Money. So easy to spend, yet so hard to make. I learned this lesson the hard way from my parents who constantly emphasized that “money didn’t grow on trees.” Every allowance made from cleaning dishes and babysitting didn’t go toward Malibu Barbie or the red patent leather Mary Jane’s I’d always wanted, but was fed directly to my pink, plastic piggy. This was why when I was a senior in high school and prom time came around, it was no surprise that my parents wanted me to either pay my own way or go the Molly Ringwald way from ‘Pretty in Pink.’
Luckily, I had attended an SAT preparatory academy during high school to study for the SAT’s and had done well enough to get asked to teach there during the summers while I was in college. And that marked the beginning of my decade-plus long career as an SAT instructor. While I’ve had numerous jobs from being a barista to taking sushi delivery orders, no other job has given me the opportunity to pay my way through school and to gain financial independence from my parents.
From then on, I’ve always been fortunate enough to help a steady stream of students through word-of-mouth (thanks to all the tiger moms!) and this financial freedom has allowed me to take certain risks, ones that I would never have been able to do without these teaching gigs. For example, I had worked in publishing for some time and was seriously considering a career change, but without having a severance to fall back on, there was no way that I could’ve taken the leap without having tutoring’s safety net catch me.
Lesson 1: Get Everything in Writing
Whether you’re acting as a freelance tutor or working for a private institution, make sure all the terms, including number of hours worked, hourly rate, cancellation policy, etc., have all been discussed, negotiated, and on paper. If you’re working for a private institution, pay close attention to your hourly rate for a class versus a one-on-one tutoring session. Although logically, you should be getting paid more for a class in comparison to one-on-one tutoring since you’re teaching more students and the academy is making a greater profit, ironically, most places pay a flat hourly rate per class and a higher hourly rate for one-on-one tutoring simply because the hourly rate that it charges parents is higher. If you’re a freelance tutor, you’re your own boss, so you have the freedom to make your own hours and charge whatever you want per hour. But beware—that flexibility comes at a cost! Since parents are paying a higher hourly rate, they also have higher standards and demands, so if you can’t deliver, you won’t be able to maintain a steady workflow. Ultimately, by making sure that everyone’s on the same page, this will prevent unnecessary conflicts.
Lesson 2: Be Selective with Your Students and Don’t Overload Your Tutoring Schedule
If you’re working for a private institution, you don’t really have much of a choice in this matter. Since at the end of the day, it’s still a business, a private academy’s number one priority is profit, so it’ll do whatever is best for its bottom line. Because that’s the case, you’ll encounter all kinds of students, even troublesome ones, who’ll have absolutely no desire to learn, which means your success rate with them is generally low. But that’s not your problem—you didn’t choose them! With a private institution, you’re not liable for your success rate and won’t have to play PR manager with the parents either. However, if you’re working as a freelancer, know that reputation is gold and word-of-mouth goes a long way! Just because you have many students, doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a good tutor or that you’re the right tutor for a particular student. Ultimately, if you’re not a good fit with a student, he/she will neither perform well on the exam nor get into his/her first choice school, which can be damaging to your reputation. Don’t get me wrong—the money can be tempting, but remember that your hourly rate and the pool of students you have to choose from will be based on your success rate. Also, if you pack in too many students, then you won’t be able to provide the same focus and enthusiasm to each student (especially those later on in your schedule), which can hurt your success rate as well. I recommend a trial run with each potential student for about a month to see how well you mesh with him/her and take it from there.
Lesson 3: Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!
Whether you’re working for yourself or for an academy, preparation is a MUST. Be sure to review all the material that you’re going to cover in class because if you’re unprepared, students will take notice and are less likely to respect you let alone pay attention to you. If you’re working for a private institution, it will have the agenda set and resources made available to you, so all you need to do is show up. If you’re working for yourself, make sure you create a precise and focused road map of your plans then buy your books, create lesson plans and tests, and be ready to assign homework.
Lesson 4: Be Patient with Your Students
I know everyone’s all too familiar with the cliché quote, “patience is a virtue,” but there’s no other quality more necessary than in teaching. First, if you don’t like adolescents and can’t stand the teenage angst years, then this is definitely not the job for you. There are already so many odds stacked against the teacher-student relationship, ie-age, culture, and the usual differences in personality just to name a few, so a little patience can just a long way. Point out that this is a short-term goal (especially since we all know the short attention spans of teenagers!) and to relieve the pressure, emphasize that the SAT’s are just a means to an ends (more specifically, getting into college), which may help to manage them a bit easier. Don’t use threats or ultimatums. Instead, use your patience to learn to read your student well and find out what methods work when trying to get through to them.
Lesson 5: Just Have Fun
Do you remember that one teacher who always had a scowl on his face, barked through an entire class, and expected everyone to magically understand everything he taught? If you don’t like what you do, your attitude will be reflected in your demeanor and in your ability to teach. The money is only a temporary incentive, and eventually, you’ll turn into a cantankerous wolfman (or woman!) who’ll make everyone suffer, but most importantly, not learn anything! Know that whether it’s tutoring for yourself or at an academy, you have an amazing opportunity to make some good money AND to mold the minds of tomorrow’s generation. I’m have never been prouder of myself than when I was contacted by an ex-student who told me that he got into his top choice university because I pushed him to work a little harder and dream a little bigger. Being able to help a student realize his/her potential and help them to achieve his/her goal is the most fulfilling aspect of the job, something that even money can’t replace.
