27/5/2014

How to Tutor Math Effectively - Techniques for Using the Textbook

How to Tutor Math Effectively Techniques for Using the Textbook

by MoonByTheSea
609 Follow ers

When working with students, youve

probably heard things like, No matter
how hard I study, I just cant seem to
do well on my math exams or Im just
not mathematically inclined; theres
nothing I can do to improve. In these
situations, a tutor will often take a
hammer approach, or continuing to
repeat the same drills and
explanations over and over until they
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sink in. Unfortunately, this approach is
generally ineffective and will only frustrate your student. Often, the students
problem is simply not knowing how to study math correctly. As a tutor, guiding your
students in techniques for effectively using their textbooks will help them build
foundational skills for long-term success in math.
Help your students apply the following steps when using their math books, and you
should see a noticeable difference in their learning. Help your student learn to

Step 1: Survey the Chapter

Preview the chapter by identifying key concepts, definitions, and methods.
Dont worry about understandingyour goal is to get a taste of whats coming
so that youre mentally warmed up and familiar with some key terms before
going into more detail.

Step 2: Read and Reread the

Textbook
Read slowly and reread passages
you dont understand. Math
textbooks are not repetitiveeach
word is important.
(As a tutor, avoid the temptation
to jump in and offer clarification
and additional explanations.
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Instead, work on helping your
students to develop the reading
skills to comprehend the text on their own. For example, you could suggest
something like, This is a tricky concept. Its ok if it doesnt make sense right
away. Try rereading the passage again, and this time break it apart into
smaller pieces and follow along with the diagram for each part. Your students
will be much better served if you help them gain this valuable skill rather than
just re-explaining the concept to them using the hammer method.)
Pay particular attention to mathematical concepts. If you understand the
concepts, you should be able to do any kind of problem, even those that are
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27/5/2014

How to Tutor Math Effectively - Techniques for Using the Textbook

different from ones you have practiced. This is why youll often hear students
complain that problems on the exam were different from what they studied in
classthe instructor is testing your ability to apply the mathematical concepts
to new situations, not your ability to memorize example problems.
Read relevant sections before theyre introduced in class, not after. Then, you
can use class time to clarify points of confusion. Try ityou may be surprised
at how much more youre able to learn during class time if youve previewed
the material.

Step 3: Do Example Problems

Math concepts are learned by
doing problems, not just by
reading. As you read each subsection in a chapter, copy down
the example problems on a
separate sheet of paper and
attempt them on your own.
Even if you get stuck on a
problem and need to refer to the
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books solution, do the problem
again on your own after reading the solution.

Step 4: Do Homework
Problems
Do the homework problems
without looking up the answer until
after completing the problem.
When you get stuck, refer back to
example problems for clues.A
common mistake I see students
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make is looking up the answer
while in the process of attempting
a problem. You will learn the material better if you do the problems without first
looking at the answer key. Plus, you wont have this safety net when you take
your exam.
After you complete your homework for a given chapter, practice a few
problems from earlier chapters. Math books typically group problems into
chapters by concept, so continually reviewing earlier chapters ensures that
youre deeply learning these concepts.
At first, your students might be frustrated that youre making them think so much
on their own without just giving them hints or even the answer. When this
happens, explain to them that you wont be there to give them hints when theyre
taking their exams. Instead, your goal is to give them the skills they need to
succeed on their own and without your help. I promise you, your students will
eventually thank you for it!

More guides to effective tutoring

How to Tutor Effectively - Some Research-Based Approaches
What does the research say about good tutoring techniques? And how can
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27/5/2014

How to Tutor Math Effectively - Techniques for Using the Textbook

you be an effective tutor by putting these principles into practice?

How to Tutor Effectively - Asking Good Questions
By asking the right questions during a tutoring session, you can make sure
your student is actively engaged in the learning process, promoting deeper
understanding of the subject matter.

References and Further Reading

Reading a Math Textbook - Cynthia Arem, Ph.D., Pima Community College
Reading a Mathematics Text Perla Myers, University of San Diego
How to Read a Math Textbook Eric Neill, University of Houston Victoria
Last updated on January 22, 2014

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