Schools Lesson Toolkit

Occasionally you might encounter a tricky scenario when tutoring on the Schools Programme. Here some of our top tips on how to deal with them: 

My pupil is really shy

• Build their confidence by starting off with activities that you know they will be able to do easily
• Give them lots of positive feedback
• Include tasks that are non-verbal
• Take some time to get to know your pupil, and try to build a rapport

My pupil forgets what we've covered

• Start the session with a recap of key points that will be useful in this session - begin with simple tasks then get progressively harder based on their responses
• Recap regularly within the tutorial - regular consolidation builds deeper understanding
• Create mnemonics and other memory tricks together as part of the lesson activities

I'm struggling to explain something to my pupil

• Try using a diagram, animation or video - sometimes a visual representation of a concept is helpful (and gives the student a break from your voice!)
• Take it back to basics - if one of the underlying concepts is unclear this should be addressed first.
• Ask advice from other tutors  (e.g. through the MyTutor facebook forum)

My pupil seems disengaged

• Find out what their interests are, so you can make the examples you use more relevant to them
• Use fun activities whenever possible e.g. games and quizzes
• If this is a regular problem - let us know! Email the MyTutor team at  support@mytutor.co.uk - we can pass this information back to the school

My pupil doesn't do what I ask

• Try to determine why - is it is because they can’t or won’t do what you ask?
• Check your student understands what you’re asking them to do - often the language used in an instruction could be confusing
• Ensure the task is manageable, break it down into smaller mini-tasks which are easier at first and get progressively more challenging
• If this is a recurring problem - let us know! Email the MyTutor team at support@mytutor.co.uk - we can get in touch with the school to address any ongoing issues

My pupil seems upset

• This can be distressing for both you and them. Keep calm, respond sensitively and give your pupil time to offload
• If your pupil is sufficiently calm, try to continue with the tutorial you have planned - it might be a welcomed distraction for them!
• Listen carefully to any information your pupil shares with you. If you have any concerns from a safeguarding perspective be sure to follow the MyTutor safeguarding procedure, make written notes during the conversation (or as soon possible afterwards) and pass this information to the MyTutor team ASAP at support@mytutor.co.uk