One-on-one tutoring is a highly effective way to learn and improve grades in a course. However, some families will get more out of their tutoring sessions than others simply because they take a few key steps toward ensuring no time is wasted in the sessions themselves.

Below, I have outlined a list of key ways to get the most out of your tutoring sessions and ensure you are getting your full money’s worth.

Prepare Students

Tutors should prepare for tutoring sessions, but what about students? Especially if a student hasn’t ever experienced tutoring before, it’s important to let them know what to expect and potentially even speak with the tutor briefly by phone prior to the first session. Students need to understand that the tutor is there to help them learn & understand the material from their class and that they should ideally come to every session prepared with questions and/or homework or tests to review for clarification. Students may even choose to email their tutor in advance with the material they would like to review, which is an even better way to ensure an effective tutoring session.

Tech Check

There’s nothing worse than losing time in a remote tutoring session to technical glitches. Make sure to do a test run of Zoom or whatever platform you’re using in advance of the first session to make sure it’s working correctly. Also, if the student is working with a doc cam or needs any other materials, make sure they are accessible at arm’s length of the computer they will be using.

Know the Objective

Usually, both students and parents (and teachers) have ideas around what the student will get out of the tutoring. Do you want the tutor to incorporate study skills into their sessions? Or just help with Calculus homework? Make sure that everyone is on the same page in advance and communicate often with the tutor about how the student is doing on making progress toward achieving those goals.

Books & Materials

Both the student and the tutor may need to make sure they have the books & materials they need prior to starting. Sometimes it can be really helpful to buy the tutor a copy of the textbook for the class they’re tutoring so that they can follow along with what the student is doing in class.

Learning Platforms & Teacher Contact

The tutor may also need to get access to the student’s learning platform in order to see their calendar & homework to help hold them accountable. Sometimes a student can provide this information to a tutor & sometimes it’s best for a parent to set this up. Also, if a parent expects a tutor to be in touch with teachers, the tutor will need the teacher’s contact information, ideally starting with an initial introductory email to clarify goals & expectations.

Communication

Most importantly, talk with your tutor about how you expect them to communicate progress to you. Do you appreciate an occasional email or phone chat? Or would you prefer to have the tutor track the student’s homework on a spreadsheet you can see? Make sure the tutor knows what you expect so that you can help support the student in a collaborative way.

In Conclusion

The better the student can prepare for the tutoring session, the better the tutor can prepare, which means no time will be wasted in the time they spend learning & reviewing in sessions. Be sure to take these small steps to optimize your tutoring sessions as much as possible.

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