We often see the relationship between an in-home tutor and tutee romanticized in films and books. In a platonic sense, the relationship resembles that of a master and an apprentice, which parallels a familial relationship between sisters or brothers and between a parent and a child.

In-home tutoring has similar characteristics with mentoring. Mentoring has one person, the mentor, helping another, the mentee, to achieve a goal. Mentoring also strives to create an environment in which a person has confidence to express his needs without fear of rebuke. Mentoring is essentially a one-on-one relationship that is completely confidential a useful tool in professional and academic development.

To be a good tutor you have to be a good mentor. Good mentors share life experiences and wisdom as well as knowledge and skills. They are good listeners, good observers and good problem-solvers. Their relationships with their students are characterized by mutual respect, trust, understanding and empathy.