Tutoring is an incredibly rewarding experience for individuals who are passionate about teaching and helping others to grow. If you’re interested in becoming a tutor, here are the skills you will need to be successful!
Subject matter expertise. When it comes to introducing new topics to students, it is absolutely essential that the instructor has a firm grasp on the material. A good tutor should be confident in their ability to break down difficult concepts, as having mastery of the subject matter will greatly benefit the student’s overall progress. It’s important to note that, for parents seeking a tutor, it’s not always easy to verify an instructor’s qualifications and background experience. One of the benefits of working with a tutoring provider like Tutor Doctor is that parents will have peace of mind knowing the individual who will be working with their child is fully qualified. In Tutor Doctor’s case, our brand standard is 2nd year university or higher.
Patience and understanding. There’s no getting around it – the learning process is not always a smooth road. A good tutor should recognize that many students will have trouble learning with “traditional” methods and may require multiple attempts before a concept “clicks.”
Creativity. Going hand in hand with patience, creativity is a crucial trait for any tutor to have. When working with certain students, tutors may find that their standard approach is ineffective. A good tutor should embrace this – after all, many students seek tutoring in the first place because traditional teaching methods aren’t resonating with them!
Flexibility. Tutors should try to have flexibility in their schedules in order to give families a variety of different time windows to choose from. During the school year, scheduling can be even more hectic as many students will not be available on weekdays until early evening. We encourage tutors to take advantage of holiday breaks, as well as the summer months, when students are likely to have more availability. Lastly, a good tutor will also recognize that even with a flawless scheduling system, surprises will inevitably still come up – from last-minute exams to extra credit opportunities!
Communication abilities. It goes without saying that communicating with a student is of utmost importance, but a tutor’s job doesn’t stop there! As an academic coach for your student, tutors are also expected to keep parents in the loop with periodic updates and progress reports. The tutors we work with at Tutor Doctor submit detailed reports after every session. In doing so, parents are often encouraged to take a more active role in the learning process and are certain to appreciate the ability to monitor their child’s academic progress. In many cases, tutors may even find themselves reaching out to a student’s teachers for additional information, so communication skills are undoubtedly of extreme importance. It’s also important to mention that communication skills aren’t just about talking – they’re also about listening! An effective tutor should be an active and engaged listener in order to best address their student’s concerns.
Executive functioning skills. A common reason students experience academic difficulties is because they lack critical executive functioning skills. As a result, a primary goal of any tutor should be to emphasize the importance of organization, goal setting, planning ahead, and time management. A good tutor needs to have mastery of these skills – not only to guide students, but also to keep track of your own responsibilities. Working with multiple students can be a handful, and any veteran tutor knows that having a solid organizational system in place is absolutely paramount!
