Tips to choose the best tutor for your child
It is often the case that children need a little extra help outside of school to fully grasp some subject matters that they don’t quite understand. Although teachers do the best they can, sometimes it’s simply impossible for them to dedicate the amount of time required to help children who are struggling. In a class of twenty or thirty, one on one teaching is minimal.
This doesn’t mean your child has to continue struggling; that is where tutoring services come in. A good tutor can transform a student and ensure they start hitting those top grades.
Whether you have a child in high school failing English or a college student struggling to grasp the concepts of biochemistry, a tutor could be the solution you were looking for. With so many options out there to aid your child in their learning, it can be difficult to find the right fit, so we prepared a quick guide to help you choose the best tutor for your child.
What is your child’s learning style?
Every person has their own style of learning, identifying your child’s preferred style could be of great help to find a tutor. There are four key types of learning: aural, visual, reading/writing and kinesthetic.
All children learn differently, but if you are able to identify which method of learning your child prefers, you will be able to seek out a tutor who is well versed in this style. For example, if your child is a visual learner, make sure to look for a tutor who does a lot of work with whiteboards, diagrams and graphs to cater to your child’s preference.
On the other hand, if your child is an aural learner, make sure the tutor you choose is willing to engage in discussions with your child. If you are unable to find a tutor who specialises in your preferred style of learning (most can accommodate any form of learning), make sure you start a dialogue with them so that they understand what you child needs and from there you can gauge if they will be able to fulfill your needs.
By hiring a tutor who fully understands your child’s academic needs, you increase the likelihood of finding a tutor who will optimise your child’s learning abilities.
Does the tutor specialise in the subject your child needs?
It goes without saying that you want to find a tutor that specialises in the subject your child needs. There is no point in hiring a history tutor when your child can’t understand the basics of biology. It is extremely easy to streamline your search for tutors who specialise in your chosen subject, with online filters and google search doing the bulk of the work for you.
It is likely that you will go through a tutoring company who offer tutors in multiple subjects, so just make sure your search is tailored to your child’s specific needs and you seek out a tutor with enough relevant experience in the subject.
At the end of the day, the more they know, the more they can fuel your child’s learning and curiosity.
Is the tutor friendly?
Although it’s important for your tutor to be fully knowledgeable about your chosen subject matter, it is equally important for them to be friendly and approachable. For your child to get the most out of their tutoring experience, they need to have a good relationship with their tutor.
If their tutor is domineering and intimidating, they will be less inclined to ask for help when they need it and are more likely to resist attending tutoring sessions. Moreover, a friendly tutor will be able to build a symbiotic relationship with your child to ensure they feel comfortable in the learning environment, which is essential to allow your child to flourish.
Is there a good line of communication?
Once you’ve found a tutor who is friendly and approachable, who you believe your child will get along with, you now have to make sure they are committed to maintaining a good line of communication with you. As important as it is for your child to have a good relationship with their tutor, it is similarly integral that you have a good relationship with them.
Keeping a strong line of communication will help you to understand how you can further aid your child on their learning journey outside of school and tutoring sessions. In addition, it will give you peace of mind as you will be constantly updated on your child’s progress from a reputable source.
Do they fit your budget?
Pricing is an important factor when considering what option is right for you in the world of tutoring. In most cases, tutors will offer an hourly rate, but this rate can vary greatly from tutor to tutor. It might be the case that you will have to do some digging to find the best deal for you as many factors contribute to pricing of tutors.
A less experienced tutor will likely be cheaper, whereas someone who has been doing this for 10+ years will most likely charge a premium. This doesn’t necessarily mean the more expensive and experienced tutor will be the best fit for your child, so don’t let the price dictate your interpretation of quality.
Online Vs In-Home Tutoring
Another important aspect that must be considered when deciding the best fit for your family is whether you prefer in person or online tutoring. There are benefits and drawbacks to both so it’s important that you are fully aware of all contributing aspects and which will suit you and your child best.
Online tutoring is the perfect option if you need a tutor that can accomodate your flexible schedule. You can fit in a quick one hour session after a football practice, or commit to a longer session on the weekend. It’s easy to coordinate when all you have to do is log in on your computer.
In-home tutoring on the other hand offers a tangible option that will implement structure and discipline to your child’s study plan. Whichever option you choose, ensure you consult your child, as they may feel more comfortable with one option.
Advantages of hiring a tutor
Hiring a tutor is a brilliant option to supplement your child’s learning at school and ensure that they reach their full potential. Although schools’ offer children the basic information they need to fulfill curriculum requirements, this often isn’t enough for them to fully grasp the subjects that they are learning. Hiring a tutor is therefore the perfect way to give your child that extra boost.
Introducing a tutor at home can help boost your child’s confidence. By committing to extra work with a tutor, they are building on their existing knowledge and are given the freedom to explore areas of a subject that they previously didn’t understand.
Doing this in the comfort of their own home provides them with a safe space to further their learning. This expansion of knowledge in a private setting subsequently translates to confidence in more public settings. As children feel they now understand more, it gives them the confidence to participate more in school, and as proven by the Sutton Trust, confident individuals are 25% more likely to be successful.
Private tutoring allows a tailor made curriculum to be set for your child, hence targeting the areas that they struggle with the most. A tutor will work in close collaboration with your child to identify how they best learn whilst also identifying the areas that they need the most help with.
This personalised approach to learning ensures your child gets the most out of this learning experience as their needs are put first. Unlike a school environment, tutors are dedicating one-on-one time to help your child with their issues.
Moreover, the professional nature of the tutoring industry means that tutors have experience in identifying their students weaknesses, even if they themselves cannot see it. This close collaboration mixed with the outsiders perspective creates the perfect environment to identify what your child needs.
Another key advantage to tutoring is the extra skills it can teach your child. Tutoring isn’t as strict as school as the student is afforded more flexibility and control of their own learning.
This ultimately leads to self-paced and self- directed learning. This teaches children the importance of being responsible for your own learning and progress. It also encourages better time management as they become responsible for how they use their time not only during their tutoring sessions, but outside of them too.
Tutoring is a brilliant option for any parent looking to supplement the learning their children are receiving at school. The ultimate goal is to ensure your child’s full potential is reached and they achieve the best grades they possibly can at school.
The way this is done is through creating a safe and collaborative learning environment and encouraging a productive and healthy relationship between tutor and student.
This environment that tutoring creates subsequently allows your child to dictate what they need help with and the best way to help them with it. As they build on their learning in this private setting, it boosts their confidence and self- esteem, therefore encouraging success.
Ultimately, this is the only way for your child to get extra academic help from an individual who is experienced and knowledgeable in the subject matter that is needed. This extra help will not only help them in school to achieve what they need to achieve, but it will teach them a plethora of other notions along the way, subsequently turning them into the most efficient learners they can possibly be.
Does your child need a Tutor?
Tutorax can help you find a qualified tutor, whether you are looking into online or in-home tutoring. With our wide network, we will be able to find the ideal fit for your child’s specific needs.