Today, both parents and students recognise that hiring a tutor is about giving a child the kind of personal, one-on-one attention many teachers simply don’t have the time to provide. Tutoring can be as beneficial for a gifted child who might be too young to move up a year but needs additional challenges, as is it is for a child who is too shy to ask questions in class. And while tutoring is no longer largely the domain of ‘poor’ or ‘problem’ students, it does have a valuable role to play in helping a child who is having difficulties make the most of their formative educational years.
Is a tutor needed?
If your child is having difficulties at school, keep an eye out for the following signs:
• Cursory answers to questions about school or a reluctance to talk about their academic progress. For example, you might ask your child, “How are you coping with maths?” only to receive a one-word answer, such as, “Good”.
• Laziness. In most cases, laziness is simply a sign that the child does not know where to start with their schoolwork, resulting in a lack of confidence. The problem of laziness disappears when they begin to understand the work.
• An inability to multiply, divide, subtract or add without the use of a calculator. These skills should have been mastered by Year 6 and urgent help is required if they have not been mastered by Year 7. Calculators tend to hide such problems.
• Frustration when asked to complete homework or a statement that they don’t have any. Rather, it may well be that the child does not actually understand the work.
• “I study much better with the radio on!” This can be an indication that the child is not interested in their schoolwork and is looking to do something of more interest while going through the motions of study.
• Behavioural problems at school or at home. The student may be bored and frustrated because they don’t understand what’s happening in class. These problems disappear as the student gains confidence in their ability to manage their schoolwork.
• A general lack of ambition for the future and no idea about what career they would like to try. Children who perform well at school tend to be more definite about their ambitions.
Involve your child
here are many different methods of tutoring and it is crucial you choose a method that is appropriate to your child’s specific learning style. Discuss and decide together with your child what type of help they need and what you both want from tutoring. Determine what your child’s specific needs are, their learning strategies, strengths, weaknesses and current study skills. Discuss what type of tutor will suit your child, when they would like their tutoring sessions to be, and how they want to approach their sessions and study. Involving your child in the decision-making process will also encourage them to take responsibility for the way they apply themselves to their studies.
Motivation and morale
The assistance of a tutor not only increases a student’s understanding of a subject, it can also improve self-confidence, morale and motivation.
There is nothing more frustrating than being left behind or not understanding a topic. It can lead a student to feel there is no point in trying and ultimately, to entirely disengage from the subject. By improving your child’s ability to understand their schoolwork, the other benefits will multiply. Increased understanding will lead to increased interest, inquisitiveness and capability, which will in turn lead to boosted self-esteem and morale.
Private tutoring
Home-based tutoring is a traditional and popular method of tutoring. The personal tutor will come to your home for a regular study session with your child.
Many tutors join tutoring groups or associations and a tutor can be found by contacting a group and discussing your needs. A private tutor is another option and may be found by looking through the Yellow Pages, the internet or in the tutoring section of the classified pages in the newspaper. Find out their experience and areas of expertise to ensure you are engaging a suitable tutor.
Many private tutors rely on word-of-mouth to attract new students. Remember that every student is different and just because the child of a friend or relative responds well to a certain tutor, it does not necessarily mean your child will.
School-based tutoring
Many schools run after-hours tutoring groups where teachers will spend time with students going over the day’s class, providing extra work and explaining and clarifying concepts. With this method of tutoring, you can engage the assistance of teachers who are naturally familiar with the current curriculum and subject requirements. Speak to your school’s academic counsellor or equivalent for information on these types of programs.
Coaching centres
Another option is to send your child to a tutoring or coaching centre during out-of-school hours, where they can receive extra help from qualified professionals. Many of the tutors at these centres are teachers or graduate students who will fully understand the needs of your child. The classroom setting in these coaching centres is perfect for facilitating student focus, with the added benefit of learning in a much smaller group.
Electronic tuition
Most children are completely at ease with computer technology and use it frequently for recreation. As a tool for schoolwork and study, therefore, the interest factor for students is potentially high.
CD-ROM tuition programs can be completed by the student on their home computer during out-of-school hours, allowing ease of use and a certain degree of flexibility. This option may not necessarily address the specific learning needs of your child and the method is best suited to highly motivated and self-disciplined students.
Internet-based tutoring services are also on the rise, with websites offering assistance with particular problem areas. Particularly suited to Maths subjects, these sites ask students to email their problems or queries and then send a personalised response addressing the query.
Working with a tutorIf you decide to engage a tutor, you won’t be alone. It is estimated that a quarter of Australian students will receive some form of tutoring during their school years. Before choosing a tutor, the Australian Tutoring Association recommends you ask a few very important questions:
• Are your tutors screened for child protection? If not, how do you screen your staff to know that they are safe to work with children?
• Do you conduct face-to-face interviews with every member of staff before they work here and how many reference checks do you make?
• What are the qualifications and experience of the tutor or tutors who will be tutoring my child?
Whatever style of tutoring you choose, maintain an active interest in your child’s progress. Talk with both your child and their tutor to find out how they feel they are progressing and any areas they are dissatisfied with. Consider changes that may need to be made to the sessions or study program. Offer your own assistance to review tasks or check progress between tutoring sessions. Work closely with the tutor and your child and you will see the benefits that tutoring provides.
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