Teaching Our Kids Parent and Child, November 1993 In this academically high pressured D.C. metropolitan area, tutors are as popular as the kid with the answers to next week’s exam. But when is tutoring appropriate? Will it become a crutch for “lazy kids?” Should parents take the wait-and-see approach or get help early? How can one tell if the tutoring works? Reasons for Tutoring Many children, especially in the public school system, don’t have the severe learning problems that merit specialized, supportive services. Even private schools, with added learning centers and extra support staff, can’t always address a child’s individual needs. If your child experiences undue frustration with a subject, gets poor grades or takes too much time to complete homework assignments, or if he is highly disorganized, waits for the last minute to begin school projects and has poor study habits, remedial one-to-one tutoring is most appropriate. Or perhaps your child may tell you that his homework is much too easy, that he’s bored in school or that he already knows the material being taught. You suspect he could be reading more challenging novels, doing higher-level math or writing lengthier, more-complete essays and stories. In such cases, enrichment tutoring, which supplements the school’s curriculum with challenging and creative learning experiences, can rekindle your child’s enthusiasm for learning. Individualized tutoring can help students reduce test anxiety and prepare for standardized tests such as PSAT’s and SAT’s. A few sessions to familiarize the student with the test format, time limits and types of questions can take the edge off what could be a nerve-racking experience Different Types of Tutoring Services Educationa1 support services for children in the Washington area include college and university clinics (which are training centers for their graduate students), private tutoring agencies, franchised learning centers such as Sylvan and Britannica, and private educational consultants and tutors. The WISER (Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources) directory provides a comprehensive list of consultants and tutors who offer remedial and enrichment tutoring services. Also, public and private school teachers often tutor students in their homes after school. Some tutoring agencies send tutors directly to the client’s home, school or day care center, a welcome service for families with two working parents. Franchised learning centers offer only on-site services, but these include testing and small-group instruction. Whatever service you choose should be convenient for your family. Your child must come consistently and steadily to reap all the benefits of the tutoring sessions. Selecting a Tutor A good rapport must be established in any tutoring relationship. A tutoring service will want to know all the aspects of your child so that the service can use its professional expertise to select the right tutor. Describe any weaknesses or problems to the prospective tutor so that he can tell you honestly whether he can be of help. Whether you decide to go with a tutoring agency or an independent tutor, ask about credentials, degrees, years of experience tutoring in a particular subject, special education background and references. If you are hiring an independent tutor, it is important to get several references, since tutoring agencies already have references on file.
Remember, degrees and formal credentials aren’t always as important as years of experience tutoring in a particular area. Some of the best tutors around have degrees from Princeton, Yale or Harvard but do have outstanding skills acquired over many years. Some form of pre-testing or initial screening should be used to determine beginning skills. If you suspect there might be a learning problem that has not been tested by the school system, then diagnostic testing is appropriate. Be sure that the tutor or tutoring agency specializes in testing and/or learning disabilities and has appropriate background for diagnosing learning deficiencies. Ask about the types of tests used, the cost involved and whether there will be a written report to share with the school. There are numerous kinds of tests—such as cognitive (intelligence), perceptual and achievement tests—that will identify your child’s functional grade level. Unless he has significant learning problems, it is generally not necessary for your child to take a full battery of tests. Be cautious if you are told that many different tests are required. The bottom line is that pre- and post-testing, even informal assignments by the tutor, are needed so that you can clearly assess whether goals have been met. Responsibilities Once you have selected a tutor, regularly monitor what is happening. Be available either before or after a session to briefly chat with the tutor about skills covered and your child’s attitude during the session. If you can’t meet with the tutor, call him to clarify goals, monitor your child’s progress and ensure the transfer of skills to the classroom. Let the child’s teacher know that tutoring has begun and routinely check in with her or ask that the tutor call her to monitor progress at school. Keep the tutoring appointments so that the child has a steady routine to follow. Remember, tutoring is a team endeavor. Frequent communication between parents, teachers and tutors is vital for children to get the maximum benefits from this service. |