Pen and Paper Mama

This is post #7 in the series: How to choose the right tutor

When choosing a tutor, you will want to ask about location.  Where will the tutoring sessions take place?  Here are some possibilities:

• At your home (or another home, perhaps the home of the child’s grandparents if they permit it).  The tutor may be willing to come to your home to for the tutoring sessions, and in some cases your home is a great location.  But note that if you live very far from the tutor, there may be an extra charge because of transportation costs, and also because the travel time uses up time slots in which the tutor could be working with other students.  Also consider whether your home is a suitable location.  Do you have a quiet study area available for the tutor and student away from distractions?  If you are an adult needing tutoring, and you have children in the home, do you have someone else available to watch the children during the session?
• At the tutor’s home or office.  Usually tutors have one of these locations available, but some do not.
• At a quiet public place such as a public library.  If you have a place like this in mind, be sure to find out if tutoring is allowed in the location, and at what times.  You might also consider a quiet spot in a park during warm weather, or a quiet table in a coffee shop.  Perhaps your church would allow you to use one of their classrooms.  Again, you would need to be sure it is allowed, and realize that these kind of locations can have unexpected distractions; some may also require some payment.  And you would have to check if it is okay with the tutor.
• Some schools will allow tutors to work with students at lunch breaks or right before or after school.  Of course you would have to get permission, and be sure it is a quiet room suitable for study.

Question:  What other suitable locations can you think of?  Be sure to add them in the comments below.  Thank you.

Penticton tutor:  If you live in the Penticton area, and are looking for a tutor, be sure to check out my Penticton tutor information page!

This is post #6 in the series: How to choose the right tutor

Because tutor pricing and fees is such an important question for many people, we will look at the following 5 aspects in this post:

1. Tutoring options and how much they cost
2. How, what, and when will you be expected to pay?
3. What if you cannot make it to a session, or forget?
4. Will you be expected to pay for anything besides the tutoring itself?
5. What if the tutoring doesn’t work out?

1.  Tutoring options and how much they cost:

How much should you expect to pay a tutor?  This is of course an important question for most people.  In fact, many folks who need a tutor often just don’t even bother looking for one, because they are afraid it is totally out of their financial ability to pay. Fortunately, there are often options that make it possible to receive tutoring help after all.  Here are some of those options.

• Most tutors have a variety of pricing options.  Always ask for a detailed fee plan.  It will likely include a fee for individual sessions (by the hour or half hour) as well as “savings” if you agree to contract for a certain number of sessions.  There may also be various different fees depending upon the educational level of the student; special needs; and other factors.  (See also the section below on extra fee costs).
• Many tutors will have a written policy regarding their payment fees and rules.  If so, you will be expected to sign this contract, and abide by it.
• Some tutors offer group rates as well as individual rates.  If you are willing to be tutored together with a few others who are studying the same material, the cost may be shared among the group to some degree.  For example, if the regular rate is $20 per hour, the group rate for 3 students might be $10 per hour each.
• Some tutors are willing to take family financial situations into account.  They may charge a reduced rate, or even take on one or two “pro bono” students as a gift to their community.  Some tutors are willing to “barter,” exchanging their tutoring for goods or services the tutor’s family can provide (for example, a parent who has renovating skills might barter them to the tutor in exchange for tutoring for his/her child).
• There are organizations, such as churches or other community groups, who offer “homework help” sessions once or twice a week.  These are usually free or “by donation.” Some tutors also offer these sessions. Schools also often offer free lunch time, after-school or evening/weekend sessions with free tutoring help.
• If your child has diagnosed learning disabilities or physical disabilities, you may well be able to access special funding for tutoring through your child’s school or through government channels.  Students whose families are on social assistance may also be able to access funding.
• Consider how much experience and education you really need in a tutor.  If your elementary age child simply needs some one on one help with their arithmetic homework, you might be able to hire a successful high school or college student for a lower rate. 
• If you are looking for tutoring for a particular hobby or skill, consider the possibilities of joining a club or other group in your community that engages in that activity.
• Grandparents or godparents (or other caring adults) are often happy to help pay for tutoring costs – but of course don’t “push” them to do so.  You obviously don’t want to cause family discord that would affect your child’s relationships with them.
• Another alternative is to take a look at what is available on line.  There are many sites that have great software (teaching software, or learning games) for free or for a small fee.  Be aware, however, that you should be prepared to sit with your child and guide them as they use these aids.
• You should check out what different tutors are charging in your community.  Look in the newspaper classifieds, yellow pages, on bulletin boards at schools or libraries, online at kijiji and other classified sites, and by googling city/province(or state)/+subject (or grade)tutor.
• Remember that very low prices can indicate a scam, or a poorly prepared tutor.  On the other hand, there are some tutors who provide tutoring services free or at low cost as a way to give back to the community.  Always check out references – talk to the references personally; don’t just depend on reference letters or written testimonials.
• Some tutors have special “drop-in” fees for students who just want tutoring on an ad-hoc basis, and are willing to come when another student is absent.  Tutors may also provide one free or one low-cost session for you to check out their tutoring style and ability.  (But going from tutor to tutor to take advantage of such “opportunities” will, in the end, be a disadvantage as you will not get the help an on-going student-tutor relationship offers.  And of course, word will get around the tutoring community!)
• Some tutors offer on-line tutoring, either individually or in group sessions.  Their rates are usually similar to in-person sessions, but not necessarily.
• Colleges and universities often have their own tutoring departments.  The tutors are usually more advanced students in the same department, or students taking Masters or Doctorate programs.  The prices are usually somewhat less expensive than tutoring by a regular tutor qualified in that area. 
• Colleges and universities may also be able to hook you up with a mentor; in return for receiving tutoring, you will be required to assist your mentor with his/her research or work.  This kind of arrangement usually requires a long-term commitment, but in the end may result in a superior learning experience and opportunities to network in the field you are preparing for.
• If you are interested in trades training, be sure to look into apprenticeship opportunities.

