When your child is falling behind in class, the best thing you can do to help them is to hire a tutor. While the person you choose to help your child doesn’t necessarily have to be a certified teacher, they should have a thorough education in the basic areas of study with which your child needs help. You may also prefer to choose a college student or college graduate as your preferred candidate. Additionally, here are some other factors you should consider.
Look For Someone Who Exhibits Grace Under Pressure
If your child needs a tutor, it’s likely that they have difficulty grasping the subject matter, and they may lack the focus or attention to learn quickly. In this situation, you’ll want someone who can handle a difficult pupil without becoming easily irritated or frustrated.
Even if your child is just having trouble completing letter A worksheets, the tutor you hire should be able to help your child without losing their patience. It may be difficult to determine how patient a tutor is in a single interview, so you should arrange a trial session with your child.
Look For a Likable Tutor
In addition to exhibiting patience, you should hire a tutor who seems friendly and personable. In this matter, your own intuition shouldn’t be discounted. As you interview a tutor, pay attention to how they make you feel as they speak to you.
Your child should also be present to help you see how they will interact with the tutor, and to see how the tutor will speak to your child. If your child confides in you that the tutor made them feel uncomfortable or nervous, look for someone different. Your child will be spending plenty of time with the tutor you hire, so they should like the individual you choose.
Seek Out Specialized Experience
Look for a tutor with experience, and finding the right type of experience may be more important than finding someone with the right credentials. In looking for an experienced tutor, be sure to focus your search on someone who has been tutoring children in your child’s age group in one-on-one situations. If you need a sat tutor be sure to hire someone who has experience with that type of tutoring.
Additionally, you should look for tutors who have experience in teaching the topics with which your child needs help. Someone who handles these same topics regularly will have an effective system for helping children learn the material. Another way experience matters is in teaching children with disabilities, such as ADHD or other developmental disabilities. This type of experience will ensure the tutor knows how to manage your child’s behavioral and learning challenges.
Seek Out a Supportive Approach
You should also look for a tutor with an upbeat attitude, and try to find someone who will use encouragement to help your child learn. Praise and support are very effective tools in helping children learn difficult material. When your child learns something new, their tutor should congratulate them and make them feel good about their achievement. This type of support will encourage them to learn more as a means of earning future praise.
Know Where to Look
As you begin your search for a tutor, you may not know where to look for acceptable candidates. Many cities have tutoring centers, which you can find through your child’s school. Additionally, visit local college campuses to read the bulletin boards they have around campus.
Many tutors post ads on bulletin boards for college students and students with children who need help. You can find more tutors by conducting an online search. In particular, using the search option on social media sites can help you find tutors in your area. You’ll have to take extra care in researching tutors you find online since they won’t be working through an organization, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a high quality candidate to teach your son or daughter.
Finally, you should consider pricing before you begin your search for a tutor. Each candidate will charge a different rate, so you shouldn’t be discouraged if you don’t immediately find a tutor within your price range. The important thing is to choose a range that fits within your budget, and stick to your price restrictions. This will ensure you can get your child the help they need without compromising your household finances.
