How should I start tutoring ?

Question

I'm currently going to be a sophmore in high school and I was interested in tutoring kids this summer / during the school year. I'm in honors classes and the IB Program. I wanted to tutor kids in elementary and junior high school. How would I start my tutoring "business" and how would I get my students? How / Where should I publicize my tutoring ? Also, how much should I charge per hour? Should I go to their home or meet at the library or invite them to my house? Thank you for all your help.

Answer 1

Do the community center/church route to start. even volunteer. Or apply to Kaplan or Sylvan for aide jobs in summer school programs.

It is very difficult to tutor without a planned curriculum unless you want to do homework help, which is frankly a zoo. Easiest way to build your own is work for a company that has its own and build a library. This way you have a manual to use when needed to match materials to the student.

Middle schools are a good target for "HS Prep" for graduating MS students.

Answer 2

Start first by asking some teachers in the subjects you want to tutor to write a short reference for you telling potential people (parents) who might hire you, what sort of student you are plus anything they feel is germaine--"Mary is a mature individual and I know I can count on her in school to help another student," etc.  (Make a number of photocopies that you can show the parents and put them in plastic sleeves so they don't get mangled and bent.)

Tell these teachers what you intend to do and ask if they would be willing to refer you to younger students who need additional help.  Your teachers might also suggest what the going rate is for tutoring help.  (At the very least, you can ask for minimum wage per hour.)

Chances are good, too, that your teachers will know teachers of younger students in these same subjects, and they may be willing pass your name along to those teachers, or at least put you in contact with the other teachers.  (Teachers may not be willing to do this so as not to be held responsible for your actions.  So don't be disappointed if you are turned down,  but it's worth a shot.)

Print up some flyers with the very large title "TUTORING."  Next line, "for elementary and middle school students in:  then list the subjects you feel capable teaching."  "Reasonable rates, Teacher references available, Honor student at "name of your school."  Meet students at a neutral place, such as the library.  This will help you control distractions and help your students focus on your instruction.  You will need a way for people to contact you, so list your cell phone or set up a special e-mail account for just this purpose, one with a professional sounding name.  "MarysTutoring@****.com."

Treat it as a real business, buy a notebook or calendar to keep your appointments and be on time.  Explain to parents that your hourly fee includes 55 (or 50) minutes of instruction, so that you can make progress notes in their student's file (or section of your notebook.)

In order to show progress, test your students in the subjects at the first meeting and make notes to show parents what their students have achieved.  (For example, "Austin has trouble with his multiplication tables for 4, 6, & 7."  Once he has mastered this, you can keep a worksheet in the file.)   Showing measurable progress is the best way to keep your students and get referals from happy parents.

You might also offer small discounts for more than two subjects or more than one kid per family.  You might offer one free session to parents who refer other parents and students.  

Decide ahead of time how often you want to be paid, per session, or per week and tell the parents up front.  After you have some experience, you may want to ask parents to sign up for a minimum of 5 sessions or 10 sessions, or whatever.

Ask permission and put the flyers in places that parents are likely to see them, such as community bulletin boards in grocery stores and churches in your neighborhood.  You might also try a posting on Craigs List.

Follow up with a phone call or e-mail to your students' parents regularly to see if they are happy with the child's progress and if there is anything they feel the students need additional help with.  If a parent is really happy with your work, ask them to write you a short reference letter.  This will have as great or greater impact on potential clients that the original teacher's letters.

Answer 3

One way to start is by letting teachers know you want to tutor.  They will be able to recommend you to parents that  they think you would be a good match with their child.  Another way, that may not help right now, is to volunteer during the school year one or two days after school.  This will help to get your name out there and then you can charge starting the next summer.  Going through a church is also a good idea.