Tutor Resource

The 7 Tenets of Tutoring: Time Management

Time management impacts every aspect of a session -- from the time it is requested to the time it ends. It is one of the
key elements to ensuring student satisfaction. Effectively managing time in every session can be accomplished by
focusing attention on the moment and the student being worked with, responding in a timely fashion, shifting approach
quickly when necessary, and asking questions/providing information with the intention of always moving the session
forward.

Below is a list of tips for managing time effectively during various situations that occur during sessions.

Session Requests
Session requests should NOT be accepted if Tutors do not have at least 15-20 minutes available to assist the student. If
Tutors are nearing the end of their shift, requests should be declined and the tutor should log out to avoid receiving
additional requests.

Clarifying
While asking too many questions can lead to student frustration, not asking enough questions can lead to wasted time,
not transferring the student quickly enough, and choosing an ineffective strategy.
Always take the time to ask questions to clarify:
• the nature of the student’s question
• how much the student already knows (what work have they already done or tried?)
• what the student hopes to accomplish by the end of the session

Student: I need help with my essay.

Scenario 1
Tutor: I can definitely help with that! Is there something in particular that you would like me to focus
on?

Student: I was hoping you could check my grammar for me.

Tutor: I sure can! Let’s start with the first paragraph. Is there anything there that you had some
thoughts on as we get started?

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Setting Expectations
Without a roadmap for the session, time cannot be managed effectively. Once the scope of the work to be done is
clarified…
• Let the student know what can realistically be achieved in your time together before getting started.
• Be ready to update and communicate changes to the expectations along the way when unexpected twists and
turns are encountered (e.g., if the student needs remedial help, the question presented at the start of the session
may not end up being the focus of the session).
• Be clear in the expectations as the session progresses. Updating the student ensures they will not be caught off
guard when the session comes to an end.

Student: can you help me with my problems?

Tutor: I took a quick look and I see 10 problems on this sheet. Is there a specific one you would like to
work on?

Scenario 2
Student: no i have to do all of them

Tutor: Ok. How about we do a few together to make sure you understand the concepts and then you
should be able to do the rest on your own. Sound good?

Student: yep!

Tutor: Great! Let’s get started with the first one.

Choosing the Right Approach

Once the needs have been clarified and expectations stated, the tutor can make an informed decision for an approach
with which to start the session. This might be asking leading questions, completing a similar example with explanations,
recommending a helpful resource, or just providing a second set of eyes to ensure the student is on the right track. As
the session progresses, the approach may need to change if the student struggles or simply doesn’t know the next step.

Tutor: Do you remember from your class discussions what some of the causes of the US Civil War were?

Student: ummm not really.

Scenario 3

Tutor: No problem :-) I have a website that we can look at together

Tutor: ok, so this website talks about 6 different causes to the war. Let’s take one at a time and talk
through them a little.

Student: ok :-)

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Transferring Sessions
During the course of the session, there will be times when transferring the student to another tutor is an appropriate
course of action. This might occur when ideas are not being communicated/received clearly, the student requests it, or
if an emergency arises on the tutor’s end. When it comes to transfers…
• Always clarify the student’s needs quickly to determine if a transfer is the best course of action.
• Avoid transferring beyond 30 minutes
• Before making the decision to transfer, work to empower the student with information that would allow them
to work independently without needing to immediately connect to another tutor.

Bringing the Session to a Close

Sessions that are very short do not always ensure enough time is taken to ensure the student’s needs are met. Sessions
that are very long can lead to learner fatigue and set false expectations for students as to how long they will have in
future sessions. By utilizing effective time management in all aspects of a tutoring session, the ultimate goal of ensuring
student understanding can be achieved.

Tutor: Great job on these problems! It looks like you are really getting the hang of these :-)
Tutor: Since we have about 10 minutes left, do you have any questions about what we worked on

Scenario 4
today, anything you need clarification for?

Student: yeah, in the last problem we did, could go through that last step with me again. I just want to
make sure I am clear.

Tutor: Sure! Let’s take a look.

The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.

www.tutor.com  110 E 42nd St, Suite 700, New York, NY 10017