Review homework. A common tutoring activity involves going over a student’s homework. This allows the tutor to see what the student is currently studying, and if they understand the concept. If the student does poorly on the homework, the tutor can then further review this topic with the student.
Look at graded assignments. Teachers often return homework and tests after they are graded. It is important for students to review questions that were missed on an assignment so they can answer the question correctly the next time. This also allows the tutor to make sure the student understands missed concepts.
Teach study skills, test-taking strategies and organization skills. All of these play a vital role in student success. Tutors can spend a few minutes of each tutoring session emphasizing these skills and teaching students how to use them.
Encourage peer tutoring. An effective method helping students understand a concept is peer tutoring. Fellow classmates or older students can serve as peer tutors to struggling students. This technique has proven successful because, at times, students feel comfortable with other students, and tutors can explain a concept how they understand it. This explanation can differ from the teacher’s lesson.
Provide interactive, hands-on reinforcement of the lesson learned in class. Tutors are not teaching new information, but helping students understand the lesson covered in class. Tutors may need to try models or graphic organizers to help the students understand the concept.
Enhance tutoring lessons with technology. While specific lessons and activities vary by subject and grade level, tutors can provide students with general online tutoring for math and reading through various websites and educational software (see Resources below).