Tutoring

Hit the Books; Guide a Future

Know how important it is to have a study-buddy? Want to help inspire high school students to prepare for the future? Or maybe you just want to relive the glory days of high school algebra? Join the CYC Tutoring program, and start helping a young person pass high school and plan out their next steps in a successful future.

At the elementary school level, CYC tutors help students improve their reading and math skills and study for proficiency testing. High school students need help in more advanced subjects like chemistry, higher-level mathematics, languages (Spanish, French, German, and Latin), and preparing for the SAT and ACT. No specific training or educational background is required to be a CYC tutor.

CYC tutors typically meet with their students once a week at their school, during school hours. It's easy to fit in during your lunch hour! You pick the CPS school that is convenient for you, the subject(s) you would like to tutor, and the age level you are most comfortable tutoring.

For the safety of the students, all CYC tutors must submit a CYC application and pass a standard police record check.

Qualities of a Good Tutor

All of us learn at different rates and through different styles. The CYC Tutoring program recognizes these unique learning differences by providing individual assistance outside of the classroom and offering an alternative method of learning. No specific training is required, just a desire to help a student in a particular discipline or subject matter.

Research pertaining to successful tutoring programs indicates that the following attributes characterize a good tutor:

Sensitivity. Since many students are often embarrassed and hesitant to ask for help, a tutor must sense the anxiety and try to alleviate fears as tutoring begins.
Patience. A tutor works with students on a variety of learning levels with different rates of learning. Furthermore, students vary as to style of learning. What helps one student may not work well for another. Consideration of all of these things requires patience on the part of the tutor.
Knowledge of Subject Matter. Truly knowing and understanding a subject, as well as having a passion for relaying that knowledge to a young person, makes for an excellent tutor.
Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm for life in general and subject matter in particular can be inspiring for the student. Always remember that the tutor serves as a role model.
Compassion. A tutor must believe that all students are worthy of recognition and can be helped to learn.
Integrity. A tutor must assume a professional attitude toward tutoring. Resist the temptation to criticize the school, the faculty, or other students as a means of identifying with the student.
Dependability. For tutoring to be effective, the tutor must plan to see the student each week. Frequent, consistent review and application of concepts helps students learn at an increased rate.