Tutoring: nine steps to make sure your first lesson is a success

December 4, 2019

• Topical

Whether it’s your first ever tutoring lesson, or you’re an experienced tutor starting with a new student, every tutor wants to make sure they make a good connection in their first lesson. Here are nine steps to keep in mind:

1. Get the key information in advance. Find out what you can from the parent beforehand, as this will make it easier to prepare. You’ll need to know the student’s name, age, school year, exam board, current level, and the level they’re hoping to achieve. 
2. Plan the lesson. The parent or student might have a specific area they want you to help with right away. If they do, make sure that they let you know in advance so you can prepare a lesson. Prepare more than you think you’ll need, as it’s hard to know how fast the student will want to work at this stage. If the first lesson is more exploratory, it’s best to still have some structure in mind.
3. Arrive on time. This seems obvious, but arriving at the agreed time is important for maintaining a professional image and setting the right expectations. 
4. Choose the right environment. Make sure there is a quiet area for you to work, free from distractions. If the workplace doesn’t seem suitable, check with the parent to see if there is somewhere better.
5. Put the student at ease. Build rapport by telling the student a bit about yourself and asking some casual questions at the start of the session. Once they’re relaxed, ask them a few questions about what they’re struggling with and what they hope to get out of tutoring.
6. Explain how it works. Let the student know that tutoring is different from school. It is less about learning new material, and more about having the chance to get some one-on-one time to work through anything they are struggling with or want to get better at.
7. Find out their learning style. Try and get a feel for the student’s learning style. Some will race through work and react best when the energy is kept high, while others may be more reflective and prefer to take their time over problems.
8. Talk to the parents. It’s important to build some rapport with the parents too. Have a brief chat with them about how your first lesson went and keep them involved with the student’s progress.
9. Schedule future lessons. If the lesson went well, they will hopefully want to book some more with you. Only agree on a schedule that you know you’re going to be able to commit to. 

Written by Marcus White