Effective Math Tutoring: Tips

Tutors are available for all kinds of different subjects and each subject requires a little bit of a different approach. If you are a math tutor then here are a couple of tips that will help you be even more effective with your tutoring.

Always come prepared: When you come into a tutoring session, you want to be fully prepared. You should know what the student needs help with as well as being familiar with the lessons that they are learning. Showing up prepared makes you come off more confident and skilled which will help put the student at ease.

Use the Book: It is important that you look to the book as a tool to help the student learn the material. If a student has a problem written down, make sure you look in the book to make sure it has been set up correctly. Math terms can get kind of tricky, especially with someone who is struggling with the material, so make sure you double-check to make sure that the student is learning how to set up the problem correctly.

Explain the Procedure: Don’t simply tell the student how to solve the problem, as this isn’t going to help them learn the material. Ask the student how they think the problem should be done and then help them understand the correct way to go about solving the problem. It is important to reinforce the correct things they say/do so that they gain some confidence. If they have an incorrect procedure help them figure out why it is wrong and get them on track to doing it correctly.

Let Them Do the Work: A student will learn the material the best when you let them do it. Once you have gone over some sample problems, let the student work the next problem on their own and then check their work. The student needs to be able to develop the ability to solve the problem without your help so it is important that you give them the chance to try and solve problems on their own.

Encourage Them to Ask Questions: It is important that the student is able to understand fully how a problem is solved. Make it clear to them that if they have any questions that you are more than willing to help them out. Make sure they know that there are no stupid questions, as it is important that they can fully understand a concept that they will probably have to use again in the future.

Make Sure They Know the Importance of Attending Class: Sometimes students with tutors feel that a tutor is a substitute for class. Make sure that you tell the student how important it is to go to class and to pay attention while they are there. As a tutor you are there as an educational resource and shouldn’t be used as an alternative to attending class.

Put Them at Ease: Math can be hard and it is important that you let the student know that it is okay to get frustrated, but that eventually the material will be learned. Math anxiety is very common and should be approached with caution. Don’t tell a student that a concept “is easy” as it may not be easy to them. Make sure you put them at ease and let them know that it is okay to find things difficult and that it may take some time to finally gain some understanding of the material.