How To : Start Your Own Tutoring Club

March 8th, 2010

How To : Start Your Own Tutoring Club

general info

DIFFICULTY:

Okay

TIME:

Once you organize it - about 1 hour per week

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Yourself
Your friends or other volunteers
Adults that can help you

Average:

Your rating: None Average: 4 (2 votes)

By Rachel T.
Tutoring is a great way for you to give back to your community or a community nearby in need. The tutoring itself doesn’t require a lot of time and you don’t need to have formal training or be an expert on a subject to help out those around you. You just have to like working with kids and want to help them by giving up a little bit of your time each week. I’ve been tutoring for several years and now, as the leader of my own tutoring group with a friend, I’ve realized just how much of an impact volunteering has on the kids we work with. Here’s a short list of ways that you can start your own tutoring program and help get those around you involved.

Find a location.

You need to find the right school or after-school program to work with and that really need help. This can even include your school; it all just depends on your community.

Make your first contact.

Ask around and talk to the right adults that can help you get your program off the ground. All you have to do is ask your teacher, guidance counselor or even your principal about the best method you should take to get started. They can help you make the other contacts that you need!

Develop your program plan.

Make sure you clearly outline what your group’s mission is going to be. This doesn’t have to be complicated or a fancy essay. All you need to do is develop what your group hopes to accomplish each week and what you and your group will be able to do. Maybe you want to go in and help specifically with writing or reading. Or maybe you want to help with art or music. Whatever you want to do, just make sure it’s clearly outlined. This will help keep your group organized and focused.

Contact the school or program you want to tutor at and talk to them about the best way that you can help out.

Oftentimes the best person to talk to is a guidance counselor or principal. Try to reach them by phone or email and explain what you and your group want to do. You’ll be surprised just how enthusiastic of a response you’ll get! Schools and after-school programs are always looking for more people to help out.

Rally your troops!

Talk to your friends and spread the word around your school about your tutoring program. The more people that are interested in helping out, the better. You and your friends can do a lot of good with just a little bit of time each week!