Last week, I received 5 telephone calls that sounded like this:
Parent: “I need a tutor for my child.”
Robin: “Okay, can you tell me what subject your child needs help with?”
Parent: “He needs help with math.”
Robin: “What types of difficulties does he have in math?”
Parent: “He’s unmotivated and homework time is really difficult in our house. He just won’t listen to me. I think it’s because I’m his parent. What should have taken 20 minutes ends up taking 3 hours and there is always crying, screaming and fighting while we do homework. His grades suffered last year because of this. I don’t know what to do. He actually understands the math, I just need someone to help me get him on track, focused and make sure he completes everything that he needs to do. I need someone to motivate him.”
Robin: “Does he have any other areas of difficulty?”
Parent: “Yes, he does not know how to study, take notes or organize himself. I just can’t go through this frustration every day again this year. I don’t know what to do.”
At this point in the conversation, I assure the parents that I can work with their child and get him motivated and on track; this is my specialty. The parents all continue telling me the same story after that: they’ve hired tutors in the past. They’ve come to help with math or science or English or French, but nothing has worked. How do I know that I can get their child on track?
My answer: I do not believe in subject-specific tutoring for all children; it does not always work. I use the course materials to help children learn the skills they need to know to succeed academically and help build their academic self-esteem.
At this point, I let parents know that whether they choose to work with me or someone else, they need to ask particular questions when looking for a tutor. And before doing so, they need to figure out exactly what they are looking for:
· Is your child having difficulty with subject-specific content?
· Is your child unmotivated?
· Is your child succeeding in concept-based math but not word problems?
· Can your child easily understand a text and answer questions about it?
· Do you want someone to do homework with your child every day?
· Do you need the tutor to be in regular contact with your child’s teachers?
Now that you know WHAT you’re looking for, it’s time to figure out WHO you’re looking for. When parents who are looking to help their child become motivated, complete homework regularly and become organized tell me that tutoring doesn’t work, it is usually because the previously hired tutors have been subject-specific. Often times, it is appealing to find a university student who is majoring in mathematics to help your child in math; the rates are cheaper and the student seems like a specialist. BUT the problem is that your child does not need specific help in math like you originally thought. Since you’ve gone through your checklist of what you are looking to get your child help with, you’ve realized that you are looking for an actual academic coach/teacher. You are looking for much more than math help. So when you are calling tutoring organizations, it is very important to ask who will actually be working with your child, what their qualifications are and why you think they can help. It takes someone who is qualified, experienced and on-the-ball to make sure that your child’s needs are being met. And by experienced, I don’t mean “ I’m 20 years old and I have lots of experience with children; I’ve been babysitting since I was 15 and I was a counselor at a summer camp.” I’m referring more to: “I have 5 years of solid teaching experience, I know how to teach the same concept in many different ways according to the way your child learns, and I will help your child to become an independent learner.”
Parents, this is your chance to take responsibility for finding the right person to work with your child. There are no more excuses when it comes to finding a tutor that does not meet your child’s needs. Don’t forget: you are your child’s cheerleader and ultimate supporter. Make your support count!
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