There is a growing concern among parents that their educational system is ill equipped to handle the needs of their child. Compound that with a student who has trouble learning for a variety of reasons including lack of interest or even disability, and you have a situation where tutoring is required.
But what are a parent’s options? Because this is such a common problem in our school system, tutoring is actually quite available. The problem parents face is deciding which option is best for their child. What follows is a list of the common ones and what a parent can expect or not expect from any given one.
One option is to hire a private, individual tutor. These will usually come in the form of high school or college students but occasionally you can find a teacher who is willing to take extra time to help a student. On the plus side, private tutors, especially if they are high school or college students, are a relatively affordable option. Most do not ask for very much monetarily. On the minus side, you’re probably not getting the most qualified people for the job.
Therefore, when hiring a private tutor it is important that during the interview you ask them what their educational background is and also ask for references. If you do hire them, listen in on the first couple of sessions to make sure that they are going well. Also have the tutor check in with the teacher and get a report back as to your child’s progress.
According to a NY Times Learning RX Article, another option is to take your child to a tutoring center. Some of the biggest are Sylvan Learning, Kumon Math & Reading Centers, and Kaplan, Inc. One of the biggest advantages of these centers is that they screen every tutor they hire. This way you’re assured of getting someone who is most qualified. On the minus side, these programs are usually more expensive than hiring a private tutor.
Your child’s tutoring session will not be held at home but at the center itself. Many of the largest centers actually have a full curriculum and work out of a classroom setting, not unlike a school.
For this option to work best, you and your child need to be willing to follow the curriculum and the overall philosophy set by the center. You will also need to bring your child to the center. They normally do not provide transportation, even in the form of busing. Also make sure that you put the center in touch with your child’s teacher.
It is important to make sure that your child can benefit from a setting like this instead of one on one instruction, which in the hands of a qualified tutor is usually more effective. That is another one of the downsides of centers. In most cases they really can’t give one on one attention to the degree that a private tutor can.
Another option is for you to go online and look for a private tutor there. This option usually works best when your teacher has a website where the child’s lessons are available.
Online resources are usually your cheapest option. However, there is always the danger of hooking up with a site that is less than reputable. That’s why it’s critical that you check out the site before signing up for any tutoring lessons. You can check out any website by going to the BBB Online. If there are any complaints about the site, they will be on record there.
If you’re looking for some kind of fee structure, private tutors can range from $10 to $75 an hour depending on the experience. Agencies and centers usually start around $25 per hour and go up according to the tutor’s experience. Online sites usually have monthly rates somewhere in the neighborhood of $100. This will vary depending on the site and the tutor, some of whom charge as much as $50 per lesson.
Tutoring options are out there. Make sure you do your research and choose the option that’s best for YOUR child.
