How should I select a tutor? - Tutoring

Dear Reena: While subject competence is a must, good tutors that truly care about their students will use different teaching methods for student success. Both parents and children are very in tune to how their tutors present lessons, and if they take the time to understand their clients' needs. Once you have narrowed your list of preferences, ask to meet candidates for a brief interview (I've always had students attend with their parents). Like any other job seeker, they should be able to give you recommendations or references from clients and former employers. Other information you may wish to ask is what type of students have they taught in the past. Many tutors also have a corporate background. Engineers and professional writers often make great tutors. Ask what companies and departments they have worked for in the past. Watch for individuals who have none of the aforementioned background. This may tip you off that they do not have the background in education or professionally held positions. Your tutor should have a good background on the technology used today in the classroom. I hope this information helps. Good luck! Pat

Dear Reena, As someone who still seeks tutors, this can seem like a tricky journey. When I look for tutors, mastery in their field is the most important factor. Once I have found a tutor I feel is accomplished in their subject area I can move on to methods. Tutors cater to your specific needs so differentiated instruction is very important for me. I am very visual person so I require visual aids. Your 15 year-old might be a more verbal or logical learner and visual aids might not help. To figure out what tutors can offer, the best advice is to ask for references and an interview. Ask past students/parents how the tutor tried to cater to their needs and if those needs were fulfilled. When interviewing your tutor, ask what methods they would use to teach certain concepts. Last but definitely not least, see if your tutor send a good vibe! There needs to a connection between tutor and the tutee so a trust can be built and both parties are more knowledgeable on the steps to take to read a higher learning experience. As a parent, its important to know that you can trust your tutor to work as hard as they can to teach the subject matter in a timely fashion as well as to trust their feedback. I hope this helps, and good luck finding a great tutor! Carol

Hi Reena, As I'm sure you've heard before, every child is different. So is every tutor. The trick in finding a good tutor is to match the needs of your child with the strengths of the tutor. If your child is quiet and lacks confidence, you may be well served by finding a tutor who is nurturing and compassionate. If your child needs someone to lay down the law and tell it like it is, you may need someone who has an attitude that is fair, but firm. If your child responds well to humor, find someone who can make him or her laugh. If your child needs a lot of extra time, hire someone with a track record of being patient. The trick is to know your child and then get to know your potential tutors. Then, if things work out, you can feel confident that they will grow and develop as they get to know each other!

Hi Reena, When selecting a tutor look for experience and a good personality match. Look for tutors who are willing to meet with you and your son or daughter for a consultation interview before beginning lessons. A good tutor will be relaxed and ask questions to understand your son's particular situation. The tutor should also be able to outline their general approach and experience teaching particular subjects and study skills. You should feel comfortable and confident in the tutor, but they should also make your son feel at ease, and should listen carefully if he has any questions or input. Nothing can substitute for a good student-tutor relationship.

Try a few different tutors. Meet with them and ask to get the first session at a discount or free. Most tutors usually have the required knowledge and experience to teach you well but you have to meet them to see if you like their methods and personality. Good luck!

Hi Reena! While there are many things that could be considered, if you focus on 3 main areas: product, personality and price, you will find a great match. Product is what the tutor is really offering. There may be dozens of tutors who focus on English, but you are more concerned with finding out their specialty and how it best matches your needs. In other words, does the tutor shine in the area of language, grammar, writing, etc.? Also, try to get a feel for the personality of the tutor. What is their disposition? Do they have a generally positive outlook, are they going to uplift and encourage, or will they use negative motivation? Even if a tutor has a strong knowledge base, a poor personality match could create an ineffective outcome. And lastly, consider the price of the service. Your reflection must go beyond whether the cost is high or low. Think more about value for your dollar. Ask yourself, what are the benefits I receive from the price I pay here, versus the benefits I receive there? I hope this helps, much success!

Hi Reena, This is a very good question because there are so many important factors to ensure your son's success. I would start by looking for someone that your son can feel comfortable with. Children tend to feel down on themselves when they are struggling with a subject area. He will feel more open to learning and more motivated to learn with someone that is caring and fun. Look for someone who is creative and uses many different teaching techniques. Many classroom teachers have a vast repertoire of activities and ideas of how to reach students of different learning styles and abilities. Lastly, you should make sure the tutor has experience with the subject matter either through their educational background, tutoring, or teaching. If your son doesn't seem to be showing excitement or improvements then don't be afraid to try someone new.

The most important traits of any teacher are empathy and patience. Beyond that, you should look for someone who is passionate and creative, as well as, perhaps most of all, someone who has been where your son is; who has struggled with their own education, and risen above it.