3 Qualities of the Best Math Tutors

Math is a staple in North American education systems. If a student has college aspirations, they must meet a certain standard in mathematics and also be able to perform well on the SAT and/or ACT, each of which have their own math sections. For some students, grasping a thorough understanding of math comes easily and for others, math is never a subject that will come naturally. However, all students have the potential to perform well in math and prevent it from being a barrier between them and their goals – in life or in academics.

At the high school math level, the difference-maker for a student is often not their innate math ability, but the quality of the instruction and guidance they receive.

With that in mind, how can a student tell if they have a quality math tutor? If you’re a student, what should you look for to make sure you’re learning with someone who can provide the math help that will help you get better grades and gain a better understanding of math?

To help you answer these questions and ensure you’re connecting with the right Skooli online math tutor for you, check out three qualities of a great math tutor below. Keep in mind that these aren’t the only qualities they should have, but ones we might not typically think about while getting instant help or booking time with a tutor.

1. A great math tutor ensures that the student doesn’t just know a concept, but actually understands it.

Understanding tends to take longer than knowing and involves connecting pieces of information that you know.

For example, you will know that the weather is bad when there is rain, but you may not understand why it is happening. Learning how rain is formed and how it affects the weather is the key to understanding why the weather is bad. You may also recognize a written language and know what it is just by looking at the characters, but you will not understand it unless you take some time to study it (Difference Between Knowing and Understanding).

2. A great math tutor teaches to the student, not to the textbook.

This doesn’t mean that the tutor ignores the textbook material, but that they recognize and take advantage of opportunities that a one-on-one tutoring setting makes possible. Math tutoring allows the tutor to teach the material in the right way and at the right pace for the student. Skooli online tutors will identify their students’ learning styles and adjust their lessons accordingly. (We wrote about different learning styles in a previous blog post, which you can read here.)

3. A great math tutor asks questions.

When you imagine a brilliant math tutor, you probably think of someone who’s able to answer any question, but it’s also vital to get math help with a tutor who asks questions. They should ask questions to understand which aspects of math are most challenging for the student and which are the easiest, to learn why the student is seeking extra help, and ultimately, to provide lessons that will best teach the student the material they need to learn.

Well-informed personalized guidance that contributes to thorough understanding is vital in math learning; a great math tutor must be able to provide this type of learning experience.

What other qualities should have a math tutor have? If you’re a student or parent seeking a tutor, what do you look for in your tutor?

Connect with a Skooli online math tutor today.