Tutoring is more than explaining content, it’s about connecting. As tutors we juggle timetables, assignments, part-time jobs and sometimes our own study; our students bring their own pressures too. When we focus on engagement instead of just delivery, lessons stop feeling like lectures and start feeling like shared problem solving.

Engaging students begins with listening. A quick check-in at the start of a session, “How are you going with this topic?” can open the door for honest conversation. Some students need the gentle nudge of extension tasks; others need the slow, steady unpacking of one idea. Scaffolding small wins helps confidence grow: break a task into tiny steps, celebrate each success, and avoid overwhelming them with the whole mountain at once. We can also use their interests as hooks. If a student likes sport, music, or games, we can include examples from those areas into problem to boost attention. Ask open questions that invite thinking rather than yes/no answers, and pause after asking them. Silence can also be a powerful tool, as it gives space for the student to process and respond.

Inspiring curiosity is important. When you show how a student how to tackle a tricky question by thinking out loud, or making a plan, checking your work, then students learn a process, not just answers. Give regular, specific feedback: “Nice step, you used the formula correctly, now check how the units fit.” That kind of guidance teaches both skill and self-monitoring. Also, emotional support matters. Gentle encouragement, being ok with mistakes, and sharing coping strategies you use when stressed helps students build resilience. Being an engaged tutor is as much about the relationship as the content, when students feel seen, heard and guided, they learn more and they enjoy learning more.

Katie Waller