A Basic Guide to Tutors
Does your child need a tutor?
Selecting a tutor
Evaluating a tutor
1. Does Your Child Need A Tutor?
Does she need extra help with English? Or is he falling behind in math? Or maybe your child wants to get an edge in college admissions. Here are some things to consider if you're thinking of using a tutor:
Tutors can be like a pair of crutches after an ankle sprain. After an injury, a child may use crutches for support until he or she can walk independently again. Likewise, a tutor can serve as a support for a child facing academic difficulties, strengthening them academically until the child is able to move forward solo.
Tutors aren't just for people having trouble in school. Most students get a tutor because they are falling behind in a particular subject such as math or reading. But many others work with a tutor so they can get advanced instruction in foreign languages, complex areas of science and math, and other subjects.
The parents and student should talk to the teachers before you get a tutor. Some types of academic problems can be solved with the help of a tutor, but for some students a tutor would be a waste of time. If you're considering a tutor because your child wants to get ahead in school, his or her teachers will be able to suggest the best areas for him or her to focus efforts.
Parents probably aren't the best place to turn for tutoring. Parents can certainly help out with homework, but if your child is really having trouble in school, you are probably too emotionally involved to tutor effectively.
Not all tutors are equally skilled. It's important to interview a potential tutor to make sure the tutor has the training and experience you need. Has the tutor worked as a classroom teacher? Does the tutor have references from at least three satisfied clients? Ask hard questions before you put down any money or sign any agreements. It's fine if the tutor is not a professional (sometimes neighbors or family friends are great tutors), as long as the person has the background to help and is willing to make a regular time commitment.
Realistic goals and expectations are the key to success. Beware of big promises of improvement: that your child will quickly be getting As instead of Cs, that he or she will be able to get into any college they want. Aim for more modest goals, such as improving your test scores by five or ten points, and then build on these small successes. Whatever the plan, it's important that you, your child, and your tutor share the same goals.
When you interview a potential tutor, you are looking for someone who will
challenge and support your child in learning.
2. Selecting a Tutor
1. Explain to your child why you think a tutor is needed and what a tutor does. Talk to him or her about what you hope will be accomplished with a tutor.
2. Consider interviewing several tutors with your child. (If your child is a part of the process, he/she will be more open to accepting help.)
3. Check the tutor's credentials. Ask about training, experience, and references. Find out whether the person has experience working with students at your child's grade level. If the tutor is working with a child with a learning disability, it is essential that he/she has been trained to use appropriate techniques that can address the student's special needs.
4. Set clear goals for the tutoring and request a description of the tutoring plan. Whenever possible, ask your child's teacher to participate in the design of this plan so that it links to school work. Try to create a partnership between you, your child's teacher, and the tutor.
5. If possible, schedule tutoring for the times of the day when your child is ready to learn. After-school hours are the most common time for tutoring but this is also when students are tired or distracted by other activities. Allow for much-needed breaks from the school routine.
7. Observe your child working with the tutor. The session should include hands-on learning and be very interactive. The tutor should be guiding your child through direct teaching and guided practice. Consider requesting a (paid) sample session before committing to ongoing tutoring.
8. Request periodic reports from both the tutor and your child's teacher. Remember that it takes time to see improvement, so don't expect a quick fix. There should be noticeable academic improvement within a few months.
3. Evaluating a Tutor
The following table explains some of the behaviors exhibited by an effective
tutor.
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An effective tutor should: |
An effective tutor shouldn’t: |
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o Answer most questions with questions o Listen perceptively o Show respect o Expect respect o Practice patience o Encourage collaboration o Be aware of different learning styles o Make sure the student is responsible for doing the task o Allow enough thinking time o Check for understanding with follow-up questions o Be on the lookout for misconceptions o Know what textbooks the student is using o Be aware of the methods of instruction used in their classes o Model different strategies o Use manipulatives o Be aware of math phobias and avoidance techniques o Look for real-world applications o Know what comes before and what comes after the skill they are teaching o Put the work in a meaningful context o Be cautious about teaching tricks and gimmicks o Share their concerns about students/teachers/their work out of earshot of students o Maintain high expectations o Be friendly, fair and firm and give praise when done |
o Accept “uh-huh’s” and head nods as proof of understanding o Assume much of anything o Give false confidence o Say something is easy when it very well may not be o Enable students when they complain about teachers and classes o Allow students to work on their homework during tutorial sessions o Be afraid to admit their areas of ignorance o Allow excuses (“nevertheless,” can be a very powerful response) o Use “should” statements (try “could” instead) o Do the work, allowing students to passively watch
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The tutor acts as a guide in coaching students through learning tasks which will help them to acquire the skill or concept for themselves. The tasks should be meaningful and never busywork.
After your child begins working with the tutor, monitor their progress. If their understanding does not seem to be progressing, you should feel free to inquire about the techniques being used by the tutor.