriate learning strategies, tutors must ensure that their sessions start and end on time.
​Punctuality and positive time management modeling is essential for tutees to take charge of their academic journey.

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Dealing with unproductive emotions is an unavoidable responsibility of tutors and parents alike.
Students' unproductive emotions have the potential to incite the same in us.
​If we aren't intentional, we may find ourselves sucked up in the tornado. 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.
— Ignacio Nacho Estrada
​
Students are unique.
They may go to the same school and be in the same grade as other students, but they do not think or learn alike.
Be willing to change the way you teach sometimes so the student can learn in the best way for him.

​Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Respecting each tutee's unique needs and abilities fosters trust.
Tutees are often hesitant to express the struggles they may be experiencing in a given course;
reassurance and patience is needed to guide them while providing a judgment-free environment
​in which learning and professional partnerships can flourish. 
​
​Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
When we lack mindfulness, when we aren't intentional about abandoning the visceral responses
and underlying thought processes that prompt us to react rashly toward others . . . students suffer. 
​
​Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
— Albert Einstein

Perhaps you are tutoring or have tutored the student that just wants you to tell him the answers to every problem or practically write his paper for him. Resist the urge. Teaching is not giving answers; it is empowering students to find the answer. Explain, make the path simple, but not easy.

Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Make the material relatable to the student.
Students like to know when they and how they can use the information that they are learning. (Tutee)
​Finding meaning in the information will also make it easier for the students to remember. (Tutor)

Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Letting Go
 
The role of the tutor in an on-campus academic setting is typically connected to a part-time, semester-by-semester position.
Administrators are charged with selecting candidates, who can best meet students' needs, based on the courses offered each academic term.
​Tutors' expectations and desire to assist students are best matched when center needs are aligned.   

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Discuss the importance of language, how the language of our self talk becomes our actions, how our questioning techniques influence student self talk.

​Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Allow students to take ownership of their learning by assigning small group roles that allow for deep discussion of the content to help students retain the information better. When small groups collaborate together they think about their own learning process.
​
Melissa Cain
NTA Board Member
Kingsford Elementary
One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.
The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
— Carl Jung
​
Students want to know that you care.
If they know that you care, they may not always want to learn, but they are already in the best position to learn.
For me, as it is for almost everyone, I don’t remember very well the teachers who simply taught.
​I remember those who cared about answering my questions that had nothing to do with the subject and who checked on me to make sure I was doing okay.


Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Beyond tutoring for content, spend some time working on stress management and relaxation strategies.
​This will help the students far after the one course.

Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Transferrable Skills
 
The field of tutoring provides tutors with a myriad of opportunities to hone their interpersonal skills.
Although tutors typically excel academically, it is important to remember that in the tutoring environment
they are meant to be perceived as humble, lifelong learners.
Thus, administrators are responsible for staffing their centers with tutors,
who do not see themselves as subject matter experts
(unless such credentials have been attained), but as near peers. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Practicing mindfulness happens to be an effective strategy for coping with the expectation that we feel to do it all;
​it's a strategy for adjusting when a wheel falls off the wagon and the neatly placed pieces of our lives become strewn all over the place.
​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
According to the text, Visible Learning for Mathematics by John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey,
there is a positive outcome to allowing students to productively struggle.
It teaches them to persevere and find solutions to problems.
​Therefore, even in a tutoring session, productive struggle has its place.
 
Melissa Cain
NTA Board Member
Kingsford Elementary
“Never discourage anyone … who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”
— Plato
​
Some learn fast. Others learn slow. It doesn’t matter the speed;
it only matters that they learn what they need to learn. Teach and be an encourager.
 
Carmen Wade
Senior NTA Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Follow the lead of the student.
Some students want help with every question while other students prefer to work on their own and ask for help when they get stuck.
Get a feel for the kind of support that the student wants.
 
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
When I go to tutoring sessions, I always get to TRIO about 10 minutes early.
That way, I can jot down questions before the session.
This helps me identify areas my tutor and I can focus for the day,
​it is geared towards my needs and no time is wasted in the session. 
 
Anonymous tutee at Johnston Community College
Who's in Control?
 
On-campus academic support centers are designed to help learners achieve their academic goals.
Administrators' responsibilities include the recruitment and development of skilled as well as respectful tutorial personnel,
​who can foster a welcoming environment for students to maximize their learning experiences. 
 
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Associate Vice-President for Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Commitment looks different to different tutors and tutees.
My clients who experience success consistently do these three things:
communicate scheduling needs in a timely manner,
volunteer performance data regularly,
​and complete reinforcement activities (or homework from tutoring sessions). 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
The best tutors are not only experts in a particular subject area, they're also invested in tutee success.
This commitment to the process manifests as quality service:
providing timely feedback and flexible communication options, serving as a school parent liaison,
​engaging learners with creative activities, personalizing instruction, and tracking performance data. 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
A teacher's license is different than ​tutor certification​ in the same way that a personal trainer's skill set is different than that of a team coach.

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Hiring a tutor is like having a personal assistant;
​if your tutor doesn't make your life easier, it may be time to type 'tutors near me' into Google and search again. 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Classroom interventions usually equate to missed seat time or instruction.
Students receive remedial instruction instead of sitting through currently relevant instruction,
​which is a double-edged sword that makes tutoring the preferred alternative.

