Tutoring Matters: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about How to Tutor

Contents......Page 6
Preface to the Second Edition and Acknowledgments......Page 10
Preface to the First Edition and Acknowledgments......Page 16
Introduction......Page 26
1. Attitudes, Anxieties, and Expectations......Page 30
Will I Like My Students?......Page 32
Will I Be Able to Fit in with and Understand Kids Who Are Different?......Page 33
Will I Be Able to Teach the Students?......Page 34
Will I Succeed?......Page 35
Acceptance......Page 36
Attitudes......Page 38
Giving Up Expectations......Page 39
Displaying Enthusiasm and Interest......Page 45
Feeling Empathy......Page 47
Practices......Page 50
Practicing Patience......Page 51
Being Observant and Asking Questions......Page 53
Setting Boundaries and Goals......Page 57
Setting Boundaries......Page 58
Setting Goals......Page 59
Recommended Reading......Page 61
Resources......Page 62
2. Building Relationships......Page 64
Making Connections......Page 66
Picking Up on an Interest......Page 67
Avoiding Gifts and Bribes......Page 71
Building Trust......Page 72
Overcoming Past Experiences......Page 75
Showing Respect......Page 77
Establishing Reciprocity......Page 81
A Few Practical Concerns......Page 86
Motivating Students to Work......Page 87
Applying Tutee Interests......Page 88
Providing Companionship......Page 92
Educated Expectations......Page 94
Going beyond Academics......Page 97
Establishing Boundaries......Page 100
Dealing with Jealousy......Page 101
Preventing Overdependence......Page 102
Recommended Reading......Page 106
3. Teaching Techniques......Page 108
Getting Students Interested and Involved......Page 109
Drawing on Student Interests......Page 110
Making Work Visual and Hands-On......Page 115
Encouraging Friendly Competition......Page 120
Showing Support......Page 122
Breaking Assignments into Manageable Steps......Page 124
Tying in Familiar Concepts......Page 128
Letting the Student Lead......Page 130
Listening to Students......Page 133
Looking at What Is Not Working......Page 137
Adjusting as You Go......Page 138
Challenging Students......Page 141
Recognizing Student Ploys......Page 143
Recommended Reading......Page 149
4. Race, Gender, Class, and Background Differences......Page 152
Anticipating Differences before the Relationship Begins......Page 153
Quieting Pre-site Fears......Page 154
Evaluating First Impressions......Page 159
Adjusting to Organizational Set-Ups......Page 161
Riding the Roller-Coaster Relationship......Page 162
Allowing for the Student’s Attitude......Page 163
Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth......Page 164
Coping with Situations You Have No Idea How to Deal With......Page 166
Overcoming Differences......Page 170
Fitting in and Being as “Same” as Possible......Page 172
Maximizing Acceptance and Embracing Your Difference......Page 173
Opening a Conversation......Page 174
Recommended Reading......Page 177
5. Other Adults: Parents, Teachers, and Administrators......Page 180
Involvement with the Tutors......Page 183
General Interest and Involvement in the Students’ Lives......Page 187
Discouragement and Lack of Involvement......Page 189
Assignments and Activities......Page 192
Labeling......Page 196
What Can I Do as a Tutor?......Page 203
Forming Relationships with the Other Adults......Page 205
Try Not to Rely on Labels......Page 206
Recommended Reading......Page 207
6. Good-Byes: Ending the Tutoring Relationship......Page 210
Difficulties in Saying Good-Bye......Page 212
Not Saying Good-Bye......Page 214
Making Empty Promises......Page 218
How to Say Good-Bye: The Clean-Break Principle......Page 220
Gifts......Page 221
Talking about the Experience......Page 224
Learning Experiences......Page 227
Recommended Reading......Page 230
Twenty-five Final Pointers for Tutors......Page 232
To the Reader......Page 234
Bibliography......Page 236