How to get the most out of tutoring

Tutoring styles vary highly with individual students, but as with anything else, the more a student puts into the session, the more he or she will get out of the session.  

The following are some common sense steps to effective tutoring.

• Tutoring is no replacement for the teacher:: Tutoring can help reinforce what you learn in the classroom and help explain the concepts in more detail or in different ways to enhance understanding, but it is no replacement for learning from your teacher.  To get the most out of tutoring, strive to get the most out of your class.  Pay attention in class and take good notes.
• Do your homework:  You will get much more out of your tutoring time going over homework, correcting mistakes and misconceptions than you could if you spend your tutoring time getting your homework done.
• Prepare for the tutoring session: Go over your lessons and homework so that we can spend the hour directly attacking your problems instead of spending time discovering the problems.  
• Let me know when you don't understand:  Communication is important.  If my examples and explanation are still not clear enough, let me know.  We will go over the concepts until you feel confident and fully understand the concept to the best of your ability.
• Practice, practice, practice: Every musician and athlete knows that only way to get really good at something is to practice.  Mathematics in no exception. Remember, mathematics is not a spectator sport!