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Often times, moving forward without a private tutor may be likened to building a home on unstable foundation:
​at some point the home will no longer be able to serve its full purpose without intervention. ​

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Planning for Success
Tutorial sessions are most successful when a specific goal and clear, manageable, objectives (to achieve the goal)have been identified.
Goals may help narrow down the scope of a session,
​but it is the development of each objective that will help redirect the focus back on the tutee. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Expert private tutors ensure the quality of service you receive reflects this commitment to meeting tutee needs (not the other way around).

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Moving On...
Time management during a session demonstrates to tutees just how much work can be accomplished
​during a 50-minute or one hour session when a specific goal has been identified. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
As learners age, historical patterns in parental engagement data tell us that participation drops significantly after elementary school.
​This is a challenging epidemic for educators and parents and family members to outrun
​when you're feeling overwhelmed and haven't taken a class in years. You know it's time to find a tutor.

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
What's Next?
Always have a plan, but don't be afraid to take risks.
​The tutoring environment is dynamic; be confident and open to all learning experiences. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
Fairleigh Dickinson University
As learners age, historical patterns in parental engagement data tell us that participation drops significantly after elementary school.
​This is a challenging epidemic for educators and parents and family members to outrun when you're feeling overwhelmed and haven't taken a class in years. You know it's time to find a tutor.

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Use white boards, incorporate music; no matter the age students like this. 
If in a group, let them own their learning and work with each other to learn from each other. 
Start with the end in mind. Give them a challenge and let them struggle through it.

Melissa Cain
Kingsford Elementary
NTA Board of Directors
Homework time and parent-teacher conferences are opportunities to identify gaps before they become potholes.

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Empowering tutees begins with advocating for strong home-school partnerships and taking massive action to bridge gaps
​- gaps in achievement, gaps in communication, and resource gaps.


Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
During a tutoring session, position the reading, writing, or other work in front of the tutee as a nonverbal cue to establish that the agency and authority of the work are with the tutee rather than with the tutor.

Carol Simpson-Warner
NTA Senior Board Member
​University of Guam
Make sure you are prepared for each tutorial session;
​this helps reiterate responsibility and accountability with your student.

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Hold periodic informal open houses in the tutoring center so that students may have a low stress,
low risk introduction in which they can see the layout,
​meet some tutors, and find out about the services provided.

Carol Simpson-Warner
NTA Senior Board Member
​University of Guam
Get excited about the learning process!
​If the student sees YOU having fun, then he/she is more likely to have fun.  

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Active listening is key to a successful tutoring session.
​You cannot know what the student needs to work on if you are the one doing all the talking.

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Wait Times.
Only ask the student one question at a time and always give the student some time to think about the answer before answering.
​Make sure that the student does not feel pressured to answer quickly.

Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Explain.
Ask the students to explain their work and thought process.
Even if a student gets the answer correct, they might still be missing pieces of the content.
​Sometimes a student might take a lucky guess and not want to admit that they are confused.

Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Relate topic to what students are interested in such as favorite characters, shows, and movies. 

Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Teach beyond the worksheets, outside the text.
​Try an artsy, creative approach using crayons and paint, drawings and mind maps. 

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Listen.
​Always listen to the student.
They know what they need help with and what they do not understand.
Tutoring is a partnership.

Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Provide practice quizzes for students that cover difficult material.
Provide exam reviews to help students study for tests. 

Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Support parental engagement and learner agency by encouraging completion of daily study logs.
Documenting progress toward goals often increases confidence and improves performance.


Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Always be positive.
Keep the tutoring session positive and enjoyable.
​Make sure that your attitude and phrasing is positive and try to help the student to have a positive outlook.


Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Prepare flash cards with possible questions on quizzes or exams for students to practice.
Other students can assist with the questions to find the answers.


Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Emphasize vocabulary and key terms.
​Learners are more equipped to think critically about content when they have mastered key terms.


Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Make sure to teach the student additional skills that will help them in class.
These skills should include how to take notes and how to study.
Since the student spends most of his or her time working by themselves,
​they should be improving those skills as well.


Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Peer tutors, who have completed a given course successfully, tend to perceive themselves as subject-matter experts.
The completion of a given tutor training session may further allow them to enter into a session with confidence.
In order for tutors, however, to execute the duties for which they have been employed,
continuous professional development is necessary to ensure that best practices are reinforced in each and every session.
​Socrates words come to mind: I know one thing that I know nothing.​

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Administer mini quizzes on content.
​Each student in a group can take turns answering questions on the board.​​
​
Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
Tutors should be conscious of the challenges their tutees may be having with a particular course.
Sometimes, taking a step back and discussing tutees' goals and expectations for the semester
​can help tutors better understand the factors affecting their students' performance.  
​​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
How many of us give instructions or listen to learners read instructions only to have them say, "I don't know what to do"?
Try this response next time: "We know you understand some of this. For example, you've done [x, y, and z from the instructions].
Let's ask a more specific question, so that I can be more helpful."
To encourage learners to do the heavy lifting, modeling is key.
 
