Your Child Needs a Tutor: What Do You Do Now?

How do you convince your child that needing a tutor is not a bad thing? How do you find the right tutor for your child? These are just some of the questions that may go through a parent’s mind when they realize that there child needs a little help in school. Your child can feel good about being tutored and you can feel confident in your tutoring choices.

I remember being tutored in math when I was in grade school. I had a teacher who just could not be bothered with a child who could not keep up with the rest of the class. My mom found a neighbor who was also a teacher and she tutored me on Saturdays. She made math fun for me by allowing me to work outside at the picnic table. I remember that she was a nice lady and she smiled a lot. She did not make me feel like I was stupid and she was very patient with my questions and my awkward attempts at solving the problems. My tutor was a good match for me. Finding a good match for your child can be done if you first look at your child. You need to understand what it is that your child is struggling with. Is the problem a simple task of learning a difficult subject in school, or does your child also suffer from self-esteem issues. Speaking with your child’s teacher may be a good place to start when trying to grasp the whole problem. In my case, it was a matter of my needing some extra time to grasp the concepts. Every child learns at a different pace. One teacher is placed in a classroom with 15 to 25 different individual students. You cannot expect all the students to be able to learn at the same pace. Classroom teachers seldom have the time to devote to those students who learn at a slower pace or who just need a little extra time to practice a concept before understanding it fully. Lack of understanding is not the only reason children may need tutoring. Some children may need a tutor when they fall behind due to absences because of illness or moving. Some children have a difficult time paying attention in class and may fall behind.

Signs your child may need a tutor

Your child: