Section 1: Getting Started
Overcoming Common Challenges in Tutoring
Challenges usually fall under two categories:
Academic Challenges
For example, your peer struggles to grasp a concept or lacks organizational skills. This is the most likely challenge you will face as a tutor.
Behavioural Challenges
For example, your peer consistently arrives late or is not paying attention during tutoring sessions.
Sometimes situations will come up when you must address negative behaviours or mistakes. In order for your peer to learn from their mistakes, you should:
- Mention what they did correctly first
- Give them a chance to identify and correct their mistake or behaviour
- State why their behaviour could hurt their learning
- Offer suggestions on how they can avoid making the same mistake or do better next time
Here are some common challenges in L2L tutoring. What would you do or say in each situation?
Your peer arrives late or unprepared to work (no books, pencils, calculator, etc.)
Your peer has completed a problem incorrectly and wants to give up
Your peer is not sticking to the plan you’ve created together
Your peer arrives late or unprepared to work (no books, pencils, calculator, etc.)
When tutoring online, your peer's connection drops
Your peer is always on their cell phone
Your peer is easily distracted, and/or is distracting others
Your peer needs more help on an old question
Remember you are not alone - if you ever need support with anything, ask other tutors, your Coordinator, or your L2L Trainer for help. For some sample solutions, check out page 17.