​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Enthusiasm.
Let the students know why you enjoy the content area, tutoring, and learning.
Make sure that you are enthusiastic about learning so that the students can be enthusiastic about learning. 
​​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Review what was covered in class and have each student share their thoughts/perceptions/answers.
If there is a discrepancy, students can provide support for their answers.
This can assist in comprehension.​
​
Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
During a tutoring session it is best to have a clear outline of the three parts of the tutoring experience:
(1) opening, (2) main portion, and (3) closure.
​Consistency and setting realistic expectations are crucial aspects of any successful session. 
​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Discuss performance data with learners (and parents, if learners are in grade school).
​Initiating dialogue about strengths and weaknesses, goal setting, and progress monitoring... develops independence.

​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Keep it simple.
Explain the content as easily and straight-forward as possible.
​Once the student understands the underlying concepts, then add more critical thinking questions.
​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
We know that effective tutors are good listeners.
But sometimes students are hesitant to speak up in a tutoring session.
Tutors can role-play tutoring situations in order to develop their ability to ask open-ended questions that will spark conversation.
Sometimes a simple, "Please tell me about your assignment" is sufficient.
​Other times a more specific question such as "What do think is working best here?" helps.
​
Carol Simpson-Warner
NTA Senior Board Member
​University of Guam
Have open discussions with students to assess what they have learned and if the material was understood.
This can serve as a review for other students in group as well.
​
Carmen Wade
NTA Senior Board Member
Fayetteville State University
When tutoring students, it is important to remember the challenges of giving and accepting constructive feedback.
Tutors are often perceived as authoritative figures;
tutees may struggle to open up about the issues they may be encountering if tutors’ demeanors are perceived as unwelcoming.
​Tutors should try to engage students by using an empathetic tone and appropriate body language.

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Text reminders to parents and adult learners.
Remind them to practice and study between sessions.
​Attach a picture or video from sessions to amp up motivation and help reminders stick!

Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Keep going.
It's not unusual to have days when we feel overwhelmed and unsure of ourselves.
Seek the lesson in these moments, and use it to help you power through challenging times.
When we note the strategies used to establish a record of success (preferably in writing), we can help others do the same.


Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Use spelling tests to promote growth mindset, the idea that talents can be developed.
Here's how: regrade spelling tests during tutoring sessions after learners have an opportunity to make corrections independently.
​Seeing their grades improve as a result of effort is a surefire way to increase confidence!

​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
In your tutorial sessions, take advantage of the resources available to you.
If you have a white board, let your students work out problems on the white board.
If you have a computer or library near you, integrate research (and how you look for appropriate materials, sources, etc.)
into your sessions so that the student has the opportunity to see research in action.
This adds value to the research process while also showing the students how to use what they have on hand to solve problems,
​and directly connects their experiences in tutoring to real-world applications.

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Take care to balance praise with constructive criticism.
This approach works whether communicating learners, parents, or peers.
No one wants to hear all the things they're doing wrong...
No one benefits from hearing all the things they're doing well.
​Balance your feedback to build stronger relationships. 


Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
The tutoring environment exposes learners and tutorial professionals to countless learning opportunities on a day-to-day basis.
Along with the wonderful experiences and interactions there come challenges.
 
The challenges, however, should be perceived as opportunities at which to excel rather than barriers.
What could be done to turn a negative environment into a productive learning hub?
Well… here lies the question and professionals will have to evaluate the choices available
and answer this question according to their own strengths and experiences.
 
Educators tend to turn to each other for help and support.
In order to help rebuild a learning community, regardless of how large or small it might be,
strength and dedication must be demonstrated.
Although tutors will follow the each other’s lead,
administrative personnel must foster trust among the team to help redirect the focus
​back to student success. 

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Maintaining open communication with parents and guardians is vital to increasing confidence and improving performance.
The adults closest to learners offer valuable perspective.
​Keeping the dialogue going between sessions is an invaluable asset. 

 ​​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Be the example you want your students to follow.
Let the students see you set and achieve goals;
in turn, when you set realistic goals with high expectations,
​they will know that achievement of those goals is possible!
 ​​​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Learners pay attention to how we make mistakes.
They pay attention to how we fail.
Do we admit our failures or try to cover them up?
Do we make our thoughts explicit?
Are we modeling the right ways to recover from mistakes, to fail forward?
​Tutors who value mistakes and model healthy responses to failure nurture the same in learners. 
​​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Learning is supposed to be fun!
Try mixing things up and adding games, music, play-dough, puzzles—the possibilities are endless—to your tutoring sessions.
Not only does this encourage you to think outside of the box when planning sessions,
but it also pulls the student into the learning process in an innovative and unique way.
​​​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Offer specific feedback to learners. Resist saying "Good job" without identifying specific actions
(e.g., missing fewer problems, making fewer mistakes, taking action with confidence).
​This approach reinforces specific behaviors.
​​
​​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Promote a growth mindset by encouraging learners to focus on what they can do.
Help learners transition from "I can't" to "I can"; from "I don't know" to "Let's try this"; from "I'm not good at _____" to "I can learn _____ with effort".
Model this! 
​​
​​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Have the students explain the problem back to you so that you can check their understanding.
It takes a deeper level of understanding to be able to explain the content.
It also allows you to make sure that the students are approaching the problem correctly.
​​
​​​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Check nonverbal cues to discern appropriate times to listen, allow thinking time, or instruct.
​Allowing learners enough time to get uncomfortable without inciting frustration helps both tutor and learner identify gaps in understanding. 
​​
​​​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Practice is important. Make sure that the student is able to solve a few similar questions, not just one of each type of question. The more that the student practices each type of question, the easier it will be for the student to complete similar questions in the future.
​​
​​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Encourage learners to take ownership of tutoring sessions.
One way to promote autonomy in this way is by asking the question, "What would you like to focus on today?"
Learners who are less experienced with taking ownership, those having low levels of agency will struggle with this question.
Remain persistent and model the process of setting priorities for sessions.
With time, you'll notice learners beginning to speak confidently about the direction of sessions. 
​​
​
Jillian Smart, M.Ed.
Jackson Education Support
NTA Private Practitioner
Always have a plan and purpose: Try to help the student identify what they should be working on.
Some students will need review and reinforcement while other students might need an entire topic retaught
if they missed class or are still struggling with previous content.
Additionally, always help the student decide what their plan should be until the next tutoring session.
Should the student be reading a textbook, doing practice problems, watching online lessons, or using any other study method?
​
​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
When in a tutoring session, listen to the student so you can determine what he/she needs for that particular session.
Sometimes the student just needs an ear in order to voice a frustrating situation.
Let the student vent a little, and then the tutoring session often ends on a positive note for the student and the tutor.

