Does your child have a learning disability, poor or declining grades, poor time management skills, or difficulty understanding homework? If so, tutors are an effective way to get kids back on track and keep them there. But how do you find a good, reliable tutor you can trust? And what if hiring a tutor isn't in your budget? Today, there are many options.
Your child's teacher and the school administrator are an excellent place to start. They might be able to recommend a tutor in your community or online resources to help your child.
Also, chances are one of your child's friends has a tutor. So, ask other parents for a recommendation.
Another option is to search online for tutors in your area. You'll likely find a couple of local tutoring companies. These often offer onsite and in-home tutoring.
Several websites are aimed at helping parents find tutors. TakeLessons.com offers a searchable database of tutors. Just enter your zip code and the school subject to find tutors in your area. This site also shows tutors' ratings and their fees per session.
Another source is Care.com, which connects people with various service professionals, including tutors. Experience in tutoring varies widely, so check reviews and request references.
Free Options
If tutoring is not in your budget, there are several options. First, check with your child's school. Although the No Child Left Behind Act is now defunct, some schools still offer one-on-one tutoring programs or afterschool group tutoring. Kids can ask to stay after school to work on their homework with a teacher to assist.
If tutoring is not offered at your child’s school, ask trusted family members, neighbors and friends for help. You might discover someone you know is enthused to help your struggling child.
Another option is to contact your local high school and community college. Students majoring in certain subjects or teaching are required to do a certain number of hours of tutoring. For that reason, students often offer it for free.
There's also the popular Khan Academy website (KhanAcademy.org), which offers free online video tutorials for students at all levels.
What to Look For
Factors to consider when looking for a tutor include the following:
Is the tutor qualified? Your best bet is to look for someone with a teaching degree since tutoring requires skills that not everyone possesses. For younger students, if the tutor has a teaching degree, specialization in a particular subject is not necessary. From high school and beyond, look for a tutor with expertise in the subject your child needs help with.
Does the tutor have the right personality? First, a tutor should be patient, empathetic, positive, passionate, creative and fun. These characteristics help ensure your child can learn from the tutor and will walk away with self-confidence. Also, the tutor's personality should be a good fit for your child. It's essential the tutor and your child connect with each other.
Is the tutor flexible? Each child has their own best learning style. It might be visual, aural, physical, verbal, logical or any combination of these. Also, some kids are solitary learners, whereas others are social learners and enjoy learning in groups. Look for a setting and tutor that fits your child’s style.
Does the tutor have excellent references? Online tutoring services often have reviews from previous clients. Look for those with overall high ratings and positive comments. But beware of reviews directly on the tutoring company's website, which can often be manipulated. If you find your tutor offline or find very few reviews, ask for references and use due diligence to ensure your child's safety and quality service.
Freelance parenting and lifestyle writer Kimberly Blaker is the and founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services (KBCreativeDigital.com), specializing in SEO content writing.