 |  | THE GOOD NEIGHBOR TOOL KIT: IMPROVING YOURSELF AS A VOLUNTEER cont. | | ||
|  Why Volunteer? Getting Started Improving Your Community Improving Yourself as a Volunteer Fundraising Working with Volunteers More Resources Directory: Links to Charitable Organizations | 8 Tips for Tutoring Helping others get an education is one of the best ways to improve their long-term futures. Here are some ways to increase your odds of success: 1. Teach your student patience. Many non-readers expect almost instantaneous results. Instead point out that it takes a star athlete years of practice to gain proficiency. 2. Don’t take on too much. Students will pick up on your frustration. 3. Stick to a field you’re comfortable in. Don’t teach math if you’re not absolutely confident. You’ll only frustrate yourself and your student. 4. Don’t be afraid to tell someone you don’t know the answer. Tell the student you’ll find someone to help, then do it. 5. Let the student teach you. If the student has a proficiency—fluency in another language perhaps, or skill in car repair—ask them questions that help them feel that they also have valuable knowledge to share. 6. Set attainable, short-term goals for students; then praise them when they achieve them. 7. Chose study materials that interest your student—baseball, beauty, or business. They’ll be more likely to read material that interests them. 8. Use success stories. Help keep students motivated by describing others who have gotten ahead after tutoring. For additional suggestions and sources of materials for tutoring, visit the Literacy Volunteers of America. Oral Lee Brown, 2000 Good Neighbor Award winner, also contributed to this section. 24 Sure Fire tips for Fundraising > | |||