Tutors for 4th Grade: Free 4th Grade Tutoring Tips

What Are Some Tips for Tutoring 4th Grade Students?

Finding Work as a 4th Grade Tutor

One way to become a tutor is to work for a tutoring company. You usually must meet certain educational requirements. In some cases, previous teaching experience and state teaching licensure are required. Depending on the company, you may be assigned students and have consistent work. You may tutor individual students or groups, and sessions might be done at the student's home, a learning center or another site. You can even tutor students online, which typically allows you to have a flexible schedule.

Another option is private, independent tutoring. You can do this by posting flyers, taking out ads in local newspapers and posting your ad online. The drawback to this is that it may be difficult to build a client base.

Preparing for Tutoring Sessions

Before you begin tutoring a 4th grader, it's usually best to first consult with his parents or teachers. Determine what the child is struggling with and the best way to help him. If possible, consult with his teachers to find materials that tie into what he's learning in the classroom and to help you develop a learning objective and lesson plan. It also helps to meet the student before you start your tutoring sessions. Learn about his interests so you can form a positive bond with him.

Meeting With Your Student

Meet your 4th grade student in an uncluttered, distraction-free environment. Always be on time, state your lesson's objective before beginning and stay on task. Provide her with positive feedback and guidance. However, you should stop her immediately when she makes a mistake and allow her to correct it herself, only offering assistance if needed.

Before you end the session, give your student an update on her progress. When you meet her again, always follow up on the previous lesson. By reviewing material you've already taught, you'll help the information truly sink in.

Looking for Free Resources

Many websites have free resources that can be adapted for 4th grade tutoring sessions, and you can also check local libraries. You may want to look for materials that align with the current curricular standards at the national or state level.

If your student is struggling in math, you can find free, printable math worksheets, activities and games. Look for free assessments that test your student's reading ability so that you can select appropriate reading materials and exercises. There are numerous other sites that provide resources for other subjects as well.