Thinking about a tutor for your child? You’re not alone! In fact, 30% of kids seek help from a professional tutor at some point in their high school career.
We share the five questions to ask a tutor to help find the one that’s right for your family.
1. Do they have experience tutoring in this subject?
Not everyone who is great at math would be a great math tutor. That’s why turning to the smartest kid on the block may not be the right answer. And, it’s also why seeking a general interest tutor may not solve your problem.
2. How much should you pay?
Fees can vary depending on where you live. As a guide, a qualified teacher should be paid at least the same hourly rate they would earn in a school.
For newly qualified teachers the hourly fee is at least $30 for primary tuition. Expect $40 and up to $50 for A level science subjects.
But if the tutor has additional training or 30 years' experience, you'd expect to pay more. If the tutor charges $15 an hour (the same as a cleaner in some areas), then you need to question their training and experience.
You are paying not just for the time they are with your child but also for preparation time, photocopying or printing they have done, books they have to buy, wear and tear on their home, and time and fuel if they come to you.
3. Do they have experience at this level?
A tutor who might have been really helpful for a middle school child might not be ready to tackle more advanced scientific principles. Likewise, a high school tutor might go right over the head of a middle schooler working.
4.What is your plan for helping my child?
While this may seem like a loaded question for someone who has not yet met your child or even seen examples of his school work, the response will reveal the tutor’s thought process for diagnosing your child’s needs and creating a plan to achieve the desired results. The right tutor will have a strategy, and possibly specific methods, for identifying problem areas and understanding the child’s learning behavior. An effective tutor will also recognize the importance of working with the student (and in some cases, the parents) to establish performance improvement goals that are both measurable and attainable.
5. Are they familiar with current classroom teaching methods?
As we all know, things have changed since we were in school. And with the new Common Core standards, learning targets and styles continue to evolve. You need to make sure that your tutor is up on the changes in classroom styles and can incorporate new benchmarks into their repertoire.
