10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #10

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Hi, everyone. It's Charlie here, with reason #10 that a student may need some summer tutoring.

Reason #10: A student (or the parent(s) of the student) wants to get a jumpstart on the upcoming  semester's subject matter.

As the fall semester approaches, a lot of students (and their parents) start thinking about getting a head start on the upcoming classes. 


You might be working with a tutee who will be starting pre-algebra, or a student who is excited about taking her first Russian language class.  No matter what the upcoming course may be, a tutor can help give the tutee a helpful jumpstart for the upcoming course. 


A jumpstart is really beneficial, because it gets the tutee excited about the class, and that excitement can translate into long term success.  It also lays an educational foundation that will get your tutee a few steps ahead before the class even starts.


Getting a head start on coursework, even just by looking over an introduction to the coursework, can give your tutee a lot of confidence, too.  Imagine going into a new class, and already knowing the basic principles - now that's a recipe for confidence!

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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #9

Hi there, Charlie here with reason #9 kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #9: That last report card showed a drop in grades either during the school year or summer school.


For some students, grades fluctuate a little bit throughout their schooling years.  For example, I used to be terrible at math and science until I hit high school, then my grades picked up quite a bit.  My best friend had always been great at history, but even his grades fluctuated between As and Bs all through junior high and high school. 

The problem is, if an otherwise straight A and B student is suddenly bringing home Cs and Ds, there is a problem.

Sit down with your tutee and have a quick talk about what's going on.  Ask about the classes, homework, extracurricular activities, teachers - get a general picture of a day in the life of your tutee.  Ask your tutee why he or she has experienced a drop in grades.  Talk to the student's parent(s) if possible, and ask the same types of questions - maybe they have some insight into what's going on with your tutee's grades.

It could be that it was just a very difficult set of classes, maybe the schedule was too jam packed, your tutee could have test anxiety, or perhaps your tutee needs help organizing and prioritizing his or her daily study schedule.  


Whatever the case, if you are able to talk out the situation with your tutee, help him or her get organized, and instill in him or her a sense of confidence and enthusiasm, chances are the grades will show improvement during the next semester. 


It is also a good idea to continue the tutoring throughout the next semester just to make sure that the grades continue to improve, and to prevent a grade backslide during the semester. 

10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #8

© sxc.hu/ilco

Hi everyone, Charlie here with another reason why a student may need summer tutoring.

Reason #8: A student is trying to avoid going to school even though there is no bullying or other negative situation occurring.  

True, this can be a common complaint from students (and parents) everywhere, but avoidance of school is definitely something that can be lessened (or eliminated) during the summer.

Provided there is no bullying, and no other negative situation occurring at school, a desire not to go to classes could boil down to a few easily fixable reasons:

- no enthusiasm for the material or classes
- bored during class
- feeling overwhelmed by work
- a desire to have fun rather than sit in a classroom
- no confidence with the coursework
- test anxiety

Well, good news...I think you all know where I'm going with this by now...tutoring can help!

In situations involving a lack of enthusiasm for learning, tutors can play a big role in getting students hyped up about practically any subject - the wonders of science through cool experiments, the fun of English through story writing, even the excitement of mathematics through physics games or music.  Cases of boredom (assuming the tutee doesn't to be moved up a grade) can also be remedied by a tutor bringing in "real life," fun examples of class subjects.

Feeling overwhelmed by too much classwork or homework is also easily remedied by a few study habit modifications.  When I was a kid, I swore by the 80s favorite - the Trapper Keeper™!  I never went to school without it - I stored all of my class handouts, homework (both graded and pending assignments),  worksheets, even extra curricular information in that thing.  The point is that as soon as I got organized, my grades improved dramatically, and I no longer felt overwhelmed.  A quick chat with your tutee can help pinpoint areas where more organization is needed.

A desire to be out having fun rather than sitting in class (or work for us adults who are out of school) is another common complaint.  This one isn't really too difficult to tackle - an explanation of the time ratio can work wonders.  Sit down with your tutee and spend a few minutes going over how long classes are, and how long homework takes every day.  Then divide that by all the "awake" hours in the day - the classes and homework will most likely be a relatively small percentage of the total week's hours.  Explain how getting organized, and tackling homework ASAP can allow for more fun hours in the day, because all of the responsibilities for the day will be checked off the "to do" list.