2.  How, what, and when will you be expected to pay? 

Different tutors (or tutoring companies) have different expectations.  You might expect to find one or more of the following:

• Pay for each session as you take it – usually an hourly or half-hourly set fee.
• Pay after every few sessions (perhaps 2 or 4).
• Pay in advance for a contracted number of sessions.
• Tutoring fees usually cost between $20 to $60 per hour, though they may be even higher for highly specialized tutoring.  If you live in a large city, you are likely to pay more, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule.  Fee costs may also depend on the educational level of the tutor; the length and number of tutoring sessions (you may get a discount if you contract for a longer time period); the requirements of each student (for example, you may expect to pay more for a student with special needs; for a student in a higher grade who requires a more highly trained tutor; for students with unique requirements for which the tutor must spend extra preparation time or provide specialized materials; and so forth).
• You may expect to pay more for tutoring through an agency than from an independent tutor.  Agencies have overhead costs, management costs, and so forth that independent tutors do not.  Of course responsible agencies have checked out and/or trained their tutors very carefully, so you may generally expect highly qualified and experienced tutors.  If you are not sure about an agency, check them out through the Better Business Bureau and through on-line reviews etc.
• On the other hand, especially excellent and experienced tutors may choose to be independent because they really do deserve to be paid well, while agencies keep a sometimes significant portion of the student payment.  Naturally, you should always check out independent tutors’ references.
• Many tutors require cash payment.  Some will accept cheques or payment through PayPal; others (especially agencies or full-time tutors) will have credit card payment options available.

3.  What if you cannot make it to a session, or forget?

• Most tutors will allow one missed session without penalty (but check with your tutor – not all allow this).  After that, they will expect you to pay for missed sessions.  Some tutors will forgive the payment if you contact them 48 hours (or whatever time limit they decide) ahead of the appointment – though they usually have a limit on how many times you can do this.  You need to remember that tutoring is their source of income, and if you miss an appointment without sufficient warning, it affects their own budget and finances.  If they have enough warning, they may be able to fit someone else into that time slot, but it may also not be possible.
• If the student is sick or will be missing sessions for good reason, some tutors will email lessons and homework.  You will of course expect to pay the regular session fee for such help.

4.  Will you be expected to pay for anything besides the tutoring itself?

• Some tutors will require a one or two session fee up-front in case the student misses a session.  If that fee is not used up by the end of the tutoring contract, be sure to get it refunded, or perhaps have it put toward the final session or two.  You should always get a receipt for up-front payments, with the purpose of the fee recorded on the receipt.
• Different tutors have different expectations.  If they don’t mention it upfront, be sure to ask. 
• If you will be tutored in a specific school/college subject, or receive homework assistance, you will of course be expected to bring with you any textbooks, assignment sheets, and so forth. 
• Some tutors provide paper, pens, worksheets, and other similar materials.  Others do not.  If you expect the tutor to provide these kinds of materials, expect to pay a higher rate, perhaps an extra $5 per hour.
• Some tutors charge extra if they have to drive to meet you at your home or in a special location other than their usual tutoring location.  You need to remember that when the tutor must go to a different location, they incur gas and other vehicle/transportation costs.  It also takes time out of their tutoring schedule.  If they have to spend, say, 15 minutes each way, that effectively takes a half hour from their schedule on each side of your appointment.  And that is a full hour they could be tutoring another student!  Tutors often charge an extra $10 or so if they have to travel to a location that suits you.  If you are a long distance, the charge may be more.
• Some tutors offer homework help phone calls, or online help sessions in addition to the usual tutoring sessions (they will usually tell you exactly what days and times they accept such calls).  Expect to pay for the extra help.  Ask what their rates are for such help. 

5.  What if the tutoring doesn’t work out?

• You should always ask, in advance, the tutor’s policy in the event that things don’t work out – for example, a personality conflict between the tutor and student; the student not advancing satisfactorily after a reasonable amount of time; or an unexpected family move, event, or other circumstance that prevents you from continuing with tutoring.
• A suggestion:  if you are becoming unhappy with anything to do with the tutoring, it is best to discuss it with the tutor in the early stages before it becomes a serious problem.  Often you and the tutor can work amicably together to come up with a solution that will work for both of you.
• If you are paying by the session, and can give at least a couple week’s notice, it will usually not be a problem if you need to end your tutoring agreement.  If you have to stop suddenly, you may be required to pay for one or two more sessions.  However, if you have agreed to a contracted period of tutoring, you may have to pay for all sessions contracted for.  If you have paid in advance, you may or may not be able to get some refund.  Be sure to discuss these issues before you start, and get the agreement in writing.  This protects both you and your tutor.

Discussion:  Do you have any other questions related to tutoring fees?  Have you experienced other fee agreements than those we have covered here?  Be sure to tell us about it in the comments, or ask other questions you may have. 

Penticton tutor:  If you live in the Penticton area, and are looking for a tutor, be sure to check out my Penticton tutor information page!

This is post #5 in the series: How to choose the right tutor

Hiring a tutor for your child – or for yourself, if you require a tutor – is a very important decision, and should be done carefully. 

Here are some tips you may want to follow to find the right tutor for your needs:

• Before you hire a tutor, ask questions of prospective tutors, look carefully at references, and use your instinct and your knowledge of your child to decide if the tutor would be a good fit.  Your child should be present at either the intial interview or at a follow-up interview before confirming the hire. Involve your child in the final hiring decision, since he/she is going to be half of the learning team and needs to be comfortable and motivated.
• Ask to see credentials (tutor certification, provincial teaching certification, other specialized training).  Ask to see a complete resume related to the tutor’s education and experience.
• Ask for letters of recommendation that speak to the person’s ability as a tutor and not just matters of general character.  The letters should be current and include full contact information for the person making the recommendation.  Make the calls necessary to verify the recommendations.
• Ask about tutor availability (day, evening or weekend) and whether (and when) the tutor is available for special lessons (such as before major exams), and for parental phone calls or other discussions outside the lesson times.
• Give the tutor a list of your concerns and goals for your child. Ask the tutor for a basic plan of how he or she will assist your child.  How will the tutor initially assess your child’s academic needs and challenges?  How will success be measured?  When and how will feedback be provided to the parent and/or the child’s teacher?
• Does the tutor carry liability insurance? Has he/she had a recent background check?
• What professional association(s) does the tutor belong to?  How does the tutor stay current with methods and strategies?
• Ask how long the tutor has been tutoring? if they enjoy tutoring? how many students they are working with currently? how they deal with students in frustrating situations, or when the student is clearly not “getting it”? what different kinds of methods they use, and how they individualize tutoring programs for each child?
• Ask how the tutor defines his/her roles as tutor? and your role as parent? how the tutor will communicate with your child’s teacher(s) and how often?
• Keep in mind that a tutor does not necessarily need to have taken the specific course in order to be a good tutor. Also, getting a high mark in a course doesn’t necessarily mean the student is a good tutor. If the subject matter came very easily to him/her, he/she could have difficulty explaining it to others.
• Ask for a demonstration lesson (you may be charged a fee, but it is worth it).  Observe the tutor’s approach.  Where does the tutor sit in relation to the child?  Does he/she respect your child’s personal space?  How does the tutor interact?  Explain? Respond?Does the tutor allow the student to actually do the work, or does he/she do the child’s work to some degree?  Does the tutor ask good questions that require your child to think?  Is the child encouraged to ask questions?  Is the tutor patient and professional?  What about tone of voice and information delivery?  Does the tutor allow the child sufficient time to figure things out?  Does he/she offer sincere praise?

