When you first contact me, I will reply as soon as possible, generally within a few hours of receiving your email. I will respond to any questions and let you know about any initial concerns.
Before I set up a session, I like to find out the answers to these questions:
The answers to these questions will help us determine if I will be an excellent tutor for you!
If the goal is to tutor the student regularly, I will spend the first 15 minutes of the first session asking the student some questions. I usually ask questions like:
Asking these sorts of questions is essential for setting up a good tutoring relationship. Students often have different reasons why they may not be succeeding in a class. Finding out how they are currently interacting with their class is a great way to help them get on track! Sometimes, it is not enough to have another person to help explain the material. Students may also need help learning how to organize their study sessions or think of different ways to approach their class.
If the person I am tutoring is under 18, I would prefer to meet one of their parents on this day. However, if this is not possible, I try to set up a time to introduce myself to a parent as soon as possible. This initial parent meeting will give them a chance to ask any additional questions they might have!
If the goal is only to tutor the student once or twice, we will typically dive into the material immediately.
One of the biggest things I emphasize with students I work with regularly is communication. If a student or parent wants to email me ahead of the session to let me know what they want to work on, this is not only okay but encouraged! If given enough heads-up time, I can also curate extra resources or study problems if a student is stuck on something in particular. Also, around exam time, I encourage the student to email me with any last-minute questions to feel confident about the test they are about to take!
As you continue to employ me, I will stay observant of the student's study habits and patterns and be interested in the results they receive in the classroom. I will rely on my academic and professional experience to adjust my methods as needed to help the student understand the subject and get the results they want!
Additionally, I can email the student (or parent if the student does not have or want to share their email) the whiteboards from our session for online sessions.