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Does Your Child Need A Tutor?
(Article written by Michelle A. Tyrrell)

For students, the pressure builds early to obtain the best grades at a young age.  Unfortunately, many parents don't know how to help their children develop good learning skills.  And for those students who appear not to care at all about school or learning, the challenge of helping them succeed may seem insurmountable.

A tutor or supplemental education may be a solution, whether you child needs help preparing for a test, help 'catching up' in a particular subject area, or an opportunity for enrichment not available in a standard curriculum.

Most teachers know whether a student simply needs extra help in a certain subject area, or has underlying problems with study habits.  Even a student who is performing well may benefit from help outside of the classroom to sharpen study skills and test-taking skills.

Regular communication with your child's teachers is a sure way to assess academic performance.  And regular communication with your child is even more beneficial.

What kind of educational help does my child need?
    Ask yourself these questions when considering hiring a tutor or supplemental    
    education provider:
    1. Will the lesson plan be designed for your child, or simply assist your child with            homework assignments?
    A practiced tutor or supplemental education provider should take a proven    
    approach to assessing your child's needs and should present a plan of action
    showing how those needs will be addressed.  For example, ask the tutor how    
    often he/she updates the teaching materials and how he/she plans to relate the
    materials to what your child is using in school.
    2. Is the focus on 'drilling' for memorization, or will the instruction focus on
          making the material interesting enough for your child to actually understand
          the material?
   Some tutors focus primarily on memorization techniques, such as drilling for    
    current school material.  While this may be helpful in the short run, it probably    
    will not foster a true understanding of the material.  Therefore, supplemental    
    education providers should be able to adjust their teaching style to meet your
    child's needs.
    3. What is the teacher:student ratio?
    It may be beneficial for your child to receive individual instruction, particularly if
    your child is younger or has a very short attention span.  A 1:2 or 1:3 ratio allows
    for individual attention combined with peer group reference.
    4. How will you measure your child's progress?
    A tutor should provide timely reports or updates on how your child is
    progressing.  You also should have periodic meetings with your child's regular
    school teachers to see if your child's grades show improvement.  If you are not
    seeing the progress you hoped for, be sure to express your concerns to the tutor.
   5. What is the cost?
    Hourly costs will vary depending upon whether the instruction is in the form of    
    individual or group sessions.  In any case, it is important to have a clear    
    understanding of how you will be charged, and the guarantees or commitments    
    made by the tutor.


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