Discussion:  What other kinds of information might you ask for when you are deciding whether or not to hire a tutor?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.  Thanks!

Penticton tutor:  If you live in the Penticton area, and are looking for a tutor, be sure to check out my Penticton tutor information page!

This is post #4 in the series:  How to choose the right tutor

In our last post we talked about questions to ask and things to consider in order to choose the best tutor for your needs.  Today’s post takes a look at some particular considerations when choosing a tutor for a gifted student:

• Are you hiring a tutor to challenge your child because they really are gifted, and consequently are bored in class; or perhaps because you believe they are not living up to their potential and you want them to move to the head of the class?  Are you being realistic about your child’s abilities, or are you placing your personal expectations and wishes first? Or are you perhaps under social pressures for your child to excel?  It is important always to be honest about your motivations for hiring a tutor.
• If your child truly is gifted, will a tutor be your best choice?  If the tutor can move your child forward beyond the level of his or her grade level, what then?  You need to look forward.  Many schools do not believe in “skipping” a student forward (just as they often do not believe in holding a child back even if he or she is far behind).  If your child is already bored, will it become worse if a tutor helps them move even farther forward?  Does your child’s school offer gifted and/or accelerated programs, or opportunities for a gifted student to use his or her abilities to assist their peers, or to spend time doing advance projects? 
• Should you consider removing your child from school, and home-schooling your child?  Are you personally capable of providing a gifted child with the stimulation, guidance and expertise he or she requires?  Should you hire a personal tutor to help your home schooled child in place of you as teacher, or to work along with you?
• Should you consider placing your child in a school with stronger requirements in specialized areas such as academics, technology, fine arts, or whatever area in which your child is especially gifted?
• If your child is especially gifted in one area, but is an average achiever in other areas, should you hire a tutor to work outside of school hours with the child in the specialized area in order to move forward and reach their potential, while allowing the child to progress normally in school in the other areas?
• Would another alternative be to keep your child in his or her school/class along with other children of the same age, but hire a tutor who can redirect the child’s boredom into learning new extra-curricular skills related to his or her area of giftedness, outside of school time?  It might also be possible for the school to allow the child to work independently during class time in the area of his/her giftedness, or to help other children in that subject area, or even (if the school schedule allows) take higher-level classes in that time block.  It might even be possible for a tutor to come in during that subject time block to work with your child individually, perhaps in the library or another suitable location.
• Keep in mind that becoming a well-rounded person is an important part of academic achievement.  Putting too much emphasis on one skill or subject area, with individual attention that is so focused that the child does not have the opportunity to learn normal social skills, can itself cause long-term problems.

Discussion:  What experiences have you had in providing extra stimulation and motivation for a gifted child?  What other suggestions and recommendations would you make for parents facing this situation?  Tell us your ideas in the comments.  Thank you.

Don’t forget! If you live in the Penticton area and need a tutor, I may be able to help you. Check out my tutoring information and please contact me if you think I might be the tutor for you.

This is post #3 in the series “How to choose the right tutor”

• In order to choose the best tutor – or the best tutoring alternative – it is important to know specifically what you want to get out of tutoring.  Having clear goals helps the student, the parent, the teacher (and other education-related professionals) and the tutor, to work together to provide the greatest opportunity for success.  Then you can make the wisest choice of tutor, or you may discover that there are other resources or solutions that best suit your situation at this time.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you choose a tutor:

