Working As A Math Tutor: A Few Tips

Apr 2
08:54

2012

Anna Woodward

Anna Woodward

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To work as a math tutor you have to build a strong working relationship with the student. Here we look at some tips for being successful at your work tutoring students in mathematics.

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To be successful as a math tutor you must be very thorough in planning for the work ahead of you and you must be a good communicator. It is important that you take the necessary steps to develop a strong working relationship between yourself and the student. Math is a tough subject for many people and you need to be able to understand and work well with one another. By putting effort into your tutoring skills you will be able to help the student grow and to improve in the areas of mathematics in which he/she experiences problems.

Before a math tutor starts working with a student he should arrange a meeting with the instructor to find out what the objectives are for the pupil. The instructor should be able to tell the math tutor what areas of weakness the student is struggling with. The tutor can then plan the sessions in accordance with this.

The tutor needs to find a quiet spot to work with the student where they will not have to deal with distractions and where they will both be comfortable. He should ask the student to tell him why he chose to seek out the services of a tutor. The math tutor knows that the student is having difficulties with his schoolwork but he needs to know specifically where the problems lie. The tutor needs to get acquainted with the student and get a feel for his personality (and vice versa). It is also essential that a positive atmosphere is developed between the two people. If personalities clash then the tutoring relationship that is forged will not be a beneficial one.

In planning for the work that lays ahead the math tutor must determine what the objectives are. This is based upon the progress that the student is making and it is also based upon the guidelines that the teacher has provided to the tutoring professional. The individual must refer to his tutoring log in order to set objectives and determine what needs to be covered during the tutoring sessions.

The tutor must be clear about the objectives for the sessions before he meets with the student. He should get in touch with the instructor in order to find out what reference materials should be used for teaching purposes and he should also inquire about supplemental exercises. The math professional should keep the instructor up to date on the progress that the student is making in terms of the tutoring he is undergoing.

It is essential that the tutor ask for feedback from the student throughout the time that they spend together. There may be lessons that need to be reviewed and gone over more than once and there may be other elements of a math course that the student will comprehend much quicker. The important thing is that the pupil is getting a grasp of the material and is mastering it enough to improve his grades.