Four things you want to make sure you cover in your first tutor session.

First tutor session

Did you get to see the eclipse… hopefully you did, it was pretty awesome. Today we’re going to cover something that we should have covered earlier but we’ve been busy. What should you make sure you cover during that first tutor session. If you have younger students, you’ll of course want their parents / guardians to attend the first part of the session. How young they are determines whether the parents will need to be present for the other tutor sessions.

1. Contact information – You’ll want the student to have several ways to contact you. You will also need a way to contact them (several ways are better than one).
   Phone – A number where they can always reach you or leave a message if they need to. Explain what hours your business is open. When your business is not open, they’ll get an answering machine. Just make sure you check your messages every morning when you get started.
   Text – up to you, if you enjoy texting and can respond promptly then give them the information.
   Email / Facebook – Another method. Unless you have this synched to your phone it wouldn’t work for time sensitive things.
2. Goals for the sessions – your students should know exactly what you’ll be doing during the tutor sessions. Let them know how the sessions will go and what they can expect. If you give them homework, things to do then let them know when you’ll review that with them. Remind them it is up to them to make you aware of tests / assignments / papers that are coming up. If you’ve tutor students with the same teacher, you may have an idea, but you’ll want them to let you know the schedule for tests etc. as soon as possible. You’ll want to create a calendar for them that outlines things you’ll be covering. Make sure they bring a text book with them so you can make sure you have a copy of it.

   Review also the student / parent goals and expectation, provide your plan for how you’re going to help them meet the goal.

3. Rules – What are your rules. Give a list to the students and the parents. Make both sign it and give a copy to you. Make sure you at least include the following in your rules.
   Attendance
   Missing a tutor session
   Cancellation time frames
   Homework
   Conduct during the tutor sessions
   Hours the student needs to study
4. Confirm tutor times / introduce the tutor – make sure the student knows the time / hours you’ll be tutoring them. If you tutor them at a specific location, remind them where that is. Explain they should come a few minutes early and expect to stay a few minutes later.

Hope this helps a bit. Don’t forget to remind them about telling people about your tutoring service.