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USF student tutors students in reading

USF student Sterling Reese tutors students at a local middle school.

Why student tutoring is a great opportunity for education majors

Achieving a memorable college experience is what most students set out to do when they arrive at the 91社区 (USF).

One way education majors at USF could accomplish this is by becoming a tutor through USF鈥檚 Tutor-A-Bull program, an initiative that gives College of Education students opportunities to tutor and mentor middle school students, while also earning a steady part-time income.

We asked Tutor-A-Bull Program Coordinator Suzanne Legg and Tutor Alicia Miller, a mathematics education major at USF, about the program and why education majors at USF should consider applying.

Get an early start on field experiences

If you鈥檙e a freshman or sophomore who is excited to start your teaching internship, you don鈥檛 have to wait! Joining the Tutor-A-Bull program enables College of Education students to spend 10-20 hours a week providing individualized and small-group instruction to middle school students in Hillsborough County.

Gaining this kind of exposure early on, Legg says, helps Tutor-A-Bull tutors develop their own teaching practices and learn the ins and outs of working at a school.

鈥淭utors get to interact with different teachers, watch them in action and see what practices they can use and also, what might not work,鈥 Legg said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity for them to interact with children, but in a small setting.鈥

鈥淭utors get to interact with different teachers, watch them in action and see what practices they can use and also, what might not work. It鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity for them to interact with children, but in a small setting.鈥

Network with leaders in local school districts

Creating meaningful relationships with the students you teach is a skill every educator should have. For teacher candidates who participate in the Tutor-A-Bull program, working with a consistent group of learners enables tutors to journey with them through their learning highs and lows.

However, these aren鈥檛 the only relationships aspiring educators can benefit from. Miller, a senior who is now in her fourth year in Tutor-A-Bull, says participating in the program has helped her network with leaders and administrators in local schools, which can open up opportunities in her future career.

鈥淚鈥檝e had many (school) liaisons tell me that they would love to have me return as a tutor,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淪ome have told me to return to the school when I graduate so I can teach.鈥

Affirm your passion for the teaching profession

Teaching is a field that requires passion and enthusiasm, and the Tutor-A-Bull program is just one way that USF students can confirm they鈥檙e on the right path in their career goals.

Teaching different subject areas and working exclusively with middle school students can also bring forth other key realizations, Legg says.

鈥淎 lot of people go into education to be elementary teachers and don鈥檛 consider middle school because it鈥檚 a tricky age,鈥 Legg said. 鈥淚 think exposing them to a different environment could steer them in a direction they didn鈥檛 consider.鈥

For other students, like Miller, the Tutor-A-Bull Program helps them develop their own teaching style, gain confidence in their abilities and be better equipped for the roles they鈥檒l take on in later field experiences and their full-time teaching career.

鈥(Tutor-A-Bull) has further prepped me to become an educator because I have seen many different students struggle in different ways,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淚 am now more knowledgeable on how to approach a student because not every student learns the same way. I have gained knowledge to help students learn and grow to better themselves.鈥


Are you interested in becoming a tutor? Apply to USF鈥檚 Tutor-A-Bull program and learn more about the impact you can make in local middle schools. For more information, contact the program coordinator at tutorabull@usf.edu.

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About the USF College of Education:

As the home for more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members across three campuses, the 91社区 College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. Our college is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and our educator preparation programs are fully approved by the 91社区 Department of Education.