How to Make Tutoring Work for Your Child

Monday, 15 October 2007

To make tutoring work for your child, you need only follow a few simple steps. Tutoring can benefit all kinds of students, no matter if they are performing above, below, or at the expected level for their age group. Tutoring works if you find a trained tutor who can provide one-on-one attention to your child. An individualized approach can be a big boost for your child’s self-esteem, and can also get them excited about learning.

First, to make tutoring work, determine your specific goals. They can be very narrow, like helping your child raise his or her grade in English. Tutoring also works for more general goals, like getting your child to generally be a better reader or be more enthusiastic about school.

Before tutoring begins, it helps tutoring work if you talk to your child about why you feel that a tutor will help him or her. Stress why you think the idea is important. Remember, your child may feel stupid for needing extra help, or resent the extra work on top of regular school duties. Take the time to be supportive and encouraging to make sure your child will make the most out of his or her tutoring sessions.

The next step in making tutoring work for your family is to ask for recommendations of good tutors. Talk to your child’s school, other parents, or local colleges and universities. Interview prospective tutors based on these leads. Be sure to ask specific questions about their qualifications. A good tutor will have experience working with kids, an area of expertise that will help your child, and a friendly demeanor.

After a first meeting with the tutor, ask your child what he or she thinks. Your child needs to be engaged with the tutor to make tutoring work, and without a connection the tutoring won’t be as successful. Also, remember to be clear with your tutor about what you expect in terms of improvement, so that everyone is on the same page.

In addition, tutoring works best if all details are ironed out up front. Be sure that you discuss the hourly fee with your tutor. Choose a location for meetings that works for both your child and the tutor. This may vary from a local library, to your own living room, depending on the learning style of your child.

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