10 summer tips for tutors

With over 25 years' experience in the education sector, Michellejoy Hughes is our resident 'expert tutor'. This month, Michellejoy shares with us her top tips for tutors this summer, including everything from helping pupils deal with exam stress to Professional Development.

1. Maintaining motivation: Late nights, playing out, day trips away – the summer holidays are packed with exciting activities that can leave pupils distracted when it comes to their tuition. One way of combatting this is to create a summer motivation chart. Set homework as usual, but give each child a sheet of 100 squares. When they complete their homework they will score a square for each paper/test they do, but for some weeks it will be ‘Bonus Week’. Pupils will roll a dice and whatever number is rolled, it is then used to multiply the number of squares coloured in on the sheet. When the pupil completes their chart, they are rewarded with a book or some other suitable prize.
2. Perfecting exam technique: This is crucial if you have pupils with exams coming up. Giving, or loaning each pupil a bright, inexpensive kitchen timer is a tactic that works every time. It is amazing how competitive children can be when they are trying to beat their own time! However, as I know from past experience, make sure you only reward correct answers completed within the time limit and don’t reward a child who rushes through the paper in order to beat the time limit and then scores poorly in the test.
3. Holidays and tuition: Fitting tuition around a child’s holiday can be tricky, but there are some easy ways to tackle it. Before the end of term I get some folders and make up a pack of test papers, sheets of working out paper, a pencil, a pencil sharpener and an eraser – nobody goes on holiday with stationery! Technology is also a wonderful thing. Skype lessons with pupils both abroad and in the UK are great when a pupil is away for many weeks or months and still needs lessons. If that’s not possible email is still a great way of keeping in touch.
4. Mental preparation: Preparing pupils mentally for upcoming exams can be difficult. One method that works for me is to write down some key words on slips of paper that are stored in an envelope. Words such as ‘positive’, ‘fear’, ‘success’, ‘balance’, ‘joy’, ‘worry’, ‘pressure’, ‘relaxation’, ‘work’ and ‘calm’ are all good words to start with. I encourage my pupils to choose a slip each day and to think of the word and how it might apply to them. They then write down their thoughts on the back of the slip of paper or in a notebook and we discuss them in their next lesson, which is a great way of helping them get any worries or fears off their chests.
5. Prepare for next term: Summer is a great time to stock check and to ensure enough books, test papers and stationery are ordered. The summer holidays are also a good time to be in for deliveries and there are sometimes summer offers on books and test papers to take advantage of.
6. 'New Academic Year Resolutions': Take some time this summer time to evaluate what has gone well and what could be improved over next the academic year. If you had to keep one thing and change one thing, what would they be? It can be as simple as sharpening the pot of pencils, to making sure that invoices are sent out on time. Whatever you need to do to make things more effective for you, your pupils and their parents.
7. Professional Development: As tutors, we don’t always have access to the same professional development as other teachers so make sure you develop this yourself. Learn a new skill, embark on a new project, or study for a new qualification. (Remember: if it is professional development, it is also tax deductible.)
8. Sort out your ‘in’ tray: Use the time to sort out accounts, paperwork and anything else that you can do before the new term. Make sure that your receipts and invoices are organised and that bank statements are filed to make annual accounts less onerous. Sometimes a summer break gives you the time to dream of how your working life could be improved. Would employing an administrator/cleaner/assistant for a couple of hours a week help you achieve more?
9. Build your network: Tutoring can be a lonely job and making contact with other tutors and teachers can be useful. It is also useful to network in order to gain new pupils, to find contacts that could help you in running a successful business, and to gain help and advice. There are lots of groups such as Women in Business, Business Links and Business Breakfast Clubs designed to help you meet other business people. What about conventions and education shows and inspirational business lectures? Or, if there’s nothing suitable, why not start a support group yourself for other tutors or local business owners?
10. Have a break! It’s important for you to have a break at some point over the summer too. If that’s not possible because you’ve got so many pupils, don’t forget to try and maintain a healthy work/life balance. For example, try and keep regular working hours, avoid checking email just before bed, and keep everything related to work in a dedicated workspace instead of letting it take over your home. If your pupils have got exams coming up, it can create stress for you. Remember why you are a tutor. Tutoring is a flexible job, it provides an income, it fits around us and our family and a whole host of other benefits, but ultimately, we do this job because we care deeply for our pupils. We want to build our pupil’s confidence, to develop in them a love of learning, and to help them succeed in life. Even if there is work to do, allow yourself and your pupils to enjoy the summer. All we need now is some nice weather!

Michellejoy Hughes

With the 11+ coming hot on the heels of the summer break, make sure you take a look at our GL Assessment and CEM (University of Durham) exam papers.