It is a refreshing take on how it feels to be like a tutor. I did a part time tutoring job also, teaching English to Korean students which is more taxing because of the language barrier and these kids are already spent by the time you get them since in Korea 85% of a kid and a teenager’s life is spent in school. Tutoring is indeed a lucrative job as long as you know what market you are going to target and it does help in giving you the financial freedom instead of drowning in student loans. College students should actually try it.
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I think that you made some very valid points; especially about not overloading your schedule. I travelled Asia teaching English to help fund my lifestyle and I made the mistake of working too much at first.
The passing of knowledge is suppose to be fun and is suppose to be an experience. Now I just relax, smile and enjoy being a tutor.
Well,preparation is the best key to be a good tutor for me. Together with patience, you’re surely lasts the teaching session. Just assure that you provide lessons with quality and fun learning. Thanks for the article, I’ll keep them in mind!
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I like your idea about getting everything in writing. We have to make sure that everything is in order and in written form. I also wanted to teach but I don’t think I have the patience lol
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It is nice to be a tutor for those children deserve to be teach. Although i ve seen to them that it really hard for them to know But they tried their best,It is a refreshing take on how it feels to be like a tutor.Thanks!
When I am teaching, I always ask my students if they get what I mean and I ask them to repeat it. Repeated information believe it or not a good way to remember stuff. Which is great!
Gregory
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Preparation is essential for teaching, I’m not dreaming of to be a teacher cause it’s hard it takes a lot of patience in kids.
I say that being a tutor takes a lot of work. you should be able to prepare ahead and expect the unexpected.
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These are awesome tips. I never even thought of being an SAT tutor but that is something I could actually do. Getting everything in writing is very smart and I definitely agree about having fun!
I always ask my students if they get what I mean and I ask them to repeat it. Repeated information believe it or not a good way to remember stuff. Which is great!
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Hey
It is my dream in becoming a great tutor, that is why I am searching for an article that could give out some beneficial and qualitative ideas and tips. And this is one of it. I am so glad to be entangled in this article of yours. Nearly wanting to utilize all the ideas that you had spoken. Thanks.
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It’s difficult to feel the fulfilling aspect of the job with kids these days. Though i’m sure kids are kids no matter of the generation. How do teachers manage it? I know most can’t, but there’s still a hand of them that enjoy the job.
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Teaching or Tutoring kids a very fulfilling job, yet it can also be very difficult especially if you need to deal with different kids. Some students can easily be handled, while some can also be very difficult so it is important for a tutor to have patience in teaching his/her student.
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Great post. Tutoring is a very interesting position. I’ve always been interested in the dynamic between student and tutor, and the best tools to not just “tell” but “show” someone what you already know. Ever work in a writing center by any chance? Most college campus have them.
I think teaching kids have become more challenging these days. Things have changed so much so certainly all these factors influence them as well, all these developments leaves an impact. I think with so many facilities kids are smarter these days. I do not have the patience to tutor but I agree that tutoring is the noblest, the most respectable job.
It’s hard to be a tutor but not impossible. If you manage to be a great tutor, then you are extraordinarely, being a tutor is a hard ‘job’ but the feeling of taking care of ‘your’ child is unbelievably good. It’s hard to take care of kids, especially nowadays, but it’s funny too, children are angels!
I think that you made some very valid points; especially about not overloading your schedule. I travelled Asia teaching English to help fund my lifestyle and I made the mistake of working too much at first.
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Thanks for sharing these tutoring secrets (it’s the first time when I hear about them). I’ll pass them on to my nephew which finishes high school next year. I don’t know if I’ll have time to read your blog again this year, so I wish you now Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Thank you for these advices. I’ve always thought that if things go wrong i’ll be able to get by with some tutoring about computers or even just the internet. These should come in handy if that time comes, though i hope it’ll pass me by.
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great post, excellent valid points; especially about not overloading your schedule. we are all guilty of this, teaching your knowledge to others is a very fulfilling experience, its my passion in life and i get paid to do it
Good tips. Unfortunately, I’m on the other side of the barricade: when I was a student, I needed tutoring. At least I know now that I had a good tutor
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Very analytical writing, *GOOD*
I am a Private tutor in my locality. Being a tutor is not that easy its become clear from your writing. It will help the beginner to understand tutoring process.
Good luck
John.
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I always ask my students if they get what I mean and I ask them to repeat it. Repeated information believe it or not a good way to remember stuff. Which is great!
These are really nice tips for a tutor. It is not necessary a studious person become a good tutor. I like your points. Great Job
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You definitely want to make it fun for your students. Select the students who you think will make the best student to work with. It’s not that hard.
This is a very helpful article for students. They usually don’t have time for a job, even if it’s part-time.
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Yes, the key to be a great tutor is just to be yourself and have fun on whatever you’re doing. The other side is being patient that values the passion of every teacher. This really helps someone who wants to be a great teacher or a tutor.
You can’t always choose your students but you can help provide a positive experience by making sure that they understand what you’re teaching them and that they enjoy it the majority of the time
your five points are very important. Being selective about my students is one point i will take more to heart because of my experience with a number of students.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers!