6. What to do when the tutor feels stuck

Yes, the Tutor can feel stuck. Don’t worry! There are many strategies that will help you to continue to guide the Student.

Maybe you “went blank” and cannot remember how to start.

Ask the Student to read the problem or question aloud. Then you can follow up with:

• Tutor: What are the givens? What is the question asking you to do?
• Tutor: Let’s write down what is provided in the question/problem
• Tutor: What is the formula which will be applied?

Tutor: OK, this is not clear to me either. Let’s try something to help us.

Strategies recommended by tutors:

• Google the topic: conduct an online search
• Ask the student to share their notes from the class session
• Ask the student what the professor provided as examples
• Read and review the topic in the student’s or your textbook

Sharing what you faced as a student taking that course can be helpful to the Student. Even though you did well in the course, there were times you may have had doubts or didn’t feel like you understood a topic well. You can

• Share your study techniques
• Share your mistakes

One tutor explained that when she makes mistakes, she reworks the problem three times, and if she doesn’t still doesn’t understand, she “googles” the topic, or watches videos on YouTube. Both methods helped her understand the topic.

The tutors suggest that you assist students in their own way of learning, appreciating that the student may have a different way of learning than the tutor’s.