Peer Tutors Handbook

Attendance Policies:

• All generals are mandatory. Please reach out to your Content Director if you have any issues attending a meeting via email with the club sponsors CC’d.

• Missing a Shift: You are allowed to miss 3 shifts without having to complete a makeup shift each semester. After 3 unexcused absences, you will be required to makeup shifts in order to retain membership and receive volunteer hours. 

• If you are missing a shift, you must fill out this form at least 24 hours in advance: (this will send out an email to the adult tutors of your content area and advise them of your absence.) 

• If you would like to make up your shift, choose one of the following options:

  • Create a submission for the the Content Database: Submission Instructions 

  • Email your Content Director to arrange for an alternative shift. Depending on your subject, your Content Director may or may not be able to accommodate your request.

• • Get to the ILC/ELC, Guided Study on time

  • Check in on the PEER TUTORS Computer (At the Science Desk in the ELC, or the center table by English in the ILC). Please scan your ID or input your ID number at the computer then put on a Peer Tutors lanyard.

  • Check in with the adult tutor, they will be taking attendance for all shifts. If your Content Area adult tutor is not present, you MUST check-in with a different adult tutor.

  • At the end of your shift, check out with the Adult Tutor. Please let your adult know that you are leaving, and rescan your ID or input your ID number at the computer at the PT Computer. Then drop off your lanyard in the basket.

• • Connection/relationship building

    • • Create a personal connection with your tutee by Introduce yourself first and then ask for the student’s name

      • ex. How are you doing today? Ask a follow-up question related to their response.

  • Set the purpose

    • Why are you here? (clarify class and level)

    • Can I see what you need help with? Can you show me what part you are struggling with?

      • • (*Note: Don’t be afraid to use student resources to refresh on older content and construct the tutoring session. If you don’t feel comfortable with the content, ask another peer tutor or adult tutor for help).

  • Tutoring Strategies

    • Throughout the tutoring session ecoperate questioning 

      • Ask the tutee to summarize what work they have done thus far, or where exactly they are stuck.

      • Have the tutee highlight/underline key information

    • When conversing with the tutee engage in dialogue

      • Let the tutee lead the conversation 

      • After you provide information, consider using a question to assess tutee understanding (*Note: Too much questioning can create anxiety, don’t be afraid to give a formula or a hint).

      • Build Tutee Confidence by reaffirming when tutee shows understanding and being supportive when tutee struggling

  • Conclusion

    • Assess what the tutee learned

      • Ask the tutee to summarize what was accomplished

    • Remind the tutee to visit as often as needed

    • Optionally provide resources outside of the session - reference content database