Senior Tutor Checklist

Here's a week by week TO DO list to keep Senior Tutors on track, so they can keep the new tutors on track.
Throughout the quarter:

  • Check your e-mail regularly and respond to messages (every day, if possible). E-mail is the main means of communication between you and your new tutors, and between you and Diana. If your e-mail address changes or is not working, please let us know immediately.
  • Login to Canvas and check regularly. Update your profile with a picture if you don't have one yet. Post your introductions, and respond briefly to your new tutors and anyone else if you can.
  • Click on Syllabus and note for due dates for the observation and video assignments, and class meeting topics.
  • Stay in touch with Diana and with your supervisor to let us know about any problems or new developments with your new tutors.
  • Keep track of the time you spend on senior tutor duties, and note that on your time sheets. We typically expect about 30 minutes per new tutor assigned per week, but some weeks will have more and some less. Please check with your supervisor if you're not sure what's appropriate to record on your time sheet.


By the end of Week 3 (or ASAP after a new tutor is assigned to you):

  • If this is Fall quarter or your first time as a Senior Tutor, attend a Senior Tutor Orientation with Diana or your supervisor.
  • Attend the appropriate Tutor Roundtable meeting for your area.
  • Set up a communication system to you can easily stay in touch and keep track of all your assigned new tutors.
  • Arrange to meet for a 15-20 minute conference with each of your new tutors. It is best to meet in the SSC, but if you need to meet elsewhere or meet over the phone, that is OK as well. If any new tutor has not contacted you by the end of week 4, please send him or her an e-mail proposing a meeting time. Be sure to set up a time for the observation at this time.


Some things you might want to talk about at the first meeting:

  • Spend a few minutes getting to know each other. Talk about yourself, and share your experiences with tutoring and tutor training.
  • Ask what s/he expects tutoring to be like and what s/he is nervous about;
  • Make sure s/he understands basic procedures, paperwork, and tutor training. If you are unsure about procedures, ask the SSC Staff.
  • Talk about the first session, setting goals, and beginning and ending the session.
  • Explain time sheets if necessary.


Week 4

  • Follow up with any new tutors who you haven't met yet. Arrange to be observed. During the observation, introduce the new tutor to the tutee and explain why s/he is there. Try your best to model the behaviors we encourage: building trust, setting an agenda, 10-second rule, active listening, 5-step method, wrap-up etc.


Weeks 5-8

  • Send reminders about video assignment
  • Remind your new tutors to sign up to videotape themselves, and let them know when you will be available to watch the tape with them.
  • Attend any All Tutor meetings available and possibly help plan and lead them.


By Week 8
(Note: due dates for the video tape assignments differ between the various tutor training courses. See the green sheet for dates.)

  • Each of your new tutors should have completed his or her video and contacted you to make a half-hour appointment to view a segment of the tape with you. Call any one who has not called you by Week 9 to arrange an appointment.
  • Read the Senior Tutor Video Response Guidelines carefully before you watch, and follow the guidelines described.


By Week 11

  • Email an end-of-quarter summary to Diana and the tutor support team with a few sentences about each of your new tutors. Report on your assessment of the tutor's level of commitment to tutoring, successes and/or problems, and recommend tutors you think would make good Senior Tutors.

We appreciate your work! Good luck, have fun, and stay in touch!

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