Sue Tyner
NTA Advanced Tutor
Johnston Community College, TRIO
Help students develop questioning strategies;
it is not enough for them to say, “I do not understand how to do #12. Can you help?”
Model for them how to phrase questions so that the question emphasizes their thought process.
For example, “I do not understand how to do # 12; can you help” would be better asked if phrased,
“I do not understand why a(b + c) does not equal a(b) + a(c); can you explain this?”
By phrasing the question in this fashion, the student is able to specifically express their challenge with the problem.
Alternatively, they could say, “Can you walk me through question #12? This is how I did it, but my answer was incorrect.”
​This specifically identifies any missteps and puts the emphasis on the student’s thought processes.
​
​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Question: Constantly improve your questioning techniques.
​Through questioning and prompting, you can help a student to get a deeper understanding of the material.
​
​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Honesty: It is always better to admit that you do not know something and need to look it up than to try to teach something that you do not understand.  
​
​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Records: Keep accurate records to help yourself and your student monitor progress.

​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Don’t push the limits: Know your own limits and strengths.
​Do not tutor material that you are not comfortable teaching.

​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Feedback and Flashback: Request feedback to improve your tutoring skills and strategies.
Think back and reflect on the feedback and try to think of ways that you can improve. 

​
Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
One suggestion for students proofreading papers is to have them walk away from their drafts between proofreading sessions.
​This gives their brain the opportunity to rest and allows them to read the paper with “fresh” eyes.


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA Military Liaison, NTF Executive Director
Johnston Community College
Fun and Games:
Keep the tutoring sessions interesting by incorporating games.
There are many great educational apps that can be used to add some fun to the tutoring session.


Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Think, Independence, and Analyze:
Teach the student how to analyze and think critically.
​Use acronyms like SOAP, CLUES, and RACE to improve critical thinking skills and critical writing organization.


Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises​​
NTA Board of Directors
Non-Traditional Learners: Helping to Bridge the Gap

Tutors find themselves in the unique position of meeting with and assisting learners who are coming back to college after having pursued their professional endeavors. Often our non-traditional students feel that they are facing additional struggles due to years of absence from the classroom environment. Try to get to know your students and use their experiences to formulate relevant and practical examples that can help them see the bigger picture. Non-traditional students can bring an extensive range of experience and skills; do your best to listen actively and incorporate their expertise in helping them understand the concepts at hand.
​​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Pay it Forward…

It is important for tutors to understand the courage that it takes for each given student to walk through the doors of a tutoring center to ask for help.
Tutees, when exposed to positive tutorial experiences, often come full circle and become tutors themselves.
Thus, when working with students, keep in mind that when treated with respect,
tutees can reach their full potential and pay it forward...
​​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
 When tutoring students in subjects where similar objects intersect, such as in linear programming,
​it is helpful to use different colored pencils/pens/markers for each object.
That way, the student can easily identify line A from line B from line C etc.,
and can quickly locate the point of intersection between these lines.
​​
Briana Gerena, MA, MS
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
 I Need Closure!
 
Tutor training often focuses on the three parts of a session:
(1) setting the agenda, (2) working on examples, (3) providing closure.
Are tutors, however, comfortable using time management and appropriate techniques to check for students' understanding?
Why is closure an important part of any tutorial session?
Why do tutors run out of time?
 
Although setting an agenda at the beginning of a session and working on relevant concept-based examples are effortless aspects of any session regardless of the discipline, closure is usually considered a disruptive chore.
Tutors feel responsible for students to attain as much information as possible; thus, leaving little to no time for a recap.
Trainers must reiterate that a skillfully incorporated closure allows tutees to reflect on what they
have learned during the session as well as assess whether they have a solid plan to independently continue the work after the session has ended.
 
For a 50-minute session, 15 minutes is the generally recommended time that should be dedicated for closure.
​Next time you conduct a session, make sure enough time is allocated for closure!
 
