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Profitable Tutoring
In the following series, Philip White, a Maths tutor for over 15 years, offers tips on how to start and run a successful private tutoring practice.
Chapter List
7 TUTORING
7. TUTORING
7.1 Duration of lessons
The vast majority of pupils I have questioned on this topic agree that one
hour is about right. Only two pupils have said that they would have liked
longer lessons. Very young pupils have a shorter attention span, so you may
like to consider half-an-hour, or three quarters of an hour tutorials.
7.2 Lesson times
One of the disadvantages of tutoring is that evening/Saturday work is
unavoidable.
It is nice if you can schedule lessons during the day, for example if you
are tutoring sixthformers who have both their own transport, and free time
during the day. However, on weekdays, most of your lessons are likely to be
scheduled between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
I always like to arrange my lessons in blocks of at least two hours, but no
more than five hours duration.
Five consecutive hours tuition is not easy, but you will find that you get
used to it. I do not schedule breaks between lessons because there is
usually insufficient time to relax before the next lesson. Four 15 minute
breaks add up to one hour of lost tuition time.
Of course, if you are only planning a few hours tuition a week, you will not
need to get too involved in scheduling.
However, I once spoke to a fellow tutor who said that she felt that one
hour's tuition seemed to take up the entire evening. I smiled, thinking of
the occasions when I have actually tutored for six consecutive hours or
more.
7.3 Tutorial record sheets
I always keep a record of all my lessons on a record sheet. I list the
lesson number, date, main topics covered, exam questions completed, and
homework set.
Such records are essential if you are going to produce Progress Reports. It
also useful to be able to refer back to what you have done in previous
lessons, as well as conveying a professional image to your pupils and
parents.
7.4 Dress considerations
If you are tutoring from home, you may feel tempted to tutor in whatever you
happen to be wearing. Do not.
Always try and maintain a professional image. You would not wear your
jogging trousers to the office. Why wear them during your lessons?
The manner of your dress can have important psychological implications. If
you dress sloppily, your pupils, and perhaps more important their parents.
will perceive your tuition as being sloppy.
7.5 Textbooks
You will need access to the books being used by your pupils. It may be more
convenient to buy them, in which case you will be able to claim the cost as
a legitimate business expense.
Keep your eye on the ads in your local paper for pupils who have finished
with their books, and who are looking to sell them secondhand. If you do buy
any books secondhand, make sure you get a receipt.
Remember that you can reserve a book at your local library.
7.6 Holidays
When forecasting your tuition income, remember to take into account the
school holidays, when your income will be considerably reduced.
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Page Last Updated: 12th November 2006
Site Last Updated: 4th May 2008
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