Tutoring... One-on-one in the comfort of your home!
4 Steps to Finding an Excellent Tutor for Your Child
By: Carole McGraw (2006)
Whether your child is
lost in a haze of elementary grammar rules, sinking fast in a
jumble of Newton's laws in middle school, or lost in the
details of an AP biology class, you need help. And usually you
need help quickly, before your child falls way behind the
class and never recovers. You want to find help before she
feels like a failure, loses self esteem, and gives up on
school. So, exactly what can you do....NOW?
Many frustrated parents solve this problem by hiring a tutor.
However, each family has unique needs, and tutors have many
degrees of know-how and caring. So it is important to know
what you want, then thoroughly investigate the skill,
experience, commitment and personality of the tutor.
1. Know your goals
Ask yourself or your child's teacher:
What level of help do we need? Does my child need homework
help, intensive remediation, or something in between?
What areas do we want to see the tutor improve: better scores
in one subject (chemistry, geometry); improved general skills
(math, reading, science); study skills; motivation?
What do I know about my child's learning style? Does he learn
best by reading, listening, moving, touching? Does he do
better with men or women? Does he need lots of nurturing or a
firm hand? What motivates and interests him?
How much time and money can you devote to tutoring? Don't
skimp, but be honest with yourself before you start.
2. Know your options
Call your child's school counselor or teacher and share your
concern. Good counselors will have met with your child and
should have files on her progress throughout her school
career, her scores on standardized tests, and notes on
possible personality problems. Most schools have a list of
registered tutors on file in the counseling office. Often it's
in the form of resumes or fliers. Many times these are posted
in a book for parents to look over before making a choice. Or
schools may post them on a bulletin board for parents and
students.
Check out the local paper. Many good tutors list their
credentials there.
Ask friends and neighbors for ideas. Retired or
"stay-at-home-parent" teachers may be willing to help out.
Make sure they know the subject matter you need.
Call your local branch of a learning center like Sylvan or
Kumon. Ask if your child fits their profile. Usually they work
with general problems like reading comprehension, rather than
specific subjects like biology or literature.
Dollars and $ense
Unfortunately, price is often the determining factor in
choosing a tutor. However, it's more important to look at
value. A more expensive tutor may be a better fit for your
child and may be more effective in meeting her needs. Don't
rule him out because of his fees.
Beyond cost itself, ask:
1. What are your payment policies?
Find out in advance what forms of payment your tutor accepts,
and when it is expected. Some tutors accept only cash and
require payment at each session. Some will allow you to prepay
a month at a time. Others may bill you for completed sessions.
2. What are your cancellation policies?
While most tutors are rather flexible, some require 24-hour
notice if you're going to cancel. Learn this information up
front to avoid charges down the line.
3. Test your options
Check credentials carefully. Ask questions to see how well
their skills match your child's needs:
What is your educational background? If the tutor will work on
chemistry, she should have at least a college minor in
chemistry. A different education is needed to teach
first-grade reading.
What type of teaching experience do you have? Look for a tutor
who has worked with students similar in age and ability to
your child.
Meet with several candidates. Include your child and ask
plenty of questions:
How do you evaluate each student's needs? Find out whether the
tutor will use standardized tests, school reports, or other
forms of evaluation to discover your child's strengths and
weaknesses.
How long to you think you will need to prepare the lessons?
Keep in mind that difficult subject matter will take longer to
prepare, so expect to pay more for the extra preparation time.
What tutoring methods do you use? A skilled tutor will do more
than just answer questions and do problems with students. He
will assess your child's strengths and weaknesses, prepare
individualized materials and use "hands-on" materials wherever
possible. He will work hand-in-hand with the classroom
teacher, and most of all, give your child a "can-do" attitude
and lots of positive reinforcement.
What do you expect from me? Good tutors need a family's
cooperation. They need parents to contact classroom teachers
and ask for cooperation in making tutoring a success: a copy
of the textbook they use; a syllabus of their class or
subject; any extra worksheets they have that might facilitate
the tutorial process.
How do you motivate your students? Think about what motivates
your child, and seek a tutor who uses these methods.
What hours are you available? This question often makes or
breaks a deal. You may have found the perfect tutor, but if
she doesn't fit your schedule you're out of luck.
Where do you do your tutoring? Tutors usually choose a public
place to tutor, like a library. However, if you have checked
out the situation carefully, a home should be acceptable,
especially if another person is at home during the session.
How long do you expect tutoring to last? A tutor can become a
crutch, so it's important to get an estimate of how long it
will take to help your child develop the skills and confidence
to succeed independently.
How much do you charge for your services? Cost varies greatly,
depending on subject area, location, and the credentials of
the tutor. Neighbors or friends may charge less, but remember,
professional tutors charge professional rates.
What is the range of results you see? How much have other
clients improved in the past?
Is there someone I can contact who knows your tutoring skills?
You get references for electricians, doctors and dentists.
Doesn't it truly make sense to get a reference for the person
who will be working very closely with your child?
4. Partner for results
Watch how your child relates to the tutor. Sit in on part of a
session if possible. Your child must be comfortable, if you
want to see success.
Monitor progress. Ask for feedback from your child, and see if
your child's grade gradually improves. If, after several
sessions, you don't see improvement or you feel a negative
attitude in your child, move on to another tutor.
Finding — and keeping — a good tutor involves some work on
your part. But then isn't your child worth all the help you
can give?
Carole McGraw is a retired teacher, chemistry tutor and
freelance author in Troy, Michigan. Lisamarie Sanders
contributed to this article.
Home