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
When a student is intimidated during the initial session, just have a normal conversation and get to know one another.
This establishes trust early on in the relationship and helps students open up when and as problems occur.
A little compassion goes a long way.  

​​
Sue Tyner
NTA Advanced Tutor 
Johnston Community College
 Color!
Brains love color—when tutoring students of all ages, bring along some coloring books and coloring utensils.
​Then, during stressful times, you can set aside a few minutes to color together and “de-stress!”  

​​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Johnston Community College
 Encourage your tutee to give feedback.
Try ending your session with questions such as, “what was something significant you learned today”
or “what is one key point you’re taking home from this session?”
​This gives the student opportunity to genuinely apply and reinforce topics/concepts discussed during tutoring. 

​​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Johnston Community College
Building Bridges: Connecting with Parents
 
The transition from secondary education to institutions of higher learning can be challenging for learners and parents alike.
Although academic institutions must uphold the highest standards in securing learners’ privacy, it is important to help parents
understand and feel that their children will be surrounded by qualifying professionals who will do their best to help them succeed.
As tutorial professionals, we have a responsibility to utilize a sensitive approach when interacting with learners’ parents.
The relationships that such a partnerships can foster will ultimately benefit tutees.  

​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Building Bridges: Connecting with Tutors
 
Tutorial administrative personnel take pride in successful programs that utilize tutors’ expertise to raise the bar of academic and student support. Nevertheless, close attention should be paid to the ways in which tutors can be made to feel appreciated.
As highly qualified and trained professionals, tutors are often part-time workers who are committed
to helping fellow learners overcome content-based or even personal obstacles;
​thus, providing systematic and consistent opportunities for tutors to be celebrated is crucial.

​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Building Bridges: Connecting with Learners
 
Tutors are expected to create a comfortable environment in which learning can be fostered session after session.
With minimal information about their upcoming appointments, tutors must demonstrate professionalism and content mastery without fail;
it is the connections with the tutees, however, that can help ease the tension such expectations create.
Working with learners and guiding them through challenging tasks is what tutoring is all about!
The end-of-semester compliments, gestures of appreciation, or tutees’ success rates often affirm tutors’ efforts
​of dedicating their time to help others achieve their academic and professional goals.

​
Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Tutoring is a “two-way” commitment or exchange; both the student and the tutor have basic expectations to meet to ensure success:
 
What do Students expect from a Tutor?
 
Knowledge and Passion for Subject
Friendliness
Patience
Be Engaged
Encouragement and Confidence-Building
Ability to Explain Challenging Concepts in New Ways
Long-term, Supportive Relationship
Availability and Flexibility in Scheduling
 
What do Tutors expect from Students?
 
Set Reasonable /Realistic Goals
Be Consisitent: Meet Regulalry
Never Give Up
Come Prepared: Do Your Honework
Be Cooperative
Be Engaged
Be Willing to try New Things
Ask Questions!

​
Cheryle D. Snead-Greene, Ph.D.
NTA, Membership Chair
Prairie View A & M University
 A successful tutor understands the importance of providing his or her tutee with the necessary skill set to be an independent learner.
 
Tutors should assist tutees in learning how to read and interpret available resources as well as researching appropriate topics that can help them identify
the answers on their own. A successful tutor is able to recognize each tutee’s abilities and study techniques;
​positive feedback is always essential.


Rabia B. Osman
Math & Science Resource Center (MSRC)
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Building Bridges: Connecting with Faculty
 
The success of any on-campus tutorial support program in higher education is based on building solid relationships with faculty.
Transparent practices and intensive professional development procedures can assure faculty that tutors are trained near-peers who can
support tutees using appropriate methodologies;consistency in and out of the classroom environment is essential.
Programs that utilize faculty members’ expertise in training tutors and maintain open cross-departmental communication
can experience a substantial volume of incoming learners as the level of trust that is fostered can mutually benefit all parties.

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
NTA Director of Special Projects
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Modeling tutoring knowledge and processes works:
​
Don’t ask your tutors to do something that you are not willing to do; Let them see how you interact with students;
Let them see how you deal with frustrated students; Let them hear you praise students;
Teach them the best way to deliver constructive criticism;
The Modeling approach is the simplest and most straightforward way to teach our tutors and our students;
Remember, Modeling behavior works.

​​
Cheryle D. Snead-Greene, Ph.D.
NTA, Membership Chair
Prairie View A & M University
Be sure that each session involves constructive feedback and link that feedback to specific examples from the session.  
​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Johnston Community College
When helping students develop paper-writing and proofreading skills, suggest reading the paper backwards (and aloud).
​This forces the student to read what is actually written on the paper, rather than what they may have memorized during repeated revision sessions! 
​
Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Johnston Community College
Explain things multiple ways:
If a student doesn’t understand something, try to explain it another way.
Relating concepts to  practical examples often makes the concepts easier to grasp.  
​
(Source: Pforzheimer Learning & Teaching Center).
Cultivate Independence:
Demonstrate HOW to do something, and then ask the student to re-teach you.

​
(Source: University of Wisconsin, Office of Multicultural Student Services).
​Try to listen to the student and determine what the real problem might be by truly hearing what the student has to say;
this means that you should not be the one doing all the talking.