No confidence with the coursework or test anxiety are also easily changeable by a great tutor.  Since this post is already pretty long (thanks for sticking with me this far), I'll point you to my other two blog postings that really get into detail about these two issues:
Self-esteem and confidence
Test anxiety

With some good tutoring, any of these problems can be a thing of the past for your tutee, and he or she will be ready to tackle the upcoming school year with renewed enthusiasm.
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #7

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Hi there, Charlie here with reason #7 kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #7: A student is not paying attention to his or her classes or homework.

Maybe you have a tutee who has stopped paying attention during class.  Honestly, we all been there - I was quite the doodler myself through a few years of school - but it is important to tackle the issue before the next semester begins.

Kids who are enthusiastic about a subject, are excited about learning something new, or are confident with a subject will always be more likely to pay attention during class.  Can you make geometry as thrilling as scuba diving?  Probably not, but you can make it fun and interesting enough that your tutee wants to pay attention!

During summer tutoring it is also good to tackle good vs. bad study habits.  Work with your tutee on scheduling time for homework, let him or her know that budgeting time for homework means more time later for fun. 

Talk to your tutee about how he or she works in class.  Get an idea of where they sit, who they sit with, what they do - look over some class notes and help them learn the best, most efficient way of taking notes.

Ask about homework and study habits.  Offer some effective learning and studying techniques so that your tutee can get the most out of his or her study time.

By making a subject more interesting, giving the tutee confidence, and helping your tutee develop better study habits you will be arming your tutee with knowledge, self-discipline, and self-esteem for the upcoming school year!
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #6

© sxc.hu/JoanaCroft

Hi, there, tutors. Charlie here with reason #6 kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #6: Test anxiety.


You have a tutee who has been talking about a big math test all week.  The problem is, the talk about the test is also accompanied by bitten nails, nervousness, a high degree of anxiety, or stomach aches.  This goes above and beyond the normal "kind of nervous about the math exam" response.  This is test anxiety, and it affects a multitude of students at every grade level.

The great news is, as with most academic issues, tutoring can help!  Summer tutoring helps calm students down when it comes to test taking.  Why?  Because, whether or not a student is in summer school, or taking a summer break, the monotony of the traditional school year has been broken.  The summer environment is different for the student, and it gives that student a chance to expand his or her horizons, open his or her mind to new ways of learning, gets the student out of the "exams=terrifying" mindset, and allows the student to take on new challenges without the added pressures of standard school issues.  In other words, change is good!  It breaks the cycle of negative thinking for students, to some degree, and gives the tutor a chance to step in and help.

To get your tutee geared up for upcoming exams, make sure to talk to the student about how he or she is feeling. 

Work with the material that will be on the exam - nothing beats test anxiety like confidence in the subject matter.

Put together a few "low pressure" practice tests, or worksheets to get the tutee used to working on test materials.  When the tutee is comfortable with the materials, try using a timer to get the tutee used to working under a deadline. 

I have used these techniques for some of my test anxiety tutees, and the results have always been phenomenal.  It may not happen overnight, but it will happen!
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #5

© lusi

Hi, there, tutors. It's Charlie again, with reason #5 to look for when evaluating students who may need some summer tutoring.

Reason #5: No matter how much time a student puts in, homework is always incomplete or done incorrectly. 

It's a fact of life - most students don't enjoy sitting down to do homework, especially during "summer break." This becomes even more of an issue when you notice that a student complains of homework sessions that last for hours, only to result in incomplete or incorrectly completed assignments.  This can be frustrating for the student, and in the long run, can hurt the student's grades. 

The good news? Tutoring can help these students work more efficiently, and get better homework results in less time. 

When you are asked to tutor, spend a few minutes talking to your tutee about his or her homework.  How long is a typical homework session? How often do they do homework (every night, every other night, etc.)? How have the homework grades been so far? Does your tutee feel that he or she is doing their best on the homework assignments?

