A Tutor for Every Student

In any class of students, teachers know that not all are in the same place in terms of skill development. Thus, instructors often put up the Help Wanted sign and assign students to seek out tutors. However, I suggest thinking of tutors as working under a Help Offered and Accepted banner. That is, I make it a requirement for all students to work with tutors, not just for those who have identifiable problems. Since the help is offered, I require every student to take advantage of it.


Although students may grumble at first, the advantages far out-weigh the disadvantages, and eventually all students will see the wisdom of this requirement. I have made the requirement for the rough draft stage of any essay assignment in my college English composition classes for years. Because I do, I see stronger final essay drafts.

Another advantage is that someone other than the teacher is commenting upon the student work in the rough draft stage. Although we can focus on different things, direction on my part to the tutors helps. In addition, students also must start writing a few days ahead of the final deadline in order to interact with tutors, meaning procrastination is not an issue.

In addition, students gain confidence when someone who is trained to comment upon their essays does so. I also see fewer hand-offs of the rough drafts to family and friends. Too often the family member of friend, going too far in being helpful, writes all or a portion of the final draft, and this leads to complications for a student, such as failing the assignment and maybe even the course.

Here’s a word to the wise - be sure the students also submit what the tutors recommends to them to you. Also require the students to provide answers to questions that demonstrate the changes they have made in line with what the tutor has suggested. This feedback is very useful in engaging with the students. I add questions that demonstrate students have reflected upon the essay’s focus and have addressed technical and structural concerns as well. I also direct students to ask me to clarify issues that may still confuse them.

If you are in the classroom or a blended learning environment, perhaps your college offers tutorial help in a learning center. If so, invite tutors into the classroom to engage students while working through rough drafts. This helps students to advance as you observe. It also assures that the students interact with tutors.

To sum up, tutors are a great help but work for coordination with them and the students. In so doing, students receive excellent feedback, and learning outcomes improve.