To Be Tutored or Not to be Tutored In this academically high pressured D.C. metropolitan area, tutors are being used for a multitude of reasons. Parents often become confused as they try to decide if tutoring is appropriate for their child. Parents begin to realize that there are so many different reasons for hiring a tutor and then begin to doubt if they are doing the right thing. There are a myriad of questions that parents tackle when they are in the process of considering tutoring services for their child, such as: When is tutoring appropriate (for remedial purposes, advancement and enrichment)? Will tutoring become a crutch for “lazy kids”? Should parents take the “wait and see” approach or get help early? Should children be tested first before using a tutor? Where do parents go to find a tutor? How do they know if the tutoring is producing results? Reasons for Tutoring It is often the case, in public school systems, that your child doesn’t have a severe learning problem and therefore doesn’t qualify for specialized, supportive services. Although private schools have been adding learning centers and some extra support staff, very often your child’s individual needs can’t be addressed as frequently as they need. However, you’ve observed that he/she is experiencing undue frustration with a subject, is getting poor grades, or is taking an excessive amount of time to complete homework assignments. Also, you observe that your child is highly disorganized, waits for the last minute to begin book reports, research projects and other long term projects and has poor study habits. Remedial, specialized one to one tutoring is definitely most appropriate when these factors are present, and should begin sooner rather than later. On the other hand, your child might come home from school with homework that appears much to easy, with comments such as “I’m bored in school. I already know that, why do I have to do those division problems when I already know how to do that?” You know your child could be reading more challenging novels than what the teacher is assigning, could be doing higher level math, or you suspect your child’s writing abilities have progressed to the point that they can write essays and stories with greater length and complexity than what’s being accepted in school. In all of the above cases, consideration should be given to enrichment tutoring which supplements the school’s curriculum by adding more challenging and creative learning experiences to your child’s education than teachers have time for in the classroom. In either case, whether your child needs remedial, special education tutoring, or academic enrichment, the sooner you secure these services, the happier and less frustrated your child will be. Individualized tutoring is also very helpful when students need to reduce test anxiety and prepare for standardized tests such as SSAT’s, PSAT’s, and SAT’s. A few sessions to familiarize the student with test format, time limits, and types of questions helps take the edge off what could be a nerve-racking experience. If a student has a significant discrepancy between math and verbal skills, with one being much weaker than the other, then individualized one to one tutoring can zero in on individual weaknesses and strengthen the weaker areas. Different Types of Tutoring Services We are lucky here, in the D.C. metropolitan area to have a wealth of educational support services for our children. Educational/academic support is provided by college and university clinics (which are training centers for their graduate students), private tutoring agencies, franchised learning centers, such as Sylvan and Britanni, 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 very often tutor students after school hours in their home. Some tutoring agencies select tutors who go directly to the client’s home, school or day care center, which is becoming a necessity for many families with two working parents. Franchised learning centers offer a variety of services including testing and small group instruction, however, parents must bring their children to the center. Whatever type of service parents decide on, be sure that a convenient schedule which fits in to the family routine is established. Consistent, steady attendance is a must if your child is to reap all the benefits of the tutoring sessions. Irregular attendance and cancelled sessions (because of other family commitments) greatly reduces the benefits of consistent, regularly scheduled tutoring sessions. Selecting a Tutor Parents are often faced with the dilemma of how to find a good tutor
who has the perfect qualifications for working successfully with their
child. While it is essential that a good rapport needs to be established
for any tutoring relationship, parents should also keep in mind the following
guidelines: When using a tutoring service be sure to describe all aspects
of your child so that the placement specialists can use their professional
expertise in selecting just the right tutor. Don’t hide weaknesses
or problems. Share them with the tutor while the selection process is
going on, so that the tutor can tell you honestly whether they can be
of help. Remember that tutoring agencies specialize in selecting, assigning
and evaluating tutors and keep on-going records of parent evaluations.
Whether you decide to go with a tutoring agency, or private, independent
tutor, ask about credentials, degrees, years of experience tutoring in
a particular subject, special education background and references. It
is more important to get several references from independent tutors, since
tutoring agencies already have references on file. Ask Diagnosing and Testing Parents often ask, “Should my child be tested before tutoring begins? Is diagnostic testing appropriate and is it necessary?” Certainly, there should be some form of pre-testing or initial screening to determine beginning skills. If your child has learning problems or you suspect there might be a learning problem and 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 the 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. Remember, there are numerous kinds of tests, such as cognitive (intelligence), perceptual, and achievement tests, which will tell you what grade level your child is currently achieving at. Unless your child has significant learning problems, it is generally not necessary to have a full battery of tests administered. So be cautious when you are told that many different tests are required. The bottom line is that some form of pre- and post-testing, even informal assessments by a tutor, is highly recommended so that you can clearly assess whether goals have been met. Parent Responsibilities Once you’ve selected a tutor, whether you decided to use a tutoring service or a private, independent tutor, parents should regularly monitor what’s happening. Be available either before or after each session to briefly chat with the tutor about skills covered and your child’s attitude during the session. If you’re working and can’t meet the tutor personally, then it is appropriate for you to call the tutor to clarify goals, progress and transfer of skills to the classroom. Parents should definitely let the child’s teacher know that tutoring has begun, and parents should routinely check in with the teacher or ask that the tutor call the teacher to monitor progress being made in school. Parents should ensure that appointments are kept so that the child has a steady routine to follow. If tutoring appointments are cancelled or switched often, then the effectiveness of the tutoring diminishes. Remember, tutoring is a team endeavor. Frequent communications among
parents, teachers and tutors is vital for children to get the maximum
benefits from this service. |