Since homework can be a major part of a class, it will definitely be worth spending a few minutes talking about it with your tutee, and the results for your tutee will be phenomenal.  Also, keep in mind that as your tutee gains more confidence and knowledge of a subject, the homework grades are also likely to improve as your tutee gets more practice with the subject matter. 

By tackling both aspects of tutoring (study habits and the class subject), you are practically guaranteed to have a happy, successful tutee.
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #3

© beni_bb

Hi there, Charlie here with reason #3 kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #3: A teacher has recommended summer tutoring to help a student who needs an academic boost.

A teacher is often the first person to realize that a little (or a lot) of help is needed for a student in addition to what's can be  given in the classroom.  This is especially true in the summer - think about it, a teacher reviews the grade book, and knows a student could do better, but a subject hasn't clicked for them yet.

In this case, you'll often be called upon to help bring the student up to speed for an upcoming class, or even a class that might need to be repeated. 

This is a great opportunity for you as a tutor, because it gives you the chance to not only help a student understand the academic concepts of a specific course, but it also gives you a chance to instill a sense of self-confidence and enthusiasm in a potentially nervous student.
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #2

Copyright: lm913

Hi, all, Charlie here with reason #2 kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #2: He or she needs to prepare for a standardized test.
Right now, a number of students are gearing up to take the SAT, ACT, or some other standardized test during the school year.  Tutoring can be extremely beneficial for these students who need to brush up on material, refresh study skill techniques, or improve their scores on practice tests.

Tutoring can also be a boon for those students who just have some general anxiety about the test, and need some confidence to quell their nerves.

Whatever the case, tutoring can be a huge help for these students, and summer is often a superb time to help them prepare for otherwise intimidating academic tests. 
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10 Reasons Kids Need Summer Tutors-Reason #1

Copyright: dynamix

Summertime.  Beach parties, swimming, ice cream...it can also be the perfect time for tutoring.
No, I'm not kidding!

Hi all, Charlie here with 10 reasons that summer tutoring is a great idea.  "Why am I tackling this in August?" you may ask - a few reasons:

* It can be a great to let kids have a little bit of a breather in between the school year and summer classwork/tutoring.
* You may be able to get a child excited about the upcoming school year with some fun, summer tutoring.
* It is still early enough that kids remember what they learned during the last school year, and this will be a great way of giving them a jumpstart for the fall.
* Some children have year round school - summer is just another season of learning for these youngsters.
* You can improve confidence, self-esteem, and knowledge by tutoring a kid during the summer. 

Now, without further ado, here is the first reason kids may benefit from summer tutoring.

Reason #1: Sometimes Kids Need Motivation Boosters!
Maybe you know a child who is notorious for making up excuses for why things can't be done - excuses for everything from not completing projects, to unfinished homework, to not studying for upcoming tests.

Maybe, as a parent, you have tried everything under the sun to get him or her to focus on finishing tasks, improve study habits, and tackle school projects.  Now that you've tried begging, pleading, nagging, and bribery (kidding! Well...kind of kidding...), try tutoring.  


Tutoring will help a child get excited about learning and achieving as he or she sees positive progress, and gets feedback from his or her tutor.  Tutoring also makes kids more accountable for the work that they bring home, and they will be much more likely to complete academic tasks if they own the work and know that the tutor will be asking about progress.

Stay tuned for summer tutoring reason #2!
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Notes from Charlie: Free tutoring

Recently, I had the opportunity to give something away to a group of people who were really enthusiastic about my gift.  It felt amazing!

What was I handing out to people? My tutoring services!

While on vacation, I had a chance to travel to the southern US (a few weeks, visiting family), and help out some local families who needed tutors for their kids who were taking summer classes. 

Many families were advertising (via flyers) that they needed the tutoring help.  Sadly, they were having a tough time getting tutoring help, because there was very little payment involved. 
Very sad, but true. 

Unfortunately, the area that I was visiting is an area of the US that has been devastated by the gulf oil spill, and parents who would have otherwise been paying standard rates for tutoring are now having a difficult time making ends meet.

So, I contacted some of these parents while I was there, and offered my tutoring services free of charge.

The parents were thrilled, and I felt great being able to help out - it was great for all of us!

What about your community? 
Are there any families who might appreciate a free gift of tutoring?
Might be a good thing to check out...trust me, it feels great!