Sue Tyner, Advanced Level Tutor
Johnston Community College
Try to understand under what circumstances the tutee learns best,
​and no assume all students have the same learning styles and preferences as yours.


Sue Tyner, Advanced Level Tutor
Johnston Community College
Use questions in the initial tutoring session to determine the student’s needs.
​Not only does this help you streamline mutual goals and objectives, but it also helps build the foundation of the tutor/tutee relationship.


Sue Tyner, Advanced Level Tutor
Johnston Community College
 Be honest.
This helps to establish rapport and trust, the two most critical elements to a successful tutoring relationship.


Source: The State University of New York
Are We Listening?
 
As tutors, we are always eager to keep moving forward and help students complete the materials with which they come to each session.
However, are we working on their pace or ours?
Recognizing our students’ verbal and non-verbal cues is essential in creating an environment in which they can take charge.
Active listening in the tutorial setting, therefore, goes beyond the incorporation of students’ questions into the session.
Let’s make an effort to pay close attention to our students’ needs.


Margaret Roidi, M.A., ABD
John Jay College of Criminal Science
Working with international students can be a noteworthy and rewarding experience. It is important for tutors, however, to allow students whose first language might not be English to express themselves in a judgment-free and supportive environment. Sometimes it is perfectly fine to let a few words to be mispronounced or a sentence or two not to be perfect as long as we allow our international students to feel valued and respected.
​
Tutoring is as much about building confidence as it is about achieving academic goals.


Margaret Roidi, M.A., ABD
John Jay College of Criminal Science
When helping students develop proofreading strategies, suggest having them read the paper aloud;
​this helps them catch typos and other errors before their brain has a chance to “autocorrect” it.


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Quantity vs. Quality
Many students come into the center expecting to cover material across several chapters in their textbook in a one-hour session.
They often think that the more questions they complete in a shorter period of time, the more they will learn. This approach is referred to as surface learning;
as there is no depth to the studying process, the material is not being learned, but rather memorized and forgotten shortly after.
Unfortunately, surface learning results in little to no understanding of the course concepts due to the favoring of quantity over quality.
​Tutors are charged with communicating that these factors are indirectly proportional to each other and help students recognize such studying patterns.


Manuel Chaparro, MSEd
John Jay College of Criminal Science
The Holistic Learning Experience
Lifelong learning is fostered when using a variety of studying techniques to better strengthen cognitive skills. This is referred to as the breadth of learning which diversifies the learning experience by allowing students to utilize a range of resources available to them such as study groups, tutoring, online resources, etc. Learning is multi-dimensional; therefore, in order for students to transform into holistic learners, they need to deeply immerse themselves into the course material using different methodologies. This is essential to fostering high impact learning experiences.


Manuel Chaparro, MSEd
John Jay College of Criminal Science
Connections, Connections, Connections: Make sure that you are able to connect the content to the student’s life.
Inform the student of when and why he or she will use the content.


Stephanie Dunaieff
Margot Enterprises
Do practice problems/examples with the student. Talk them to the right answer by asking questions every step of the way.
Do not give the student the answers. Show them where the answers are in their notes, your notes, the textbook etc.
​Show them how to research the resources available to get to the answer.

Naomi Rodgers
Tutor, Ferris State University
Once it seems that the student is understanding the material better, take at least a 5-minute break.
Either talk about other relevant information or just have a short conversation about their feelings about the class in general.
After the break, do another problem to make sure that they really are grasping the information.

Naomi Rodgers
Tutor, Ferris State University
Repetition is key!!! It takes doing something 7 ± 2 times in order for a habit to start forming.

Naomi Rodgers
Tutor, Ferris State University
Explain to the student the areas that they are having confusion with in both your own words – include terminology that the professor uses.
Write things down on scrap paper so the student has something easily accessible to reference throughout the tutoring session.

Naomi Rodgers
Tutor, Ferris State University
Start by identifying what brought the student in for tutoring and what aspects of the material they already understand.

Naomi Rodgers
Tutor, Ferris State University
When working with younger students, remember to get up and move as children get restless sitting still. Better yet, incorporate exercise into the lesson!
Dance, get up and move so that the student (and you) have some variation (and fun) while learning!

Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Many times we find that students are hesitant to say that they do not understand material after it has been discussed. This may be due to the student thinking that the topic has been already discussed and the tutor will be annoyed that the student is still unclear on the material. However, we tutors know that students often struggle with concepts that need reiteration — perhaps even multiple sessions to improve comprehension. One way to help a student overcome their fear of speaking up is to let them know that you, as the tutor, struggled with material in school, too. I have found that this allows for a more equal setting and helps the student to see you not as someone who holds all the answers, but as a fellow student that has been where they are.

Misty Garcia
Advanced Tutor, JCC TRIO
Remember that one of the most important parts of our job as a tutor is to listen to the students; keep in mind that means our mouths are closed when we are…
it is no coincidence that the word “listen” is an anagram of “silent.”


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
If you are working with a student in math and they are having trouble lining up numbers when adding or working with decimals,
try using graph paper. Graph paper allows the student to place a digit in each box so that it is easier to see what numbers are in the same place holders.

