Some "Golden Rules" of Being a Good Tutor

By Danielle Wirsansky on December 19, 2016

Tutoring can be a pretty lucrative job option for college students. Tutors are needed for a variety of different areas, classes, tests and more!

So if you have taken the class or passed the test or have the skills, then why not? Utilize the knowledge you already have because it is a marketable skill that can make you money even before you graduate and earn that degree. But in order to keep this option viable, you need to do more than tutor. You need to be a good tutor just as you would be a good employee at any other job.

So if tutoring sounds like it might be a good option for you then read on to learn some golden rules of being a good tutor!

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Set Boundaries

One of the things you learn right away as a tutor is that you have to set boundaries. You need to set them clean and fast, as soon as you start working with a new client. If you are working for an organization, they might have rules you need to abide by like responding within 24 hours to an inquiry or meeting only at public places for tutoring sessions. You will need to follow these rules to keep your job too.

If you are working for yourself, putting these boundaries in place are even more important because they keep you in business and keep you safe. Sometimes a client (or their parent) does not mean to cross a line and sometimes they do, but regardless you need to be able to stand your ground. Be clear with your client and set out what you expect of them and then make sure it is absolutely clear what the client expects of you — and that you can agree to it.

If you do not like what they are requesting, compromise — up until you no longer feel comfortable. Do not have the time to tutor on a certain day? Do not feel comfortable with the amount of hours, the location to study, the materials they want to study, the subject they want to cover? Set your boundaries and if they cannot meet them then you know it is time to walk away.

Be Prepared

You have to remember that tutoring is a job just like any other and you have to put in the prep time to make sure that your product, your lessons, are top notch. It is not fair to the client for you to just stroll in without having thought of them or what steps they should take to improve when you come into the session. They are paying for your time and expect you to use it wisely by teaching them the subject they need to know.

Coming up with a lesson off the cuff will often result in a lousy lesson and lousy lessons do not beget repeat students. Come up with lesson plans, create a study plan for the student, brush up on the subject to make sure you are not rusty (and if it is test specific tutoring, make sure the rules of the test have not changed). Be the professional you are getting paid to be.

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Treat Students With Respect

You are tutoring someone because they have a lack of knowledge, knowledge in something that you have already mastered. Just because they do not know it or have trouble understanding and learning a topic does not give you the right to disrespect them. At least your student is aware and cognizant of the fact that they are having trouble. They are trying to get help and to better themselves. Your student deserves your respect and considerate treatment because at least they are trying to learn.

And you know what an even bigger motivator is? The fact that they are paying you. So if you like being paid and do not want to lose your client, it is recommended you treat them with respect. Moreover, doing so will provide a more conducive learning environment. Do students tend to do well with teachers that terrorize them or with teachers that are cold and apathetic? No, they do best when they are nurtured and feel like they can trust their instructor to treat them well and do what they say they will do.

A golden rule of life is to treat people how you would like to be treated yourself, and don’t we all want to be treated with respect? Why would your student be any different? Doesn’t everyone deserve to be treated with respect, anyway? Make it a point to be respectful to your student and foster an environment that will have them treat you with respect in return.

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