• Target your tutoring needs.  Do you need to move into a higher level in a specific subject?  prepare for upcoming exams?  adjust to a new school?  keep skills up during vacation periods? 
• What are the signs of problems for your child (or yourself):  confused with homework?  classroom work not being completed at school?  clearly unhappy at school?
• If the student is anxious, withdrawn, fears failure, or is constantly unhappy, is it actually a learning problem or is there something else going on that needs to be addressed before (or at the same time) as getting help with learning?
• What learning atmosphere does the student respond to best?  One-on-one or in a group?  Lively or quiet?  Structured teaching or freer facilitation of learning?  Will the tutor you are considering meet the particular needs of this student?
• What do you specifically want to get out of tutoring?  Help with something difficult to understand?  Study skills?  Background knowledge?  More challenge?  Motivation?  Skills or interests beyond what a school offers? 
• Are there resources available at your school that you have not yet taken advantage of?  Are there resources in the community?  Would a tutor be a better choice than (or along with) these resources?  Why or why not?
• How often do you want to meet with a tutor?  Once or twice per week for an extended time period?  Or intensively before a midterm or final exam or for a particular project?
• What are your preferred days of the week and times of day for meeting with a tutor?  Where do you prefer to meet:  in your home, at a public location such as the library, or at the tutor’s home or office?
• Are you afraid you are unable to afford the costs of a tutor?  If the costs are going to place too much stress on the family finances, is it possible to get special government funding for a tutor, or can someone (grandparents, for example) help you out?  Some tutors have special rates for students whose parents are in financial difficulties, or will consider bartering.  For example, I once tutored the children in a family whose parents raised cattle.  They “paid” for the tutoring by providing my family with high quality beef cuts that we could not otherwise have afforded!  Tutors may also provide small group tutoring situations where the hour’s cost is divided among the students resulting in a lower cost for each student. Some churches and other organizations also provide low-cost or free tutoring services in the community for those in need.
• Have you asked your child’s teacher, or the school counselor or principal for tutor recommendations?  There are some tutors who work closely with a particular school and have strong relationships with the staff and understanding of the school’s resources and systems.
• Have you asked friends for good referrals?  Word-of-mouth is often a more reliable way to find a good tutor than to just go by advertising.
• Would a student who is a little ahead in school/college, and has successfully completed the material, be a good peer tutor for your child who is struggling a little, as they have studied the topic recently, and being of the same general age, understand where you child is at?  Or is your child getting quite far behind, and really needs a qualified teacher-tutor?
• Are you hiring a tutor because your child really needs one, or are you under pressure from other people?
• Do you need more than a tutor?  A tutor is not a miracle worker.  You child may need more help than an hour or two a week can provide.  He/she may have disabilities or be under pressures that need to be addressed by a medical or other professional. 
• Also, have you had a serious talk with your child’s teacher and other staff?  If your child is failing in multiple subject areas, you should first work with the school to develop long-term plans and solutions, which may well include a tutor, but will also include other resources the school and/or related agencies can provide.
• Are your plans for the amount of time spent in tutoring realistic?  Can you fit them into the other activities in your schedule?   Will you be able to get your child to that many sessions?  Will the student get overwhelmed?  For most children, one or two half hour or hour sessions a week is best.  Periods of several hours after school each week can overload a child and they may stop responding well to the tutoring as well as to school.
• Is it possible that enrolling your child in extra-curricular activities that he or she is particularly interested in, would provide them with overall motivation and confidence that would positively affect their attitudes toward education?  Sometimes this kind of solution is more effective than added pressure in the form of academic tutoring.
• On the other hand, do you have your child enrolled in so many things, that he or she is exhausted – or distracted by the other things – and it is the cause of school problems?
• Alternatively, some tutors are excellent at teaching in a way that is much different than the school provides.  They are able to work with the child’s particular learning styles and interests, and use those to make the problem subject matter far more fun and interesting, and easier to learn.  Ask prospective tutors how they plan to tutor your child.  Knowing your child as well as they do, do your believe their method(s) would be a help or not?

Once you have considered these questions, you will be ready to ask good questions of potential tutors, and make wise hiring decisions.  You may also discover that there are other alternatives that need to be considered, either with or without tutoring as part of the plan.

 Any worthwhile tutor will be happy to let you ask these kinds of questions, and will be honest with you if they feel that they are not the right tutor for your needs.  Good tutors will also allow you to sit in on one or two lessons to observe their tutoring style and methods (though in the long term it is usually best if you don’t hover!).  And they will be open to trying other methods if the current ones aren’t working, or to allow you to find another tutor or other alternatives if necessary. 

(If a tutor tries to pressure you into a long-term iron-clad contract, or insist on payment of many sessions ahead without refund possibilities, that may be a warning sign that you should consider someone else!)

By the way, if your child is a gifted student, check out our next post for some special considerations.

