Tips for Beginning & Ending a Tutoring Session Scenario Activities with Senior Tutors

Fun with Scenarios! We are joined today by two senior tutors They will each take turns acting as tutor and student in prepared scenarios Watch how they react to students, paying attention to greeting and responses

Greeting Scenario 1 A student is here for a math class and is greeted by the math tutor on duty Tutor should: Greet student Ask them what they need help with Direct them to the sign-in computer & assist with the sign-in process Sit down with them and ask for information about the assignment Ask for all notes and materials that will help the Tutor understand the assignment

Greeting Scenario 1: A student walks into the PIER… What do we do? Now the student is here for a Math class and is greeted by the English tutor on duty What should she/he do? Greet student Ask what they need help with Direct them to the sign in computer & assist with the sign in process Identify the tutor on duty to assist them

Retail Example When you walk into a store at the mall, what usually happens? You are greeted and given information about store sales The PIER has a similar environment Make sure you greet the student Make sure you have every student sign in (and answer questions about the sign in process) Be cheerful & polite! We must establish a level of comfort in this space!!

Greeting Scenario 2 A student walks into the PIER, signs in and sits down before a tutor addresses them… What should the Tutor do? Approach and ask “Have you been helped?” or “How can we help you?” If the student is just studying, let them know that help is available if they need it Identify the tutors on duty

Important!! Tutors should always keep their eyes open to make sure they know who is coming in and who was waiting. Communicate with your fellow tutors as to who is working with whom and which student was there first.

Tutoring Scenario 1 A tutor and student sit down for a tutoring session The student has an English paper that she is working on. She says she only needs the tutor to edit her paper How should the tutor respond? Explain difference between editing and revising Ask to see the assignment sheet Ask the student if there are any areas of the paper they need assistance with

Tutoring Scenario 2 A student asks a tutor for help on a take home quiz and professors have told tutors NOT to assist with this particular quiz How should the tutor respond when the student asks for help? Explain to the student that they cannot help with that specific problem, but they can do a similar problem

Tutoring Scenario 3 A tutor and student are finishing up a tutoring session. They have been working together on an essay. How should the tutor wrap up the session? Review the material they discussed, including any notes the student or tutor took during the process Remind the student of things they still need to work on Remind the student of future tutoring hours in case they would like to return for additional help

For more information… Review the handout I passed out called “Techniques for Successfully Beginning and Ending a Tutor Session” by Penny A. Kelley