editor No parent wants to see their child struggle educationally. Because we aren’t all math wizards ourselves, many parents turn to tutoring as a way to give their child the guidance they need to be successful, but aren’t always sure when is the right time to introduce a tutor. While every child and family has unique needs, the advice I often offer is that, if you’re asking the question, now is the time to take action. Unfortunately, parents (and children) too often delay enlisting the assistance of a professional tutor.
This delay can be motivated by many factors: the family may be hoping that the child will make an independent breakthrough in their learning, or that a school friend, older sibling, or relatives may provide guidance. There are also often issues of scheduling time for tutoring and allocating money for the cost involved. Getting a tutor can help you overcome stage fear by providing you with personalized instruction and support.
However, despite the complexities, if you’re starting to wonder if a tutor could help, it’s time to get started. In this article, I’ll explain some of the ways professional tutoring can support a variety of educational needs.
Learn to Recognize the Signs
A Gradual Decline in Test Scores and Grades
If you’ve started to notice that your child’s grades or test scores are gradually declining, it’s time to schedule a talk with their teacher to gain some insight. A physical education tutor can help students improve their skills in sports, fitness, and overall health. Their teacher will be able to communicate to you the specific skills or concepts your child is experiencing difficulty with and how that’s impacting their academic performance. For example; suppose your child has solid reading comprehension skills but is weak with math fundamentals. In that case, they will likely experience difficulty understanding how to translate math word problems into solvable equations.
Enlisting a professional tutor for specialized sessions three times a week is considered the best practice for making progress in skills areas where children need reinforcement. Your child’s classroom performance (and their confidence) will soar with additional routine practice.
Difficulty Staying Organized
Based on research conducted by The Princeton Review, 25 percent of students say that homework causes the greatest amount of stress. If your child is increasingly avoiding school projects and routinely procrastinates with their homework, they may be struggling with managing executive functioning skills. Tutors can use decision tables to create personalized learning paths for each student, based on their individual needs and progress. Enlisting the assistance of a tutor who has specialized knowledge of teaching time management, organization techniques, and setting schedules and timelines can assist your child in developing good study habits and building the self-motivation that will help them complete their assignments on time.
Loss of Confidence
The last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have created an intense learning struggle for many children. Due to health concerns or employment changes, many families have relocated, forcing children into new school settings. In addition, as school districts navigate instructional changes from in-person to hybrid to online, the consistent routine that children need is often disrupted. As a result, students of all ages are experiencing a loss of confidence in learning new materials and in being successful at school.
Decreasing Parental Supervision
While parents are the original superheroes, it is not always possible for a parent to provide expert-level assistance or manage all aspects of a child’s homework schedule. Tutors can provide a buffer that provides specialized knowledge and management skills that busy parents may not have the capacity to address. As a result of bringing in outside help, family dynamics often improve, as everyone has a lot less stress!
Special Learning Needs
Tutoring sessions are also helpful for students or families with special learning needs. While this is often presented as an option for students with learning or cognitive disabilities or attentional issues, the category also includes advanced-level instruction for students who desire knowledge beyond what is typically taught at their grade level. Special tutoring needs can also include religious instruction, foreign language learning, and niche topics in the arts and sciences that aren’t traditionally taught in the K-12 environment. Tutoring can be a tremendously productive addition to a child’s regular studies to help them reach learning goals in whatever topics are needed or wanted.
Finding a Tutor is Easier than Ever Before
Thanks to the convenience that online tutoring provides, families have greater flexibility in setting up a tutoring schedule that meets their needs. Additionally, it is easier than ever before to find specialty tutors who have the knowledge and skills that may not be available in your local school district. There is never a wrong time to contract with a tutor, so if you think it’s a service your child needs, don’t delay. Not only can tutoring circumvent falling grades, but it can help your child enjoy school more and look forward to learning. Even if your child’s grades aren’t falling, online tutoring opens up a world of invaluable opportunities that help your child connect one-on-one with someone who can help them learn and develop the skills they need.