Question:  What other questions can you think of, that people should consider before making the final decision on what tutor to hire, or what alternative to pursue?  Tell us in the comments.  Thanks!

Penticton and area residents/students looking for a tutor:  check out my tutoring page.

This is post #2 in the series: How to choose the right tutor

The purposes (and not) of tutors:

In our previous series, “Why do you need a tutor?” we talked quite extensively about why tutors are needed in a number of situations:  for a child or in teen who is attending school; for learning difficulties related to home/personal situations; for college and university students; for adults in general; and for home schooled students and parents.

This post will quickly summarize some of the material we’ve already covered, and then will also tell you want a tutor CANNOT do for you.

In review, some things tutors do are:

• deliver content information
• motivate, coach, challenge, and provide feedback
• help a student who has fallen behind to catch up
• help a person to learn a subject, hobby, or employment skills outside the school environment
• stretch a student who is finding school not challenging enough
• give a student closer attention to his or her needs than is possible in the classroom environment
• help a student raise levels of school performance
• help a student increase their confidence, enjoyment and motivation in learning
• work with the student’s overall study skills and discipline, not just the academic assignment of the moment, so that their learning improves across a number of subjects and over time
• guide students in their homework
• the tutor may also help the parents understand their child’s learning needs and styles, and show them useful, individualized ways to help their child learn
• the tutor and the students work together as a learning team to meet goals and achievement benchmarks.  Parents, teachers, and other school professionals are often also part of the team to some degree.

Now onto what tutors do not do:

• Tutors are not magicians.  They cannot instantly solve every problem and turn every student into the class star.  The goal should be to achieve overall progress for the student in order to reach his or her own individual potential.  This may be measured in various ways, depending on the situation and needs.  For example, you may be aiming for improved academic success or self-esteem, or you may be aiming for increased independence as a learner.  The parents (or the adult student) need to commit to working as a team with the tutor to set goals and plans for the student’s specific needs.
• Generally, tutoring isn’t done in a single session, though occasionally that may be true for a very immediate, discrete need.   Tutoring usually aims to provide on-going consistent development until the goal is achieved.
• The tutor is not a substitute for the student’s teacher and other professionals who may already be involved in helping with the student’s learning.  The tutor, rather, aims to be an addition to the team, providing one-on-one assistance that builds on and works with what the other team members are doing with the child. 
• (Note: There are some tutors who live with a family and supply the educational needs of the children, especially in cases such as where a family travels widely; a child is involved heavily in sports, acting, etc; or when the parents favour personal private education over other educational formats.  Even in those cases, the tutor usually interacts with Ministry of Education requirements, and other professionals as required).
• Likewise, a tutor is not a substitute home school parent.  The tutor will help both the parent and child together in the learning process.  Ideally, the parent will learn along with the child and eventually be able to take over as the child’s teacher and/or learning facilitator.
• The tutor is not simply a babysitter, or someone who presents a lesson at a certain time.  Tutoring (like any educational situation), to be truly successful, requires the student (and the parent) to be willing to work with the tutor to reach the goals they plan together.  The student needs to come to the tutoring session prepared to learn.  This includes not only bringing necessary materials and doing any assigned work between sessions, but also being rested, fed, and so on.  It also requires emotional support of those important in the life of the student.
• There are situations in which it may become evident that a student’s needs go beyond the abilities of the tutor.  Professional medical, emotional, personal or family counseling, or other help may be needed to solve underlying problems before a tutor can successfully help a student academically.
• Each tutor specializes in a certain area, such as certain academic subject(s), certain grade levels, a particular hobby, particular employment skills, study skills, literacy skills, and so on.  It is best to find a tutor who is qualified and experienced in the area of the student’s needs.
• Just as some students do not get along with a particular school teacher, there are times when it becomes evident that a student is not hitting it off with a certain tutor.  If this happens, and solutions cannot be found, a tutor should be willing to allow the student to move to a different tutor.

Choosing a tutor for yourself or your child is an important step in the learning journey.  Be sure you choose a tutor who can help you with your specific needs, but at the same time be realistic about the purposes of tutoring, and be prepared to seek other solutions if necessary, especially when there is an underlying problem that needs the help of other professionals.

Question:  What other situations can you think of when a tutor may not be the best choice for a student’s needs?

Do you live in the Penticton area and need a tutor?  Check out my tutoring page.

