Most kids would rather watch paint dry than sit through another boring online lesson. But as a mom-turned-tutor, you’ve got a secret weapon: you already know how to make things stick (hello, getting a 4-year-old to remember where they left their shoes). Here’s how to design lessons that actually work for the TikTok generation.
1. Ditch the One-Size-Fits-All Approach
“But the curriculum says—” Nope. Your student isn’t a textbook, they’re a kid who probably cares more about Roblox than radians.
Try this instead:
- The 5-minute interest interview: Before lesson one, ask:
“What YouTube channels do you binge?”
“What subject makes you want to fake sick?”
“Show me something cool on your phone right now.” - Weaponize their obsessions: Teaching fractions? Use Minecraft building blocks. Grammar? Have them edit celebrity tweets.
Real example: I turned a Fortnite-obsessed student’s essay crisis into a “mission briefing” – his grade went from D to B+ in 3 weeks.
2. The Attention Span Workaround
Kids today have the focus of a goldfish on espresso. Your lesson structure needs to match.
The 10-3-1 Rule:
- 10 mins direct instruction (max!)
- 3 mins interactive practice (online whiteboard, quick quiz)
- 1 min movement break (stand up and stretch, quick doodle)
Pro tools:
- Kami for annotating worksheets together
- Wordwall.net for instant games
- Miro for collaborative mind maps
Life-saving hack: Keep a “bailout button” – when you see their eyes glaze over, switch to a YouTube clip or meme related to the topic.
3. Make Them the Teacher
The fastest way to learn? Have to explain it to someone else.
Try:
- “Alright Einstein, teach me how to solve this equation like I’m your little sister.”
- Record short explainer videos using Screencast-O-Matic (they’ll obsess over getting it perfect)
- End each session with “What’s one thing you could teach your mom about today?”
Bonus: This works shockingly well for math-phobic kids – explaining concepts to a stuffed animal lowers their stress.
4. The Feedback Trick That Actually Works
“Good job!” is worthless. Specific praise changes brains.
Instead of: “You’re so smart!”
Say: “I noticed how you tried three different approaches until you got it – that’s how real mathematicians think!”
Progress trackers that don’t suck:
- Minecraft-style skill level ups
- Sticker charts for little kids
- “Before/After” samples showing their improvement
Truth bomb: One student’s mom told me her son taped his writing progress sheets to his bedroom wall – the cheesy gold stars mattered more than I realized.
5. Steal These Ready-to-Use Ideas
For reluctant readers:
- Have them rewrite the ending of a boring story (bonus if it’s ridiculous)
- Act out scenes with emojis as props
For math haters:
- “Grocery store math” with real online shopping carts
- Calculate how many TikTok dances they could do in a marathon
For science:
- Kitchen experiments (yes, baking is chemistry)
- Diagnose cartoon characters’ fake illnesses
This Isn’t Just About Tutoring
These same principles work for any mom-run business:
- Selling printables? Let kids test your worksheets and give brutally honest feedback.
- Virtual assistant? Clients love when you adapt to their communication style (some want bullet points, some want voice notes).
- Freelance writing? The best content speaks directly to one person’s pain points.
Final thought: The kids who drive you craziest as a mom make you the best tutor. You already know all their tricks – now you’re just getting paid for it.