Does Your Child Need A Tutor?
(Article written by Michelle A. Tyrrell)
For students, the pressure builds early to obtain the best grades at a young age. Unfortunately, many parents don't know how to help their children develop good learning skills. And for those students who appear not to care at all about school or learning, the challenge of helping them succeed may seem insurmountable.
A tutor or supplemental education may be a solution, whether you child needs help preparing for a test, help 'catching up' in a particular subject area, or an opportunity for enrichment not available in a standard curriculum.
Most teachers know whether a student simply needs extra help in a certain subject area, or has underlying problems with study habits. Even a student who is performing well may benefit from help outside of the classroom to sharpen study skills and test-taking skills.
Regular communication with your child's teachers is a sure way to assess academic performance. And regular communication with your child is even more beneficial.
What kind of educational help does my child need?
Ask yourself these questions when considering hiring a tutor or supplemental
education provider:
1. Will the lesson plan be designed for your child, or simply assist your child with homework assignments?
A practiced tutor or supplemental education provider should take a proven
approach to assessing your child's needs and should present a plan of action
showing how those needs will be addressed. For example, ask the tutor how
often he/she updates the teaching materials and how he/she plans to relate the
materials to what your child is using in school.
2. Is the focus on 'drilling' for memorization, or will the instruction focus on
making the material interesting enough for your child to actually understand
the material?
Some tutors focus primarily on memorization techniques, such as drilling for
current school material. While this may be helpful in the short run, it probably
will not foster a true understanding of the material. Therefore, supplemental
education providers should be able to adjust their teaching style to meet your
child's needs.
3. What is the teacher:student ratio?
It may be beneficial for your child to receive individual instruction, particularly if
your child is younger or has a very short attention span. A 1:2 or 1:3 ratio allows
for individual attention combined with peer group reference.
4. How will you measure your child's progress?
A tutor should provide timely reports or updates on how your child is
progressing. You also should have periodic meetings with your child's regular
school teachers to see if your child's grades show improvement. If you are not
seeing the progress you hoped for, be sure to express your concerns to the tutor.
5. What is the cost?
Hourly costs will vary depending upon whether the instruction is in the form of
individual or group sessions. In any case, it is important to have a clear
understanding of how you will be charged, and the guarantees or commitments
made by the tutor.
A tutor or supplemental education may be a solution, whether you child needs help preparing for a test, help 'catching up' in a particular subject area, or an opportunity for enrichment not available in a standard curriculum.
Most teachers know whether a student simply needs extra help in a certain subject area, or has underlying problems with study habits. Even a student who is performing well may benefit from help outside of the classroom to sharpen study skills and test-taking skills.
Regular communication with your child's teachers is a sure way to assess academic performance. And regular communication with your child is even more beneficial.
What kind of educational help does my child need?
Ask yourself these questions when considering hiring a tutor or supplemental
education provider:
1. Will the lesson plan be designed for your child, or simply assist your child with homework assignments?
A practiced tutor or supplemental education provider should take a proven
approach to assessing your child's needs and should present a plan of action
showing how those needs will be addressed. For example, ask the tutor how
often he/she updates the teaching materials and how he/she plans to relate the
materials to what your child is using in school.
2. Is the focus on 'drilling' for memorization, or will the instruction focus on
making the material interesting enough for your child to actually understand
the material?
Some tutors focus primarily on memorization techniques, such as drilling for
current school material. While this may be helpful in the short run, it probably
will not foster a true understanding of the material. Therefore, supplemental
education providers should be able to adjust their teaching style to meet your
child's needs.
3. What is the teacher:student ratio?
It may be beneficial for your child to receive individual instruction, particularly if
your child is younger or has a very short attention span. A 1:2 or 1:3 ratio allows
for individual attention combined with peer group reference.
4. How will you measure your child's progress?
A tutor should provide timely reports or updates on how your child is
progressing. You also should have periodic meetings with your child's regular
school teachers to see if your child's grades show improvement. If you are not
seeing the progress you hoped for, be sure to express your concerns to the tutor.
5. What is the cost?
Hourly costs will vary depending upon whether the instruction is in the form of
individual or group sessions. In any case, it is important to have a clear
understanding of how you will be charged, and the guarantees or commitments
made by the tutor.
