I’m a senior, in the midst of college applications. I’m in AP Calc AB and was asked to tutor a 6th grader for math. I’ve never tutored before, but speaking that I’ve maintained an A (well, the occasional B) in math my entire time in high school I think I am capable of tutoring middle school math.
Anyways, have any of you tutored kids before? I would appreciate any tips on how to tutor. For example, what if I am not clear on a subject matter? is it okay to look it up or is that not proper to do? Anything else would be helpful too. Thanks in advance. Sorry its not specifically a college topic. BUT, it would go in my resume, so that counts right?
Yeah, I tutor as well, and it’s not that bad. The kid is in 6th grade, so I doubt you’d have to look anything up. I believe 6th-grade math consists of basic algebra at worst. If you do have to look something up, just be honest with them. If anything, it could make you seem more relatable. I think a lot of kids being tutored, especially at that young age, see tutors as some kind of perfect genius students. If you show them that you’re not, then they will be more likely to feel comfortable with you and be honest about their comprehension of the material. That’s just my experience, but it’s one that’s more informal than usual. The “kids” I tutor are only two grade levels below me, and we’re pretty good friends. It’ll probably be a little different for you. Good luck.
In fact, I think it is a good thing to show the 6th grader how to look up something he/you can’t understand on Kumon or Khan Academy. The online programs may have a way to help the student understand the material.
Recently I saw this craft where you put numbers on white Styrofoam coffee cups and there was a way to spin them to help with multiplication tables. My sister, who teaches 4th grade, said that it was very clever. Whatever it takes.
Look at the material that the students has about the math topic.
The way they learn it may be different from the way you learn it. Or something that you would solve with algebra they may be expected to solve by trying a number seeing if it works, and then trying something else. Or something you just solve in your head, they may need to write all the steps out for.
If they don’t “get” what you are talking about, try to explain it a different way. Or try to give concrete examples.