Misty Garcia
Advanced Tutor, JCC TRIO
Encourage, encourage, encourage your students!
Let them know you are there to help them, be a role model, and give respect to the learner.
Celebrate in their triumphs.


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Try beginning/ending your sessions with good news; share some with your student and encourage them to share something with you.
Too often we focus on negative things in our lives and sharing good news forces us to see our blessings, rather than focusing on our struggles.


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Remember to work on one task at a time during your tutoring sessions;
this will help you stick to your lesson objectives and will prevent your student from feeling bombarded by information.


Brandy R Daingerfield
NTA, Assistant Vice President/Military Liaison
Every tutoring session presents an environment that is dynamic, personal and verbal.  This means that every tutoring session presents the possibility of personal/verbal conflict.  In fact, the tutoring session is an environment within which verbal conflict can arise rather easily. So, any number of impediments to that “aha” moment are all along the tutoring path. To decrease the possibility of unintended conflict, remember to 1) Present a professional face at all times and do not take any attack personally;  2) Maintain the dignity and personal face of the subject(s) at all times; and  3) Remember, the tutor's challenge is to help repair academic disconnects to the material, the classroom, and/or the instructor. Don't be the facilitator of the disconnect. 


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
Tutoring is related to teaching.  The main objective of teaching is student learning.  As a tutor, you are expected to provide students with instruction and then check back to see not only if the student learned the material, but how they’ve learned it.  Part of this “checking back” is using outcomes assessment – which, in tutoring,
is equally important for tutors as it is for the students.


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
The four steps to a successful tutoring session:

1.     Renew the personal relationship of humanity and trust between the tutor and student. Take a few moments to catch up on life.

2.     Take inventory of the study skills and other academic needs for the student even if those needs cross disciplines.

3.     Ask, “What do you have with you today?” Keep the responsibility for learning and achieving on the student.

4.     Create a plan for growth for the student until the next tutorial session.


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
The best tutoring procedures are grounded in the learning preferences and experiences of your student.
A learning preference is defined as the place where your student prefers to begin learning.
While it should be noted that in any learning experience,
every student will pass through every learning preference in order to fully explore the learning task,
one preference will always lead the way for that student.  


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
 When working with Millennials, remember that this generation embraces social networking, high achievement, and hands-on learning.
The Millennials see every opportunity as possible.
They require, more than any other generation, content-relevant instruction,
i.e. the student must find an emotional connection to the content in a meaningful way. How are you tutoring Millennials?


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
Fear is a universal experience. We all experience situations that cause us anxiety. If test taking has that effect on you or the student that you tutor,
realize that you are not alone. Many people feel the same way, but help is available. If the fear manifests in an inability to recall information,
the student might try the following strategies. 

1.     Practice deep cleansing breathing before the exam.

2.     Focus on how great you will feel when the exam is completed.

3.     Visualize a positive outcome to the exam.

4.     Remember that no one exam can define who you are.

5.     Try aromatherapy, particularly lavender to produce calm and vanilla to improve focus.    

6.     Try keeping a small stuffed animal in your pocket. Believe it or not, this can be very calming during an exam.

7.     Spend about 10 minutes drawing using a coloring book before the exam. It is calming, your brain loves color, and it will relax and clear your thoughts. 


Dr. Lucy Lapekas
NTA Executive Director and
Certification Chair
Build bonds with students not only academically but as mentor, advocate and friend -
someone they can talk to and from whom they can learn about the subject and also about life.  


Dr. Herb Weinstein
When you take time to get to know the student in your first session, it makes a significant difference in your ability to relate and teach well.
Develop questions that will engage the student on subjects that are fun and serious.
Our college-level tutors ask students in their first meeting about their high school learning habits.
Sample questions could include:
What study habits worked for you in high school?
What did not work?
Have any of those habits crossed over into your college learning experience?

Having a holistic view of each student helps you present the material to them in an effective way and build their trust!

Deidre Sizer
Tutoring and Office Coordinator
The Cove, Academic Enrichment Center
Cedarville University
If students have reading disorders or dyslexia, they should have access to textbooks in alternative format
via Learning Ally/Teacher Ally, Access Text, Course Smart, Text Help, Inc., Susan Barton’s Reading Methods Online,
or a number of resources available.


Tim E. Charles
Student Success Center Assistant Director
Tutor Program Director & Disabilities Services Coordinator
Sheridan College
Tutors should remember to use positive reinforcement and help students develop a sense of belonging
and self-confidence as a result of tutorial feedback.


Pamela Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean,
Division of Academic Development and Support Services
Hudson County Community College
Tutors should always utilize interpersonal skills to ensure that their students feel comfortable.
A student who is upset or overly stressed will not be able to focus or learn new material.


Pamela Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean,
Division of Academic Development and Support Services
Hudson County Community College
Tutors should encourage students to use a time management schedule to help them keep track
of their coursework and prioritize their study time.

Pamela Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean,
Division of Academic Development and Support Services
Hudson County Community College
Tutors need to teach Learning Strategies to their students, no matter what the age.
Teaching students how to learn by developing strategies for time management skills, test-taking skills,
and reading strategies will set them up for success in their academic career. 