 In this new series, “How to choose the right tutor,”  we are going to cover these topics:

• The purposes (and not) of tutors
• Know what you want to get out of tutoring
• Some special considerations related to gifted students
• How to hire a tutor
• What about pricing and fees?
• What about location?
• What if you have concerns about the tutoring?
• Some alternatives or additions to traditional tutoring

We hope that you find this series informative; and that it will help you to make the best choice of a tutor for yourself or your child.

Question:  Is there anything else you want to know about the process of hiring a tutor?  Please tell us in the comments below so we can help you find the answers you need.

For information on Penticton Tutoring Services check out my tutoring page.

This is post #7 in the series:  Why do you need a tutor?

Are all tutors alike?

The simple answer to the question, “Are all tutors alike?” is of course ”No.” Each tutor’s education, experience, and offerings are different.  Parents (and adult learners or college students) should, if possible, check out at least 3 or 4 potential tutors, before deciding on one.  We will go into greater depth on this topic in future posts, but here is an overview to consider.

Most tutors fill one (or possibly a combination) of the following roles:

1.  Subject specialist.  This tutor will have educational training and often many years of experience in teaching a particular subject.  This may be a school subject such as Chemistry 12, a college level subject such as Physics, a study-skills related topic such as SATs or note taking and test preparation, or even a more general-skills subject such as writing skills.  This expert can provide extra materials (more indepth lesson materials, or review materials of basic skills the student may lack), fill in gaps in the student’s background in the subject, clarify misunderstandings the student may have developed in the classroom, help the student find appropriate resources, and of course, teach that particular subject in the depth a learner needs, and in a way that that student best learns.

2.  Coach, mentor, counsellor.  Often a student’s learning problems are not really with the subject matter itself, but rather related to the person’s own learning styles, self-motivation or confidence, lack of necessary background, home difficulties, cultural differences, or a myriad of other factors.  What the student needs may not be a subject expert, but a helper who can discern the underlying problems, and find unique ways to help.  As a coach, they can help the learner build on required skills, and at the same time motivate, challenge, and provide feedback.  As a counselor, the tutor can question, listen, encourage, and if needed, help the learner find professional help they may require.  As a mentor, the tutor commits to stand alongside the learner for a long period of time, often personally modeling skills, observing the learner’s progress (on the job, in life, or in the educational setting, as appropriate), giving feedback and encouragement until the learner is able to achieve mastery and function fully on his or her own in the situation.  A mentor is almost always a coach and often a counsellor as well.

3. Assessor.  Sometimes in a large, busy classroom, or in a home situation where the parent (or adult learner) may be overwhelmed by other responsibilities or simply lack the knowledge, a student may “slip through the cracks.”  It may not be noticed, until a major problem develops, that the learner is not achieving the learning objectives, or that the learner has underlying problems that are causing learning failure.  This tutor will often have special training and experience in such fields as special needs, or medical issues.  This tutor will help to assess what the particular problems may be, and then (if qualified) help to overcome the difficulties, or, more likely, point the parent to appropriate professionals who can help the learner.  If the learner is in school, this tutor-assessor will also work closely with the teacher and the school staff, informing them of his or her observations.  Often the school itself will then be able to provide the necessary help through their own resource system, but if that seems to be failing, the assessor can suggest other alternatives for the parents (or the adult learner) to explore.

What kind of tutor do you need?  Before hiring a tutor, make a list of your requirements.  Then ask each potential tutor questions that relate to those requirements.  Don’t be afraid to also ask for a list of other students the tutor has worked with so you can speak with them personally.  We will talk more in some future posts about good questions to ask potential tutors.

Remember, if you live in the Penticton area and need a tutor, I may be able to help you.  Check out my tutoring information and please contact me if you think I might be the tutor for you.

This is post #6 in the series:  Why do you need a tutor?

