Definition of Tutoring and Responsibilities

Definition of Tutoring

• Peer tutoring occurs when an individual assists or guides a student to the point at which the student becomes an independent learner. The purpose of tutoring is to instill independence and confidence in the student.

What Tutoring Is Not

• Tutors are not teachers• Tutors are not error-checkers or proof-readers• Tutoring is not a substitute for attending class• Tutoring is not an instant means of raising a

student’s grade

Your Responsibility as a LAP/DSS and SSS Learning Assistant

• Your primary responsibility is to the student– Provide an atmosphere conducive to learning– Identify present academic goals– Help the student gain independence in his/her

learning– Provide reinforcement and constructive feedback

Your Responsibility as a LAP/DSS and SSS Learning Assistant

• Your other responsibilities:– Attend scheduled trainings– Complete accurate timesheets and other

paperwork and turn in on time– Take an active role in supervision with the Tutorial

Coordinator and/or the SSS Academic Specialist– Provide a timely response to all e-mails sent by

the tutorial staff

Communication Skills

Communication Skills

• Develop rapport with the tutee• Be an active listener• Use nonverbal listening (only a small portion of communication

is verbal)

• Some communication barriers:– Poor eye contact– Being easily distracted– Irrelevant talk– Closed posture– Having a bored look– Physical “tics” (leg shaking, finger tapping)

Active Listening/Paraphrasing

Active Listening

• Active listening can be demonstrated by:– making eye contact– leaning slightly toward the student– nodding appropriately– responding with appropriate facial expressions– relaxing when you are watching the student

communicate

Active Listening/Paraphrasing

• An active response may be to:– paraphrase what the student communicated– ask questions that will lead the student to her/his

own solution– offer constructive feedback rather than criticize– guide students to make appropriate choices– ask the student if there is anything else s/he can

share

Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing communicates accurately what is heard by reflecting and then summarizing. The purpose is to organize the tutees’ remarks into one concise statement by listening completely to the tutees’ own concerns and then summarizing the problem—hopefully providing new light to the tutee.

• Some useful phrases might be:– “What I hear you saying is…”– “It seems to me what you are saying is…”– “You sound…”– “It sounds to me like…”

Tutoring in Specific Subject Areas

Tips for Tutoring Math

• Guide the student• Teach concepts rather than just procedures• Encourage students to attend class• Address math anxiety• Don’t confuse the student by using an

approach different from the instructor or textbook

Basic Steps for Tutoring Math/Science

• Step 1: Look at the problem in the book to make sure it is set up correctly

• Step 2: Ask the student to explain the procedure he/she is using to solve the problem

• Step 3: Reinforce correct procedures and identify incorrect logic

• Step 4: To reinforce that the student understands, have them re-explain the procedure

• Step 5: Disengage. Encourage the student to work the next problem on his/her own

Tips for Tutoring Writing

• Have the tutee explain the assignment to you• Find out the teacher’s preferred format and

documentation style• Do not simply proofread. The goal is to teach students

to edit their own papers.• Strategies for helping a student with a finished paper:

– Q&A Strategy– Paraphrase the student’s statements– Underlining– Grammar rule abbreviations– Outlining and mapping