Can a tutor really help students? Yes, and no, especially if you know what you’re looking for.
School can be difficult under normal circumstances, but managing multiple subjects, the demands of extracurricular activities and a social life can be a lot for some children — especially when they can’t always be at a physical school. Right now a lot of parents are talking about hiring tutors, but how do you know if your child might need additional help? Here’s a quick guide to how a tutor can help students, and how to select the best one for your family.
Look for Signs
If your child’s grades are not what they usually are, or are consistently declining, that may be one sign. But grades aren’t the only indicator. Your child’s attitude toward school and their schoolwork are of great importance. If your child is constantly reluctant to do schoolwork, or they are complaining about assignments consistently, they may be struggling to understand some concepts or could be having trouble keeping up with the pace.
How Do You Find Help?
Sussing out the problem is the first step towards helping your child; knowing what kind of help would most benefit your child is the second step. There are typically two types of in-person tutoring — group tutoring, with multiple students working on the same subject matter, and individual tutoring where a tutor focuses on one student at a time.
“Some kids flourish in group settings working with a few other students, while some children benefit much more from one-on-one instruction,” professional tutor, Skyler Romero tells Parentology. “Group tutoring can be a good idea if you feel your student’s issues stem mainly from a lack of practice and learning time, but students who struggle more with figuring out the concepts behind the work often benefit from a one-on-one setup where they can ask all the questions they need to, and receive thorough answers, without any distractions or interruptions.”
The good news is there are lots of options. Tutoring is a billion-dollar business, with over 3,000 tutoring businesses operating in the US. These businesses are usually tutoring companies or “centers.” They cultivate instructors and offer regularly scheduled sessions that work families’ schedules.
You can also try to find a private instructor. Your child’s school guidance counselor should have resources to explore if you feel outside help is needed.
It’s Often More Than Academics
Many bright children struggle with school because of a lack of organizational skills or trouble with time management. Tutors can help with that, as well.
“Often students who struggle with multiple subjects feel overwhelmed by their schoolwork, but a tutor can spend time talking to a student about how they organize their work and their time to lessen the strain is keeping up,” Romero says. “I’ve had several very bright students whose issues stemmed less from their understanding of the material and more from difficulties getting the hang of school life.”
No parent wants to see their child struggle. Tutoring can often offer the additional personalized instruction many kids need. It can also help build your child’s confidence, so they can approach their schoolwork with more conviction.
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How a Tutor Can Help Students — Sources
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Skyler Romero, professional tutor