Why home school families need tutors:

Many of the reasons for needing tutoring help that have been given in previous posts also apply to the home school situation.  But there are some challenges unique to home schooling:

• Home school parents may have strong skills in some subject areas but not in others.
• Parents may wish to hire a tutor to teach the children directly, or to help the parents upgrade.  They may even teach the parents and children together.
• Emergencies may occur such as parental illness, the need for a parent to take on a job part way through the school year, and so forth.  A tutor can easily step in and teach the children until the parent can resume.
• Home school groups may wish to hire a tutor to teach particular subject areas, such as senior secondary maths or sciences, a foreign language, or other specialty area which none of the parents is prepared to teach.  In a group tutoring situation, individual tutor costs are often much lower as a group rate may be negotiated.
• Home school students may not end up with an official grade 12 certificate from their province or state.  A tutor can help students prepare for the GED, PSAT, SAT, or subject-specific SATs which many universities will accept in place of a grade 12 certificate.
• Home school parents often do not know a great deal about learning styles and about the various possible teaching approaches (of which there are many).  A tutor can inform the parent about these different approaches. He or she can also help the parent figure out which learning styles best suit each child in the family, and help the parent become a more effective teacher for each child.
• A home school parent may be feeling frustrated in their learning relationship with one or more of the children.  Or a particular child may be having greater difficulty learning than the parent has anticipated.  A tutor can help the parent assess the situation, and offer suggestions and help.  Often, the tutor may work with the particular child so that the parent has the time and energy to help the other children; and at the same time, help the parent to learn more effective ways to work with the child in question, as well as with the children as a group.
• A tutor may be able to help you work with the local school district.  Some jurisdictions require that you provide reports, portfolios and other proof of your child’s learning, and a tutor can help you ensure that you fulfill those requirements.
• Other jurisdictions allow you a great deal of freedom, and you may wonder, with so many choices, what to choose in the way of curriculum, resources, and teaching methodologies, and how to proceed.  A tutor who specializes in home schooling can help you with these issues.
• A tutor can also suggest, and help you acquire, other outside help you may need.  For example, the tutor may be able to help you arrange for your children to take particular classes at local public or private schools, or even college classes while still home schooling.  They may be able to help you find employers who will provide your child with work experience opportunities, or even apprenticeships.  They can also suggest professionals who can help with assessing special learning or other needs.

Question: What other needs have you discovered, as a home schooler, that a tutor could help you with? List them in the comments section below.

Homeschoolers in the Penticton area!  If you’d like some tutoring help, or even some advice, support, and encouragement from a qualified teacher who has also been a home school parent for her 5 children in elementary and secondary grades, and who has also been a tutor and consultant for other home school families, be sure to check out my tutoring and contact information!  You may also wish to check out some articles I’ve written about home schooling at another of my websites, here and here.

This is post #5 in the series: Why do you need a tutor?

 So why do adults need tutors?  Here are some reasons:

• Many adults, even those who have completed school, actually have literacy issues, or may have missed out on certain school subjects that they now discover they need for a new job, for entrance to higher education, for personal interest, or simply for a better life.  A tutor can help with literacy training (reading, writing, and mathematics), with improving study skills, and with providing the basics an adult needs to move ahead in life.
• Many adults speak English as a second language.  There are tutors who are trained to help adults with their English as a Second Language (ESL) skills.
• There are many adults who lack sufficient skills in house keeping, budgeting, parenting, and many other basic life skills.  One-to-one help from a tutor who specializes in these areas is often more effective, and much faster, than taking classes.
• Many adults wish to improve their writing skills for employment reasons, or to fulfill a dream to write a book or start a blog, etc.
• In order to enjoy one’s travels, or to get government and other jobs, basic knowledge of other languages is very helpful.  There are many tutors who specialize in teaching one or more foreign languages.
• The modern employment market requires computer proficiency for many jobs.  Adults, especially those who completed their education more than 20 years ago, may lack those skills.  Getting instruction from a tutor (rather than in a class) is often more efficient, as the tutor can zero in on the skills needed, and can work more patiently and slowly if required.
• Tutoring can actually be less expensive, in many cases, than taking a post-secondary course.  With one-on-one, individualized attention, the skills can be acquired more quickly, and the tutor can hone in on the exact skills needed, without repeating what the client already knows.  This is especially true if the client does not require a certificate, but does need certain skills and knowledge.
• An adult may be taking a self-study (correspondence or on-line) course, and from time to time require extra help with some aspect.
• An adult may be laid off from his job; or her employer may suddenly announce that upgrading is required; or the adult may simply decide to try a new career path.  At the same time, the adult may not be able to take time off work to return to school, or may decide to study and work at the same time.  A tutor can help you plan your course of action, and can of course help you with your learning.

Question:  What reasons do you, as an adult, have for needing the help as a tutor?  What specific kinds of help do you need?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

Adults in the Penticton area who need a tutor:  Check out our tutoring page for contact information about tutoring we have available for adults.