Tutoring Strategies That Work for Math Students

Staff Writer - February 3rd, 2010 4:37 PM PST

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Whether you are an algebra tutor or geometry tutor or even a calculus tutor, there are certain techniques and strategies that will help you be a more effective algebra tutor or geometry tutor or calculus tutor. A tutor’s job is not to provide answers to the student, but rather to give them assistance in solving problems and understanding the methods behind the math.

For novice and experienced tutors alike, there are certain strategies that can help them become more effective in the process of tutoring and mentoring their students. For any tutor that feels he or she doesn’t need new strategies, or that their techniques are fine the way they are, all that can be said is that every year scientists and researchers uncover new methods, or revise old methods to be more efficient and effective. Some may actually work for you.

One thing that any tutor can do is to find training sessions and seminars that can offer unique and fresh ideas on the tutoring process. The lifelong learner is one who realizes and understands that he or she is not perfect and that there are countless methods in use today, some being more effective than others. For an algebra tutor, or geometry tutor, or calculus tutor, many students tend to have a difficult time with math. New techniques and approaches, and especially lessons and exercises are being designed that are more effective than the older, more traditional methods have been.

Check with the local school systems to find out if there are any special seminars or instructional courses being offered through them or that they know about. You can also check online for possible courses on tutoring techniques, and even more specific topics, such as algebra tutoring techniques and such. There may be downloadable seminars, or webinars, that will connect you to professionals from all over the country or the world.

Beyond the external factors that can offer fresh ideas and insights into tutoring, there are strategies you can employ directly with your students. First off, establish clear expectations with them from the beginning of the lessons. If you’re tutoring a student, then something brought them to you. It could be a teacher recommendation due to poor performance or understanding or a parent wanting some extra guidance for their child. Let them know what they need to do and what you will help them do during the tutoring sessions. It’s important to let them know you won’t be completing their homework assignments for them, but rather help them work through the problems.

Some students can become frustrated when they can’t grasp certain concepts or ideas, especially in math. Establish an expectation that if they become too frustrated, they will let you know and you two will take a short break to clear his or her head and then come back and start fresh. You may have to move on to another problem, or go back to some more basic problems.

Establish clearly defined boundaries and rules. It’s best if these are written down so that there is no misunderstanding at any time during the tutoring sessions. As an algebra tutor, geometry tutor, or calculus tutor, it is your obligation to provide these rules. Math is all about rules and by setting forth your own rules with the student, the two of you will know precisely what can be done and what cannot be done.

Be sure that the student knows that success isn’t expected to happen right away, but that you do expect them to succeed. If you trap them in a corner and demand that they successfully solve problems right away, you immediately create stress and stress is something that can be detrimental to any hope of long-term success and learning. Encourage them to accept that mistakes will happen and that certain problems will inherently be more difficult to solve than others. If they know this from the beginning, then students generally have more persistence to press forth when they don’t quite understand the problem at the outset.

Build a relationship and some level of trust. This takes time and patience on the part of both tutor and student. Your job as the algebra tutor, or geometry tutor, or even the calculus tutor, is not to change their behavior. Your job is to make adjustments to fit their behavior, methods or learning, and past experiences. You have more experience and understanding with these topics, so it is up to you to accommodate their needs. Don’t be condescending or berate the student for mistakes, or for even giving up on a problem. You can come back to it at another time.

Perhaps one of the most important strategies to consider as an effective tutor is knowing when the relationship isn’t working or that perhaps a different tutor would be best. Tutoring isn’t about you, the tutor, it’s about the student and you need to always recognize this and be aware of it.

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