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Tips from Charlie: The fun of math...no kidding!

Recently I had my fifth tutoring session with a 13 year old who hated (and I mean HATED) math.  He did everything he could to avoid doing his math homework, looked bummed out during tutoring, and dreaded going to math class. 

So, I did what every tutor is renowned for doing - I communicated with him about why he hated math so much.  His two main complaints:

1) Math is boring, and he'd never use it (how many times have I heard that one?)
2) He felt freaked out and unprepared during tests (which caused him to get low grades, increasing his dislike for math in general)

Well, the second issue I knew I could handle.  After all, tutoring not only increases a student's preparedness for classes and tests, but it also raises a student's confidence level. 

The first "I hate math" issue, on the other hand, would be a little bit more of a challenge. 

After all, my tutee was 13 years old, and I knew the standard "kid stuff" wouldn't fly.  He was working on Geometry at the junior high level.  So, I put away the worksheets aimed at the elementary school crowd, and started wracking my brain for fun activities that would engage (not insult) a teenager with a dislike for the mathematical arts.

We talked for a little while during our first tutoring session together, and eventually wound up on the subject of hobbies.  As it turned out (luckily for me), my tutee loved anything to do with space, astronomy, and rockets.

Eureka!  I had found something that related to geometry, and knew I had a way to connect with him during tutoring. 

I came up with a few worksheets that laid out geometry and angles as they related to rocket launches, related angles to various space concepts (such as meteors or UFOs falling to earth and casting shadows), and pretty much presented every math tutoring session as something to do with space and rockets.

So far it has been a huge hit, my tutee is excited about learning the new concepts, and he is even talking about being an astronomer or Air Force pilot someday. 

Best of all, he just got his last geometry test back this week, and we were both thrilled to see the "Great job! A-" at the top of the paper!

Tips from Charlie: Never too old to learn

Hi, all!  Just wanted to relay a really great experience I had a few days ago.

I got a call over the weekend from an elderly gentleman (87 years "young" he tells me!).  He asked me about math tutoring, inquired about my rates, etc.  Long story short, we set up an appointment to meet this past Wednesday. 

Now this may make me seem a bit close-minded, but for the first half of our phone conversation, I had assumed that the tutoring would be for his grandchild.  You see, Hank* had mentioned that this math tutoring was for a college course that would eventually lead to a degree in agriculture.  Hank also mentioned that it was a Sophmore level course.  Hearing the words "college," "degree," and "Sophmore," I am ashamed to admit that I jumped to the conclusion that Hank was seeking help for a 18-20 year old grandchild. 

I was completely and utterly wrong.

Hank (who is now officially one of my heroes!), decided last year, at the age of 86, to finally go back to school and get his Bachelor's degree.  In my opinion, that takes a lot of drive, a hefty dose of courage, and a huge amount of passion. 

Hank is officially one of the coolest college kids I know :)


* Name changed.

Tips from Charlie: In honor of Earth Day...

In honor of the upcoming Earth Day, I'm going to be highlighting some green ideas that will make your tutoring more eco-friendly.  So, without further ado, here are 3 simple ways to be a little kinder to the environment during your tutoring sessions!

1) Go paperless when you can
If you have learning tools or other handouts on your computer, send them via email to your tutee.  If you are tutoring your tutee in history, a timeline may be helpful, but it doesn't need to be printed out to be useful.  The same can be said of English grammar rules - many times the printed handout would be no more useful than having it on screen during essay writing. 

Even if your tutee prints out what you send, think of it this way: at least you are not both printing out the same document - half as much paper will be generated.

2) Be energy conscious. 
When possible, choose to tutor in an area with natural lighting - it's also easier on the eyes.  Try to travel by the most environmentally friendly method possible, to and from your tutoring sessions.  Even better would be to meet at a place where both of you are already going to be nearby, so you're combining trips.

3) Be mindful of your office supply choices.  
Use refillable mechanical pencils, reliable (and refillable) pens that last, recycled paper, and other recycled office supply choices.

Don't be surprised if your tutee begins to mimic your good choices.  Recently I had a tutee show off what she bought with the money her parents rewarded her with when she aced her final - a fancy schmancy mechanical pencil like mine!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 8

Hi, everyone. Charlie here with my last peer tutoring tip (and hopefully one that you will never even need).

Tip #8) Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Sometimes, no matter how great of a tutor you are, or how motivated your tutee is, a situation may arise in which you need assistance.  Sometimes a tutor and tutee are just not compatible, maybe there is some unresolved awkward tension that won't go away, or maybe there is some other issue that has arisen during tutoring. 

Maybe it is a tutee completely refusing to listen to his/her tutor, or exhibiting really inappropriate behavior.

Whatever the case,  you may not have to solve the problem yourself.  If you have a counselor, teacher, or other administrative professional in charge of the peer tutoring, bring the issue(s) up to him/her and get some advice.   Chances are that your supervisor will be able to help get things back on track and find a workable solution to the problem(s) using some different strategies.

If your supervisor isn't able to get the tutoring sessions back on track, he/she may decide that (due to compatibility issues, or any other reason), you and your tutee may not be able to effectively work together.  Don't take this personally - some tutors and tutees just do not mesh well.

Whatever happens, stay positive and committed to helping students and peers who need the assistance.  Chances are, you won't encounter this type of problem as a peer tutor, but it is always a good idea to be prepared!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 7

Hi, everyone - Charlie here with peer tutoring tip #7!

Peer tutoring tip #7: Listening the right way.

One of your most important tasks as a successful tutor is to be an effective listener.  A tutee's comments going "in one ear, and out the other" is no way to tutor.  You need to engage your tutee in effective communication during the tutoring.  Listen to your tutee's needs and questions during tutoring to prevent the tutoring session from turning into a lecture/classroom environment.  


During tutoring, it is also important to stimulate discussion and let your tutee know that he/she is being listened to during tutoring.  Ask questions, provide talking points, and answer any questions your tutee may have.  Discussing the material is a great way to tutor, because you will both be working towards a better understanding of the topics at hand.  Asking great questions is also a way to help the dialogue and knowledge stick in your tutee's mind so that he/she can replay it and utilize it after the tutoring has ended.


Listening and communicating also helps build tutoring rapport, because you are letting your tutee know that you are interested in his/her success.  Good listening will also help you as a tutor gauge your tutee's progress, and build future sessions based on previous knowledge covered (and understood by your tutee) during past tutoring sessions.  

As you can see, listening plays a huge role in peer tutoring success!
That's all for now, but stay tuned for peer tutoring tip #8, coming soon!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 6

Hi, Charlie again with peer tutoring tip #6!

Tip #6: Pay attention to body language.
Your body language, and the body language of your tutee, are both important (and often overlooked) elements of a tutoring session.  If the tutor has open, relaxed body language, it will put the tutee at ease, and make tutoring more effective. 

Smile, make eye contact (if your tutee is comfortable with it; some people are not, and that is OK), keep your body language open (no crossed arms or legs), lean in and pay attention to what your tutee is saying and show it with nods, offer hospitable gestures such as a handshake when the tutee arrives for tutoring. 

Maintaining open, relaxed, friendly body language will create a comfortable tutoring atmosphere that will make tutoring more effective and enjoyable for both of you.

Keep in mind, too, that although you may do all of these things, some tutees are naturally just more shy and introverted than others, and that is OK.  No need to force an introvert to be an extrovert - that's not your job.  Your job is to tutor.  If you have a shy tutee, give him or her some time to get comfortable with you and the tutoring.  It could be that he or she just needs a few tutoring sessions to open up and get more relaxed.

Well, that's all for now.  Stay tuned for tip #7, coming soon!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 5

Charlie here with tip # 5 for all you peer tutors!

Tip #5: Establish the best tutoring environment.
The tutoring environment and atmosphere is a really important, and often overlooked, aspect of tutoring.  As with most tutoring, it is important to establish a casual, quiet, neutral environment for your peer tutoring sessions.

This should be a fairly quiet place free from distractions so that you and your tutee can focus on tutoring instead of your surroundings.  Noisy cafeterias or crowded restaurants are especially bad choices since they are not only loud and distracting, but they also offer the hazard of food and drink on the table.  One wrong move and your study materials wind up covered in BBQ sauce and iced tea...trust me, I found out the hard way many years ago.

