Excerpt from Tutoring Matters: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About How to Tutor by Jerome Rabow, Tiffani Chin, Nima Fahimian. Modified for online peer mentors.
Treat your online tutees as equals.
Don't worry about mistakes - they provide the best opportunity for teaching and learning.
Don't be critical of your tutees.
Recognize differences in learning styles, a vital step to building a tutoring/mentoring relationship.
Recognize your commonalties, a vital step to building a tutoring/mentoring relationship.
Be supportive of tutees' efforts as well as their accomplishments.
Be hopeful.
Make online learning engaging.
Keep your eye on the significance of your effort in your tutees' lives.
Do not use bribes or gifts to motivate your tutee.
Be willing to share your experience when you think it's appropriate.
Don't make empty promises.
Don't forget how important you are - your tutee depends on you.
Be prompt.
Use differences between you and your tutee to open up honest conversations.
Forgive your errors and those of your tutee-they were unintentional.
Be open-minded.
Be empathetic toward your online students and their experiences.
Be observant and pay attention to what your tutees enjoy and how they learn.
Incorporate tutee interests into your activities and assignments.
Be creative.
Help your students reach their learning objectives.
