Math Tutoring: Traits That Make a Great Instructor

Math tutoring is a common practice for young students as they make their way through a high school or college career. While there are certainly many students who can pick and run with algebra, calculus, and geometry, there are many more for whom the concepts do not come nearly as easily. One reason for this is that there is no substitute for doing the work. Unless you have genius qualities, the concepts behind math aren't just going to seep in through osmosis, the way the rules of English might. If you have a child that tends towards laziness when it comes to studying and homework, they may fall quickly behind. A good instructor can help them get caught up. Here are some things to look for.

Patience

Math tutoring can be very trying on both the part of the student and the instructor. While you can try to teach your child patience and perseverance, you will need to find an instructor already blessed with it. Really, no one should go into the instruction of children without being possessed of a deep reservoir of patience to begin with. Monitor your child's sessions and take note of how well the instructor is able to deal with lapses in your child's ability to catch on quickly. If frustration mounts on both sides of the table, no progress will be made.

Standard Work Beliefs

While there's nothing wrong with finding math tutoring that will clue your child in to various tricks and short cuts that will help them internalize the problems and develop ways to increase their solving speed, that should come secondary to actually doing the work. You are taking a risk if you find an instructor whose approach to doing the work is much different from your child's regular teachers.

Unique Instruction

The most important aspect of math tutoring is that it doesn't wind up just being another hour of your child's usual class. That isn't going to be helpful. You need an instructor who knows different ways of explaining the material. If they are only able to reiterate what the book and the teacher has already said, it's not going to help your child get past whatever mental blocks he's facing. Look for an instructor that knows many different analogies they can use to find an end around to your child's mental blocks, providing them with the tools they need to see the problems in a new light and solve them using their newfound understanding.