To be able to inspire and motivate students to be the best that they can be is only one of the many rewarding aspects of being in the private tutoring business. And although it is quite difficult to pin point what it is that makes a good tutor, we are here to try and help you find out.
If you’d also like to know more about how to make a good first impression as a tutor, you can check out our blog on –https://talentnook.com/blog/how-to-convince-parents-to-hire-you/
The fact that you are here reading this article on how to be a better tutor is proof that you care. Which means you have already taken the first step in being an educator that students can look up to.
So hold on tight, as we go over the things you can do to help your students learn better.
Here are 9 private tutoring tips to make sure your students love the way you teach:
Tip No. 1 – Pay attention!
That’s right, pay attention. Students are not the only ones who need to do that. As a private tutor, it is your responsibility to take into account what your student is good at and what needs improvement.
Help your student master the areas that he/she is confident in and focus on improving the areas that need work. And most importantly, build a personal rapport. Because, if you don’t get to know them you’ll never know what they need.
Tip No. 2 – Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
Communication is key to the success of any relationship. And the relationship between a private tutor and the student is no different. It is of utmost importance, that you continually build a rapport with your students and establish a level of comfort.
The student should feel confident in divulging their learning vulnerabilities to you. This information can be of great help while deciding which teaching strategy to use to approach them.
Tip No. 3 – Choose your teaching strategy.
The reason we didn’t title this article as ‘The best teaching strategy to succeed as an online tutor’ is because there is no ‘best teaching strategy’. However, picking the right technique for the right kind of student is very important.
Every student is different in his/her needs and in the way he/she learns. So, make sure you keep those things in mind while choosing what teaching style you are going to adopt.
Tip No. 4 – Start establishing easy to accomplish goals
Most private tutors start out by establishing goals for their lessons. They might even make promises to raise the student’s grades within the first month.
However, the fact of the matter is, putting the burden of your heavy expectations on your student’s shoulders is possibly the biggest mistake you could make as a tutor.
You must understand that not every student might be able to improve their grade within the first month. By setting reasonable and accomplishable goals, not only do you start a culture of consistent performance, but you also build up the student’s confidence.
Tip No. 5 – Give your students the room to explore and enjoy the subject
Even though it is the responsibility of a tutor to help keep students on the right track and help them through with their curriculum, it doesn’t mean you can’t have them explore.
If while studying the history of the World War – I, your student wants to spend time on an unimportant yet dramatic event. Let it happen. Even if it means using up most of your session. It will help evoke an organic interest in the subject and make your job a whole lot easier in the long run.
Tip No. 6 – Make it interesting and interactive.
When it comes to learning, interest is everything. The more interested your students are in the subject, the more they are likely to learn. But the question which is often bugging the tutors is – What if the subjects are technical and detail-oriented? Like mathematics or perhaps physics. Well, no one said the subject had to be interesting to them. It can be made interesting by using supportive elements like humor, weird fun facts, videos, stories, games and much more.
You could be talking about how Socrates spoke his last words to Crito saying, “Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don’t forget to pay the debt.” And get them interested in hearing the entire story. Or, you could play a game where they give you any number and you show them how you can multiply or divide them in your head in fascinating ways.
In this manner, you can help the students stay connected to the fun parts of the subject while making the technical aspects seem less infuriating.
Tip No. 7 – Have them put their spin on it.
In private tutoring, one of the best ways to get students to fall in love with the subject is to have them put their spin on it.
So, don’t miss out on giving them that opportunity. Let them play around a little, give them an assignment to rework a classic poem. Or have them sing an old classic with a new twist. This gives them the chance to channel their creative juices and has them looking forward to knowing more in the next session.
Tip No. 8 – Step out for a change of scenery.
Walking into the same old study to get to work on the same old subjects can get boring after a while. Therefore, it’s often a good idea to look at the subject in a new light from time to time. And sometimes, doing that might warrant a change of scenery.
So, once a month, try to step out. Maybe take a stroll in a museum related to the subject or meet out in the park for a guitar lesson. Not only will it be a pleasant change of scenery, but it will also give you and your student the time to bond beyond the subject.
Tip No. 9 – Ask them for their feedback.
What your student thinks of your teaching style and approach is one of the few key insights you cannot afford to miss out on as a private tutor. So, make it a point to keep asking your students for feedback regularly. The ultimate aim is to make the most of your and your student’s time. Which is why incorporating their feedback into your teaching style is of utmost importance.
We hope this information helps you improve and grow as a private tutor.
If you’d like to know more about private tutoring, you could read any one out of our many articles on the subject at www.talentnook.com/blog/
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