Tim E. Charles
Student Success Center Assistant Director
Tutor Program Director & Disabilities Services Coordinator
Sheridan College
Tutors can use learning style assessments to help students identify their learning styles
and develop study strategies based on their learning styles.

Pamela Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean,
Division of Academic Development and Support Services
Hudson County Community College
"Bibles" - this is what I call aids-to-success that I hand out to students. They come in the form of compact stepwise recipes for carrying out
complicated processes.  Included for my algebra students are an equation-solving bible, 5-step plan for solving word problems,
how to factor polynomials, strategy for solving quadratic equations.

Dr. Herb Weinstein
On the first meeting, I give thirty minutes free to the student to get to know what and how I can better assist the student.
I always come prepared with a handout for the student relevant to their subject matter.

Anonymous NTA Certified Tutor
During National Tutoring Week, we provided topics that would draw attention.  One of the hour-long “exhibits” challenged students to solve a riddle,
win a prize (college pen or pencil, college cup, post-it notes, etc.). After completing the “riddle” and getting a prize,
the tutor explained that the student just completed a word problem in mathematics.

With our math exhibit’s theme, “Yes, you can!” this connection with a tutor drew students who weren’t doing well in math to set up a tutor session,
getting to know that tutors start with basics and go through coursework in a step-by-step process during tutor sessions

  This also dispelled a myth that tutors approach coursework in the same way as the instructor — peer tutors are students who may have been
in the same boat as those requesting academic services but have succeeded in learning the coursework.


Anna Mary Walsh
Program Specialist, Tutor Program
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
I ask our Writing Consultants to not even have a writing utensil in their hands during consultations.
I also tell them to be careful about keeping the paper positioned between them and the student.
Such body language is important and conducive to the student maintaining ownership over his or her own writing.

Bruce Epps
Director, Academic Success
Blackmore Library 205
Capital University
Incorporating art into the lessons is a nice way for students to see things from a different perspective to "get" a concept.
For example, having them draw groups of circles (5 groups of 4) to get 5 x 4 or to use manipulatives
like marbles or coins or game chips that they put into groups to get the number. 
Ask them to make 5 groups with 4 in each group, or if more advanced ask them to see how many different ways
they can make multiple groupings of the 20 things and the groups have to have equal items in each group
so eventually you would have 5 groups of 4, 4 groups of 5, 2 groups of 10, 10 groups of 2, and 1 group of 20.

Ellen Rostker
When tutoring, look for patterns in your students responses. Listen carefully to what students have already tried and how they “feel” about what they’ve tried.
You’ll find out what worked and what didn’t work; what they liked and what they didn’t like.
Through these types of responses and understanding of past experiences,
you may be able to help them do better by taking an alternate approach.


Karen E. Stewart
NTA Certified Tutor Trainer
NTA Certified Academic Coach
If you travel to a student's home, an item that may be helpful to bring for K-12 students is a dry erase board with colored markers.  It gives the student ownership and enhances their learning. 


Ishmael Brown, Jr
NTA Certified Tutor Trainer
NTA National Training Director
NTA Associate Vice President
Owner, InfiNeXt Educational Solutions
When I find a great worksheet or anything that I want to be able to use over and over (for example, a graph, a grid to record tick marks for a bar graph, a clock face) - I just print off one copy and put it into a clear plastic sleeve.  Then my student and I can use white board markers and wipe it clean over and over.
Great for practice and environmentally friendly too!
Bonus - the plastic sleeves are three-hole punched so they can be organized into a 3-ring binder.

Diane Gunvalson
ProblemSolvedMN ~ Tutoring and Pet Sitting
www.problemsolvedmn.com
“If you experience resistance and push back from your student during tutoring, get him/her to articulate why it’s important to learn the material.
This is the art of getting the student to redirect his/her energy.”

Daniel Weinstein, PhD
Director of Faculty Development & Assessment
Instructor of Sociology and Education
Capital University
Latest statistics show that the average attention span range anywhere from 10 - 20 minutes.
Make your tutoring session with students enjoyable by including interactive learning and humor.
It can make the time goes faster as well.

 
Ishmael Brown, Jr
NTA Certified Tutor Trainer
NTA National Training Director
NTA Associate Vice President
Owner, InfiNeXt Educational Solutions
“Doing students’ work for them robs them of the satisfaction of accomplishment and a feeling of self-achievement.
It creates dependency and teaches the student to be manipulative.”

Pamela Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean,
Division of Academic Development and Support Services
Hudson County Community College
NTA, President
When tutoring math with one student, always try to sit with your student to your non-dominant side.
It allows the student to see what you are writing as you are writing
and not concern themselves with asking "How did you get that?" because he/she didn't see it.

Ishmael Brown
NTA, Associate Vice president / National Training Director
InfiNeXt Educational Solutions, LLC
"When tutoring, look for patterns in your student’s responses.  Listen carefully to what students have already tried and how they “feel” about what they’ve tried.  You’ll find out what worked and what didn’t work; what they liked and what they didn’t like.  Through these types of responses and understanding of past experiences, you may be able to help them do better by taking an alternate approach."
"Whenever possible, allow your students to access good old H₂O at least every half hour during tutoring sessions.
Every 15 minutes is better. the brain works much better when it stays fully hydrated."


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