- Does he seem frustrated?
- Is she complaining about feeling lost or unable to keep up?
- Does the teacher share your concern?
Involve the classroom teacher
Clair McLafferty, a veteran math tutor, says that involving the teacher in this process is a big advantage. Since the teacher directly observes your child’s daily learning, they should be able to help you identify any challenges. “Since the teacher sees the student more often [than the tutor does], they usually have a better grasp of a student’s strengths and weaknesses,” she says.
Robinson believes this as well. “Teachers have plenty of insight into a student’s day-to-day performance,” she says. “They can confirm a parent’s concerns and pinpoint specific areas for improvement.” If you’re told that one-on-one help would be beneficial, you know you’re on the right track in seeking a tutor.
Choose the best tutor for your child’s needs
So, let’s say that you’ve decided to get a tutor — what should you look for? Once you’ve identified a reputable service or independent tutor, preferably through a referral from someone who’s used them before, you’ll want to interview this person.
A good tutor is someone who understands the material and how to communicate it in a variety of ways. This is essential because your child may need a few different explanations to find one that makes sense for him or her. Additionally, you’re going to want to know that this person will be able to communicate with you: How is she progressing? What seem to be the trouble spots? Connecting the tutor and the teacher offers a direct line of communication that’s helpful for everyone.
Get the most out of your time
Beyond these insights into your child’s learning, what else should you expect from a tutor’s services? While your kid may be hoping that the tutor will do his homework, that won’t really help in the long run. McLafferty states that the work needs to be the child’s — not the tutor’s. “If a tutor is working through every problem for them, the student isn’t learning anything,” she says. “That’s not to say that one or two of the problems won’t be used as examples, but the student should be able to demonstrate a concept by the end of the session.”
Instead, as Robinson puts it, a tutor should “suggest new approaches to solving problems, pinpoint additional areas for improvement and focus on helping the student build confidence as they gain mastery of the material.”
McLafferty has found that the students who benefit most from tutoring are the ones who are ready to accept help and prepare for their sessions. “If the student is willing to put in the time to do the work to be prepared, they’ll usually see a more significant improvement in their grades than those who come to a session with no work done and no specific questions,” she says.
Maximize learning impact
Since tutors can’t work magic, parents can help to boost tutor effectiveness by maintaining consistency of routines and providing a reliable study environment. Kids who are well-rested, eat nutritiously and have a quiet place to work are more likely to reap the benefits of tutoring. Some families find that scheduling sessions outside the home, at a library or a coffee shop, is more beneficial; other parents like having the ability to check in on what’s happening. McLafferty also stresses that even with tutoring, continuing to take advantage of help at school is important. “If the teacher offers help, provide the resources (scheduling, rides, etc.) that they need to make it to those one-on-one sessions,” she says.
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