Familiarize yourself with your state's eighth-grade English curriculum. Visit your local school board website and check the eighth-grade English requirements. Your student's individual expectations may be different, but by having a basic idea of the curriculum, you will ensure that your student knows all the basic elements of eighth-grade reading.
Ask your student and her parents about their expectations for eighth-grade reading. Many tutors fail to listen to their students and as a result don't address their needs.
Assess your student's reading level. Many states have standaradized reading tests, and the Pearson Longman website has a few sample tests that you can use to gauge your student's level.
Put together a few short texts and have your student read them and answer questions about the texts. This is a good way to tutor reading, as it forces a student to evaluate a text. Keep a dictionary handy so that your student is able to look up difficult vocabulary. You can select the passages from the English textbook your student is studying from.
Help your students with their homework as needed. A big part of tutoring is homework assistance, and you will often need to put aside whatever you have planned in order to assist them. Do not do their homework for them. Your job is to guide them and assist them when they encounter difficulties.