As another new year of school is quickly approaching, I am always asked questions about tutoring. Does my child need it? Is it worth it? Why can’t I just help my own child? Isn’t it the teacher’s job to make sure my child knows this stuff? While there are many more questions, I would like to address the reasons why you should (or shouldn’t) get a tutor and what you need to know before you hire one.
What’s your timeframe? Lots of families use tutors, but not all of them use tutors for the same reason. A few of my clients are short term clients, meaning that they need help with one specific unit in a subject. Tutoring for a client like this could be as few as three to four sessions or as many as eight sessions. On the other hand, I have quite a few clients who are long-term clients. Still other clients are what I call test-prep clients, who merely need services to prepare for an exam like the ACT or SAT. As a parent, it is important to decide whether your child needs short-term or long-term assistance. If your child needs a little push over a hump in school, short-term might be best. However, if your child needs ongoing support, it’s important to find a tutor that is willing to commit to a school year so that your child can expect some continuity.
What are your expectations? Parents and tutors often have miscommunication when expectations aren’t set for the tutor. It’s your job to find out from the tutor what he or she typically does during a session and whether or not that suits your needs. Some parents are looking for “homework help” which is much like having a second set of eyes on your child while your child completes his own work. Other parents are looking for supplementary material and lessons from the tutor in addition to working with the curriculum assigned by the child’s teacher. You will want to be clear about whether you want the time spent on only one subject (such as Math or English), or whether or not the tutor will be able to work on different projects within each subject as they are assigned. Whatever your expectation, it’s important that the tutor know so that they can ensure the proper use of their time with your child.
Decide on Session Length. Many parents ask for longer sessions and my answer is always dependent upon the child’s age and attention span. Many students can get a great deal accomplished in a 90 minute session with longer intervals in between. However, some students seem to glaze over at the 45 minute mark, so shorter and more frequent sessions are better. Keep in mind that if you have a child with ADD/ADHD, many sessions might include frequent short breaks to keep the child focused. Elementary students usually do well with shorter sessions, while secondary students can handle a longer period of study time.
Ask for credentials. Like any other profession, it is important to hire someone with the proper qualifications. If you are looking for the best tutors, look for ones with experience not only in teaching, but also one-on-one tutoring and a background in education. Most tutors are often certified teachers, and have plenty of experience both in and out of the classroom. Many parents feel that checking references isn’t important, but when it comes to your child’s education, references are very important. Ask your tutor if you can call any recent clients on their list. If they are reluctant to do so, this might be a red flag.
When you shouldn’t hire a tutor. If your child has had one bad test or one bad paper, don’t rush out to get a tutor. Failure is one of those great intrinsic motivators! Most students will work harder to compensate on the next test or paper and will be proud to show you their improvement. This allows them to assert their own independence over their academic achievement. Be wary only when your child is no longer showing you tests or papers, as this could be a sign that they are hiding some difficulty.
Like anything else, you know your child best. Conversations with your child’s teacher can also give a different perspective about what your child’s strengths and challenges might be. The goal of all teachers and tutors is to provide the best academic preparation as possible! What could be better than that?
What are some ways that tutors have helped your children?
