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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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