Question: Hi, Micki, I have a question about an awkward situation that just happened to me. I have been tutoring someone in junior high for about 2 years now. I have always gotten along well with my student, and my student's parents. My student's test results and homework improvement have been excellent, too. Overall a great experience, and never any problems. Until now, that is.
Tonight, I went to cash the check from my student's parents and it bounced. I feel really awkward bringing it up to them, but I need to get paid in order to pay my own bills, etc. I am not sure if they did this on purpose because money is tight, or if they honestly didn't know what would happen. Thoughts or suggestions on how to handle this?
Thanks!
Anonymous in CA
Answer: Hi there, Anonymous. Sorry to hear about the awkward situation. Billing issues can definitely be the not-so-enjoyable part of the tutoring business.
The good news is that chances are it was an honest mistake on the part of your student's/tutee's parents. I am almost 100% certain that they did not mean to give you a bad check, nor did they intend for this awkward billing issue to happen.
I remember way back in my early college years I had switched bank accounts, and accidentally wrote out a check from the wrong account - the one that had been closed. Of course the check didn't go through, I was embarrassed, and I made sure to keep better records in the future. The point is that mistakes happen, and they are usually easier to fix than you may think.
What I would do is discreetly bring up the issue to your tutee's parents while your tutee is out of the room. Mention that there was a problem with the check, and politely ask if there is any way that you could get your tutoring payment again. Make sure to bring tutoring billing records, tutoring log sheets, etc. with you.
They will probably be a bit embarrassed by what happened, and will do what they can to make it right ASAP. Give them the benefit of the doubt. It could have been a simple bank account mixup.
Whatever you do, stay polite, patient, and professional - besides this one billing issue, they sound like dream clients that you want to keep.
Good luck and, as always, happy tutoring!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, March 15, 2010
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 #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!
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