Finding the Right Tutor

How do I find the right tutor for my student?

A successful tutor will need the right expertise to work with your student, but it’s even more important that they are the right personality fit. Working one-on-one, even for only an hour at a time, requires intense personal attention. If your student doesn’t like the way someone explains things, or finds them “too easy,” or doesn’t get along with them in some way, then whatever knowledge there is to impart will be poorly received.

The “best” tutor and the best-for-your-student tutor are not always the same. To find the right tutor for you, you should define your student’s needs, do your research, and test out tutors.

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1)    Defining your student’s needs. Make sure you know what you are trying to get out of tutoring. Tutors and tutoring companies usually specialize in subject areas or grade-levels, so knowing what you need will narrow the pool.

Here are some key questions to ask before you research tutors:

• Why are you seeking a tutor?

• Does your student need support in a single subject area or do they need general study skills help?

• Do you have a child with a learning disability, anxiety, or other barriers to their success?

• Is your student open to being tutored?   

2)    Research tutors and companies in your area. Many companies and tutors offer online lessons, but if you can find someone in your area, I highly recommend face-to-face tutoring sessions. Asking your neighbors for recommendations is a good way to start, but a Google search with subject area key words can be helpful. You can also search on Care.com, Noodle Pros, or post an ad on a college job site. Many undergraduates are looking for tutoring work and may be just starting out, so their rates will be lower.

3)    Speak to potential tutors and have 2 or 3 come to work with your student. Always talk to possible tutors on the phone to get a sense of their experience and to make sure they are clear on what you expect for your student. The number of companies out there makes the process seem daunting, but a quick phone call with any of them will give you plenty of information.

• Always ask their rate. Don’t hire someone you can’t afford.

• Tell them what you need. Be clear about your expectations and the challenges your child is having.

• Ask about their experience. Tutors should be comfortable telling you about their expertise.

Once you have them come to do an initial session, you may want to speak them briefly to get a sense of their experience working with your student. After you have 2 or 3 tutors come, ask your student if they had a preference. Then, make a decision!

When to Hire a Tutor

How do I know when I should hire a tutor for my student?

There are a lot of reasons to consider a tutor for your student—from falling grades to test prep or academic enrichment—but before making the commitment, it’s important to define your student’s needs and goals.

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Tutoring can boost confidence, build knowledge, and provide useful strategies for studying and test-taking, but it is not a substitute for the classroom.

Tutoring is an investment of both time and money. With the exception of things like test prep or high school and college admissions tutoring, it can be a long time before you see consistent student improvement.

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Here are some common reasons parents hire tutors and some key considerations for each:

Standardized test prep.  Test-prep tutoring is very common and is usually short-term, lasting only 2 – 3 months. Most standardized tests are more about strategy than subject-area knowledge, so tutoring (combined with student practice) can be very effective to increase test scores.

Students should take at least one, but ideally two or more practice tests before committing to a tutor. A diagnostic test will help you get the most from a test-prep tutor.

When to get at tutor: If practice test scores are a lot lower than you are hoping, or your student has test anxiety, a tutor can help to familiarize them with the test and provide strategic guidance.

When not to get a tutor: If you have a motivated student who is performing slightly below where they want to be, try out a Kaplan or Princeton Review test prep book. The easiest way to improve scores on standardized tests is practice! 

Falling grades and academic performance. It’s very common for students excel in some subjects and struggle with others. Science and math are frequent challenges and writing skills may be impacting performance in multiple subjects.

If your student has started a new grade, a new school, or even just a new unit in one of their classes, their grades might suffer. Always talk to your student about their grades to make sure the problem is academic and not personal.

When to get a tutor: If a student has shown consistently poor performance in a subject area, a subject-specific tutor can be helpful to provide clarity and further explanation on topics learned in school. If they are struggling across areas, study skills tutors may be the best option.

When not to get a tutor: If a grade suddenly drops, it may be due to a change in what the class is studying. A single bad test is not an indication that your son or daughter  needs academic support. Talk to them about why they are struggling. If your child is feeling anxious about starting a new school or other life change, there will be an adjustment period. A tutor probably won’t be able to help much with non-academic concerns.

Academic enrichment. For high-achieving students, an academic or skill coach may be the best option. Examples of this include: learning a language not taught at school, acting coaching, private chess lessons, or advanced subject tutors to design projects.

When to get a tutor: If a subject area is difficult to learn independently, like a musical instrument, a tutor would be a great bet. This is also a good option for students who need more structure to stay motivated.

When not to get a tutor: If your child tends to jump from hobby to hobby, you may to let them explore things independently so you don’t invest time and money in something they’ll lose interest in. Or, for very independent students, YouTube tutorials, books on the subject, and internet research may be enough.