It is also a good idea to try and find a neutral meeting ground where each of you feel comfortable talking, and no one has a territorial advantage.  A quiet classroom with side-by-side seating or a private library study room are both great choices for peer tutoring.  The main floor of the library may not be a good choice, however, eve though there is plenty of quiet.  Why?  Because the forced quiet of the library may make conversation difficult.  Definitely opt for a private study room instead. 

Of course, if your peer tutoring program provides a designated space for the tutoring, that makes your job a bit easier when it comes to finding the perfect tutoring environment. Definitely take advantage of any provided tutoring spaces.  Chances are, the tutoring program coordinator already has set up an optimal tutoring setting. 

Well, that's it for tip #5, but stay tuned for tip #6, coming soon!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 4

Charlie here, again, with tip 4 for peer tutors!

Tip #4: Don't borrow from your tutee.
Yes, I know, another common sense tip, but, again, you'd be shocked how many peer tutors I have worked with who have borrowed from their peer tutees.  Even worse, many of them have forgotten to return the borrowed items.

The thing about peer tutoring is that, as the name suggests, you are working with a peer, maybe even a long time school friend.  This can lead to scenarios in which a tutor is so comfortable with the tutee on a friendship level that he/she starts acting more like a friend and less like a tutor. 

I knew one tutor who borrowed $1 from his tutee when he peer tutored back in high school.  The problem was that the tutor repeatedly forgot to pay the tutee back, the school year came to an end, and the tension between the two of them got so bad that they could not work together over the summer.  All that over $1. 

Another tutor I know borrowed a CD from his tutee, accidentally left it in the hot car during the tutoring session, and ruined it.  The tutee didn't want to say anything, and it led to some awkwardness. 

Still another tutor I knew borrowed school supplies from the tutee during every session (pencil lead, erasers, paper, folders, etc.).  This made the tutor seem frazzled and disorganized, and he did not get a very good review at the end of the semester.

No matter what the item is, or how much money it is, never borrow from your tutee.  Borrowing anything at all can make you look a lot less professional, and could even cause some unwanted tension in the future.  Sure, on occasion you may need to quickly borrow a pencil sharpener, or even a pencil, during the session, but make sure to return it, and remember extra pencils/a pencil sharpener for your next session.  Be prepared so that you can avoid borrowing anything. 

Well, that's it for now.  Stay tuned for Tip #5, coming soon!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 3

Hi, Charlie here, again, with peer tutoring tip #3, and this one is all about using your common sense!

Tip #3: Don't Be Late!
I know, common sense, right?  But you would be surprised how many people I have known during my years of tutoring who show up 5, 10, even 20 minutes late for their own tutoring sessions. 

Tutors who are on time are showing their tutees that they are taking their tutoring duties seriously.  Punctual tutors are also showcasing the fact that they are professional, enthusiastic, and eager to help their tutees learn.  In contrast, a tutor who is chronically late to tutoring sessions gives the impression that he/she doesn't care enough about the tutee, or the tutoring, to make it to the session on time. 

So try to be on time for every one of your tutoring sessions.  If you're running late for some unavoidable reason, make sure to let your tutee, or the person in charge of the tutoring sessions (teacher, administrator, etc.), know as soon as possible.

Stay tuned for peer tutoring tip #4!

Peer Tutoring: Tip 2

Hi guys, Charlie again with tip #2 of 8 for peer tutors:

Tip #2: Get the Details.
Find out exactly is involved in you being a peer tutor.   What are your exact tutor job duties?  Will you be helping your peer tutee with in class work?  Will you be tutoring the skills needed to improve homework assignments?  What type of student will you be tutoring?  How is he/she performing in class?  Where will you meet to tutor?

It is next to impossible to be a successful tutor if you aren't sure who you are tutoring, where you are tutoring, or what you will be doing.

Ask the person in charge of the tutoring program about the details, get the details from him/her.   If all else fails, make a quick appointment to meet with your peer tutee, and get the details for some of the above questions from him/her.

That's it for now; Stay tuned for Peer Tutoring Tip #3!