The Tutoring Cycle from Ross MacDonald’s The Master Tutor: A Guidebook for More Effective Tutoring

The Tutoring Cycle Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Greet client and determine purpose of visit Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion Set agenda, tutor, and check for understanding Greeting and Climate Setting Identification of Task Breaking the Task into Parts Identifying Thought Processes that Underlie the Task Make future plans and bid client farewell Setting an Agenda for the Session Addressing the Task Client Summary of Content Client Summary of Underlying Process Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning Step 9: Confirmation Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion Purpose: Congratulate client on his/her new understanding Methods: Reinforce specific accomplishments (not “Good job!” but “Good job improving the flow of the paragraph by adding transitional phrases.”) Direct comments at the client’s work, not at the client. Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning Step 10: What Next? Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion Purpose: Help client connect the tutorial to the progress of the course itself—see “the big picture” Methods: Ask client to articulate this connection “Well, where do you go from here in this course?” “What will you do next, and how will what we’ve done help you?” Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Step 11: Arranging and Planning the Next Session Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion Purpose: There are three Take care of scheduling next appointment while client is already here Promote consistency in tutoring to maximize the client’s gains Help client anticipate upcoming learning Methods: Ask, “What would you like to work on next week?” Set up a time and date for next appointment Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Step 12: Closing and Goodbye Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion Purpose: End tutorial session on a positive note Methods: Sincere goodbye Thanks to the client (e.g., “Thanks for being so well prepared”) Positive body language and verbal messages Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning Steps 9-12: Summary Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion “Evaluating is like perfume; a little goes a long way, and it’s best to apply it in key spots.” How can too much praise be overwhelming for a client? How can praising a client’s work rather than the client help promote his/her independence? How can you remember the 12 steps until they become ingrained as habit for you? Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning Steps 9-12: Summary Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion How do these steps rely upon your having done Steps 1-8 well? Greeting and Climate Setting Identification of Task Breaking the Task into Parts Identifying Thought Processes that Underlie the Task Setting an Agenda for the Session Addressing the Task Client Summary of Content Client Summary of Underlying Process Confirmation What Next? Arranging and Planning the Next Session Closing and Goodbye Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning