22 Ideas for How to Make Tutoring Fun for Students

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Tutoring can be a difficult journey. Sometimes the student has no interest in learning, and it’s hard to keep them engaged, but there are ways you can make tutoring fun for both parties involved.

When most people think of tutoring, they imagine a student sitting at a desk with a tutor standing over them, correcting their work and explaining difficult concepts. While this type of tutoring can be very effective, it’s not always the best way to help students learn and enjoy the process.

If you’re an online teacher or tutor, it’s important to find ways to make tutoring more enjoyable for your students. In this blog post, we will share 22 ideas for how to make tutoring fun and entertaining for your students!

How to Make Tutoring Fun for Online Students

Having a tutor can frequently feel like an unwelcome obligation for students, particularly when there are other activities that a student would rather be engaged in rather than having to take the time to sit still and learn something new.

Or worse, focus on a topic in which they’re struggling. The good news is that there are ways for both parents and teachers to make their lessons more fun for their students.

One of the great things about tutoring online is that you have a lot more freedom to be creative and make turning fun and more enjoyable for your students. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Start A Lesson Well

Start your lesson with a “Warm-Up Session.” Also known as an ice breaker, this is a great way to get your students engaged and excited about the lesson.

You can use this time to review concepts from prior lessons or play fun games. One example is to start with a quick “quiz show” where students compete to answer questions correctly.

2. Competitive Incentives

Add some friendly competition. Nothing makes learning more fun than a little healthy competition. You can use games, quizzes, or even friendly bets to add an element of fun and excitement to your lesson.

Even if it’s playing tic tac toe online at the end of class as a reward for doing a great job on the learning material!

3. Virtual Backgrounds

Use fun virtual backgrounds during your sessions. This is a great way to add some excitement and visual interest to your tutoring sessions. You can find free virtual backgrounds online, or even create your own!

For example, in a music tutoring session, you could use a virtual background of a stage with bright lights. Or in a math lesson, you could use a background with fun math equations.

4. Play Music

Play fun music in the background during your sessions. Or if you’re a musician, play your instrument for them! This can help set the tone for a more relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.

Just be sure to ask your student if they mind first! You could even ask them for suggestions of their favorite songs to play.

5. Interactive Tools

Make use of fun and interactive online tools and resources. There are tons of great websites, games, and apps that can be used to help students learn ranging from preschool level all the way up to secondary schools and even university levels.

Do some research to find the best ones for your subject area and age group. Kids as young as kindergarten can learn math skills, shapes, and simple addition and subtraction through puzzles, quizzes, or coloring.

Pro Tip: Some of the curriculums and lessons on The Tutor Resource are built to be interactive from Slide 1!

Plus, older students can tackle geometry and chemistry as well as improve their problem-solving skills, for example. You can also use tutoring materials that are designed to be interactive.

6. Humor

Use humor! This can be a funny cat meme at the beginning of the lesson or even using knock knock jokes as a reward system for more advanced students.

Humor is one of the best ways to make tutoring more enjoyable for both you and your student. Just be careful not to overdo it or cross any lines.

7. Take Breaks

Encourage your students to take breaks and move around during tutoring sessions. This is especially important for young students who have shorter attention spans.

Breaks will help them stay focused and engaged during the session. You can even incorporate some fun movement activities into the lesson, like doing jumping jacks during a math lesson to break up the monotony.

8. Play Games

Play games with your students to review concepts. This is a great way to make learning more fun and interactive. You can find lots of free game ideas online, or you can even make up your own.

Pro Tip: We like Edupuzzle, Wordwall, and Genially for games in online lessons.

9. Honest Communication

Students should also focus on open communication with you. If the session is moving too quickly or slowly or if the material is overwhelming, then the student should let you know right away.

The more you know about the student’s learning process, the more they will be able to adjust the session to the student’s individual needs.

Honest communicationa nd feedback are one way how to make tutoring fun.

10. Use Technology

Make use of technology to create engaging visuals. PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other visual aids can be great tools for teaching.

Short videos can be especially helpful for review before tests or exams. Just be sure to use them sparingly so as not to overwhelm your students.

11. Flip the Script

Have your students to teach you something. During the school day, students spend most of their time listening and may not get to participate as much as they want, especially if they are in a larger classroom.

However, during a private tutoring session, they have the opportunity to be leader from time to time. This is a great way to make tutoring more interactive and fun.

Not only will they enjoy teaching you something, but they’ll also learn more in the process. After all, when students can explain a topic to somebody else, they are demonstrating that they have completely mastered the material.

Having the student teach the tutor something is one way how to make tutoring fun.

12. Songs and Rhymes

Make up silly songs or rhymes to help your students remember concepts. Mnemonics are a great memorization tool.

There are even YouTube videos with songs and rhymes if you don’t want to make up your own. This is a great way to make learning more fun and engaging. Plus, it’s a great way to help students remember difficult concepts.

13. Build a Relationship

Establish a relationship with your student. This is one of the most important things you can do as a tutor. You can do this by asking about their interests, hobbies, and family.

Getting to know your student on a personal level will help you understand how best to help them learn. It will also make tutoring more enjoyable for both of you!

Building a positive relationship with your student is one way how to make tutoring fun.

14. Mix It Up

Don’t always do the same thing during all of your tutoring sessions. This can get boring for both you and your student. Try to mix things up and keep your sessions interesting.

You can do this by varying the lesson topics, using different materials, and incorporating different activities. You can also subscribe to a growing tutoring curriculum that is designed to cover different topics related to the teaching material you need.

15. Enjoy Yourself

If you’re not enjoying yourself, your student definitely won’t be either.

Tutoring should be fun for both of you! If you aren’t enjoying yourself, then definitely use some more of the tips on this list. They’ll certainly help you make tutoring more fun for you and for your student(s).

16. Adjust Your Pacing

Change the pace. If you feel like your student is starting to lose interest, try changing the pace of the lesson.

You can do this by speeding up or slowing down, depending on what you think will work best. This is a great way to keep your student engaged, focused, and interested in the material.

17. Be Flexible

Things don’t always go as planned. Be flexible and adapt to the situation. If your student is struggling with multiplication, don’t insist on only drilling times tables.

Instead, try using a different method to help them understand the concept. There are many different ways to teach the same material.

Try out different methods until you find one that suits your student. This will help you keep your student engaged and focused. It will also make tutoring more enjoyable for both of you!

Enjoying what you're doing is one way how to make tutoring fun.

18. Adapt Your Lessons

Adapt to the learner and make lessons personal. Find ways to connect the material to your student’s life. If they like Minecraft, then have them count creepers instead of triangles.

This will make tutoring more relevant and enjoyable for them. After all, they’re more likely to remember material that is personally meaningful to them.

19. Use the Real World

Make use of real-world examples. This is a great way to make tutoring more relatable and enjoyable for your students. Use examples from their everyday life to help them understand concepts.

For instance, if you’re teaching a math lesson, use examples from their favorite sports team’s stats. You can always find ways to make the material engaging. Or if you’re teaching a science lesson, sit outside to teach!

20. Props

Use props or manipulatives. This is a great way to make tutoring more hands-on and interactive. They can be used to demonstrate concrete ideas like counting or more abstract concepts like fast and slow. Students can use props to help them understand concepts and practice skills.

They can also be used for review before tests or exams. We talk a lot more about props here.

21. Emphasize Student Analysis

Encourage questions and discussion. This is a great way to make tutoring more interactive and fun. Plus, it’s a great way to help students learn.

They’re more likely to remember what they’re learning if they take the time to analyze it. Encourage your students to ask questions and participate in the discussion.

22. Ending the Session

End the session well. End tutoring sessions with a review. This is a great way to help your students remember what they’ve learned. Plus, it’s a great way to prepare them for future lessons.

Be sure to review the material covered in the lesson and offer any additional resources. Also, end sessions on a positive note. This is important for maintaining a good relationship with your students and keeping them coming back for more.

Be sure to praise their progress and offer encouragement for future sessions.

Ending a session on a positive note is one way how to make tutoring fun.

Why You Should Make Tutoring Fun

Making tutoring fun is important for a number of reasons.

✔️ First, it helps keep students engaged and interested in the material. If they’re bored, they’re not going to learn anything.

✔️ Second, it’s a great way to build rapport and establish a good relationship with your students. If you’re not enjoying yourself, your students definitely won’t be either.

✔️ Third, it makes tutoring more enjoyable for both of you! If you’re having fun, your students will too.

✔️ Finally, making tutoring fun is a great way to keep your students coming back for more. When parents see successful results, they’re more likely to continue using your services.

It's important to make tutoring fun so students' parents will want to keep working with you.

Conclusion: How to Make Tutoring Fun

These are just a few ideas to get you started. We hope you found these tips helpful! With a little creativity, you can make tutoring fun and enjoyable for both you and your students. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be sure to see success in no time!

If we missed any great ideas for how to make tutoring fun, please contact us so we can add your ideas to the list!

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