Today, I had time to reflect on the approach toward teaching younger students that may get distracted a bit more easily and have a lot of energy, as opposed to older students. Tutoring younger students is incredibly rewarding, but it is not always an easy task.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that keeping children focused throughout the lesson is not only about making the lesson “fun”, but more so about tailoring the material so that it becomes more engaging, and they want to keep learning. A child who is interested will naturally pay more attention and absorb more of the information, which makes the time spent together far more effective.

One strategy that works well in doing so is linking the content to the student’s personal interests. For example, if a student enjoys cooking, it can be helpful to relate a maths problem to doubling a recipe. After this link, a concept that felt abstract and confusing can become much more engaging and concrete. These connections aid in making learning more memorable and relevant. It can also strengthen the connection between the tutor and the student, as they bond over something, which effectively also makes the learning more successful.

Another important aspect is making questions and notes more accessible. Younger students can easily feel overwhelmed by long explanations or complicated wording. However, by breaking things down into simple steps, using photos and diagrams, or even incorporating colours and drawings can make a big difference. I’ve also found that giving them space to rephrase a question in their own words helps us as tutors to know what they truly understand and where they might be struggling.

Ultimately, tutoring younger kids is not just about teaching content and answering questions. While this is always important, it is also crucial to find ways to use their interests to spark curiosity, and present information to them in a way that feels approachable. When lessons are both accessible and enjoyable, learning becomes something they look forward to rather than something they dread.

Katreen Diab