here are several things you can do before arriving at your first tutoring session in order to get your tutoring relationship started smoothly. Assembling the materials you may need is the first step. Materials, including books, may be readily available at the place where you will be working, but even so, it is important to locate or gather these together before actually sitting down with your student(s).

In some settings, materials are in scarce supply so you may need to augment them however you can:

Essentials:

• several sharpened pencils with erasers
• colored pencils or markers
• blank paper
• lined paper (widely spaced lines are best for younger children)
• 2 - 3 books appropriate to child's reading level and interests (see Suggested Books)
• a book for you to read aloud
• a game (see Sample Games for some ideas)

Other useful items:

• notebook with lined or blank pages
• index cards (helps to have at least two different colors) and a file box
• folder or large envelope to hold child's work
• child-safe scissors
• glue stick
• a post-it pad -- small or medium size
• other arts materials
• occasionally, especially in your first sessions a special object (photo, book, animal, puzzle, toy) to share and discuss to "break the ice"