Top 7 Mistakes Made by Tutors

Tutors like other educators, make a plethora of mistakes along the way, especially if they are still new to this profession. From being unprepared during a tuition session or placing too much emphasis on a particular topic, these are some of the most common blunders they make.

However, we need to understand that tutors enter the teaching profession with one main goal in mind - to make a positive difference in their students’ lives. But even those with the purest intention can complicate their mission if they are not careful enough.

That is why tutors much work hard to avoid common pitfalls that will make their job harder. Here is a list of common mistakes every tutor might make, and our advice on how to avoid them.
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• Trying to teach an alternative curriculum

As a maths tutor in Melbourne, it is essential that we follow the lessons and guidelines under the Victorian Curriculum since it is the leading curriculum designed for students in Victoria. It would be a mortal sin to teach an alternative curriculum since it will not only confuse your students, but it will also deviate your lesson plan leaving it ineffective.

• Focusing too much on skills and not enough on contextual problem solving

 
An effective maths tutor must not only focus on skills and shortcuts, but they must also help students construct a deep understanding of mathematical processes through contextual problem-solving. This means they must be engaged to explore, test, and verify their solutions to various mathematical problems.

• Not recognising each student as an individual and focusing on their individual needs

 
Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses, so tutors must focus on their individual needs. Their lesson plan and teaching style must be flexible and conform to their student’s current skills and knowledge.

• Rushing through multiple concepts in each session

 
Information overload is real, and you wouldn’t be an effective tutor if you rush through various concepts in one session. Try dividing difficult concepts into bite-size and easy to digest lessons. This will provide your student more time to learn each concept by heart before you move on to more challenging lessons.

• Not allowing time for summaries and reflection

 
After each tuition, you should ensure that your student understood what you taught them, and the best way to do this is to let them summarise the lesson. You will also know the gaps and misconceptions once they have explained to you what they have learned.

• Not embracing technology

 
You should take advantage of our modern technology and use it to engage your student and enhance their learning. There are useful apps that can let you track the progress of your student and artificial intelligence that can provide you with data that you can use in your lesson plan.

• Not building a good rapport and connection with your students

Building rapport with your student can be tricky, but it can make a difference when teaching. That is why a good tutor should be approachable and easy to get along with. They often use humour to set up a more relaxed and friendly environment that could develop into a stronger tutor to student relationship.

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