Tutoring

Take it from your scribe – a tutor is one of the best investments you can make. We all need some extra help. Even the smartest of kids who never need to be prompted to do their homework, the perfect student, straight A’s, could benefit from a tutor to challenge them, keep them active and not complacent with the slow pace of their class relative to their performance. And then for the rest of the population, it should be clear – tutors provide that extra help where the teachers and parents stop.

Before we jump into how to choose a good tutor and great online tutoring services, tutors are also great for families where both parents work and finding time in the evening to review homework and study for tests is challenging. Your scribe included, work these days does not end in the office, projects are taken home, folks are emailing all times of day. There is considerable literature that speaks unfavorably about this situation, but it is reality. Every year that passes Americans work more and more. So having someone that can help with the kid’s homework every now and again is an absolute lifesaver (and good for them too).

Before simply googling and calling the first provider in the search results, explain to your child why you think a tutor is necessary. Describing this not with phrasing that talks about this as a punishment for them not staying actively on top of their homework, but rather as additional support and what can be accomplished thanks to the tutor’s help is the optimal way to phrase this. Second, your child’s teacher and other parents in the class should be the first folks you talk to surrounding potential references, etc. Once you start your googling process, check the tutor’s credentials. Training, experience, whether the company is certified, employs certified tutors, experience working with grade levels of your specific child, this are vital questions that need to be addressed.

Next, express your goals from the outset with the tutor. In an ideal world your child’s teacher and the tutor will meet to review said goals, but regardless, a plan should coincide with the classroom plan to keep some sense of cohesion. You will want to schedule times in the day for sessions that do not overlap with other activities your child might have and schedule these times strategically, as you do not want the tutoring sessions to begin immediately after school ends for example. Your kid will hate you for this one!

If your child suffers from a learning disability, rigorous tutoring sessions are not the best idea. Students with learning disabilities need more practice and repetition to master skills than those without such disabilities could accomplish. A tutor is of course recommended, but the results will not be as instantaneous, and it is important parents understand this. And finally, as the parent contracting the tutor it is your job to request periodic reports surrounding your child’s development. Being able to track progress over time and ensure your child’s tutor has a plan in place to do this is vital.

Taking heed of these steps should put you and your child in a favorable place to increase their academic performance. Best of luck!