8 Reasons Why One on One Teaching Benefits Students

Written: September 2021

Updated: May 2024

What is one-on-one teaching?

 One-on-one teaching occurs when students receive individualized instruction from an educator. This personalized time allows for teachers to provide differentiated lessons based on the student’s specific needs. The activities can be remedial to help students catch up or advanced to accelerate learning, and they can occur face-to-face or over livestream online video conferencing. Research from the Literacy Trust shows that individualized personal instruction is highly beneficial for students.

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A mixture of academic levels can be used to accommodate or supplement the student. For example, one student may need extra help in Math and be advanced in English Language Arts at the same time. Since no two students learn the same way, personalized learning from a one-on-one live teacher can make all the difference. Teachers also benefit from the one-on-one interaction because they can build trust and rapport with the student. They will be challenged to exercise their creativity and will be more effective and innovative when they have the flexibility to tailor lessons to each student, boosting teacher morale.

Why should you differentiate instruction?

In short, because students deserve it. No one student is alike, so they all have different learning styles and interests. It’s the same reason why pre-recorded asynchronous instruction doesn’t work - people need people. Students deserve to interact with a certified teacher every day who can meaningfully engage with them so they actually learn. We differentiate instruction because we care.

How does one-on-one teaching benefit students?

1. Quality Instruction First

In an individual setting, teachers have more time to focus on the student. Classrooms can often be full of distractions like other students and administrative responsibilities. However, when that excess is removed, the teacher can have more constructive conversations with each student and tailor activities to their specific needs.

2. Individualized Lessons

A one-on-one setting allows teachers to customize activities to students’ strengths, address their weaknesses, and include their interests to keep them engaged. Strengths should be celebrated and honed. Weaknesses can be practiced using different techniques until mastered. Interests can be implemented to keep the student engaged in lessons and help build positive rapport. Students and teachers become more invested in their learning and work in these instances when they are building personalized goals and connections. Students will be more engaged and teachers will be more stimulated, all while meeting school and state objectives. 

3. Fosters Independence

Personalized teaching motivates students to work independently. There are no other students to lean on, so they have to ask questions and problem-solve on their own. It fosters creative thinking, active engagement, and intrinsic motivation to complete their work. Teachers should encourage students to take initiative and use creative problem-solving to reach their academic goals. Students tend to be more inspired and motivated when they have a connection to their teacher.

4. Builds Confidence 

Asking for help can be intimidating and embarrassing to quiet students, especially in a big classroom setting. Some social challenges take practice before students feel comfortable expressing themselves. This one-on-one environment allows students to build trust with their teacher and feel confident when asking questions. After receiving positive feedback from their teacher and getting the communication they need, students will be more prepared to ask questions throughout their schooling and careers. This helps students develop intrinsic motivation when it comes to their learning experiences both inside and outside of the classroom setting. 

5. Less Pressure

Students will not have to worry about peer pressure in one-on-one classes. Other students will not be included, so there will be no opportunity for social judgment. Attentive educators take the time to adapt lessons to the student’s pace and accelerate and decelerate plans as needed. They will work collaboratively with the student to achieve their goals in manageable bites of content. Teachers can cheer them on in their successes and assist them with addressing their weaknesses. 

6. Supports Social-Emotional Learning

One-on-one teaching gives students the opportunity to develop their emotional intelligence as well. They will establish a professional relationship with their teacher and learn how to interact with figures of authority. Individual interaction allows students and teachers to build rapport. Social-emotional learning (SEL) is essential to creating healthy relationships but must be developed and practiced. Individual and small group environments push students to practice SEL skills in a controlled environment. A partnership forms in a personal environment and facilitates teacher and student reliance on one another. 

7. Relationship Building

One-on-one instruction allows the student and teacher to get to know each other and build trust. Positive interaction with an authority figure prepares students for their educational and professional futures. Learning academic and social-emotional skills from a trusted adult sets students up for successful relationships in the future. They will feel comfortable taking down their walls and opening up to learn effectively.

8. Flexible Communication

Students will have the freedom to express their learning and communication preferences. Teachers have the flexibility to adapt to their students’ individual styles and to the challenge of creatively meeting their needs. For example, some students are visual learners who need to see information to process it. Teachers can create graphics and show videos to help the student understand the material and then assign projects involving images to reinforce learning. 

Overall, students and teachers both benefit from one-on-one teaching. The most effective way to integrate this into your educational plan is through virtual school or remote high-dosage tutoring because qualified online educators are not limited by their geography. Best practices for online and virtual instruction call for personalization that is not as easy to implement in traditional classrooms. Upgraded technology standards allow for easy implementation in your school. 

Proximity Learning’s Virtual School offers districts the flexibility of remote learning without having to create their own system and hire extraneous teachers or tutors. Our livestream teachers take initiative getting to know their students, personalizing assignments, and utilizing small group work. Alternatively, our Tutoring, contracted through the school district, gives students the opportunity to catch up in an individual or small group setting via online live instruction. 

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