Signs & Solutions
Has learning suddenly become a taboo topic in your home? Are some subjects fair game and others off limits?
Some signs your child may benefit from a tutor are fairly obvious. Poor test scores. Rapidly falling averages. Repeatedly missing or misplaced assignments, particularly if this is happening in the same class. Do not just write these episodes off as teenage angst or periods of adjustment. No matter how well your child has performed academically in the past, even a simple misunderstanding can quickly leave them feeling lost. And, all too often, parents are not aware of this until weeks later.
So, be proactive. Stay on top of your child’s progress. Did they understand everything they studied last year? Last semester? Last week? Many schools make your child’s grades and assignments available online. If so, set up a time, at least once a week, to go online and check this out. If you know the answers to the questions before you talk to your child, you are much better prepared to help them. If your school does not offer this convenience, set up a time to chat with your child’s teacher over the phone or by email.
Now, at this point you may be thinking: “Of course I want what’s best for my child, but how do I know if tutoring is the answer. And, even more important, how do I know which tutor will work best with my child?”
To answer those questions, first ask yourself: “Is my child growing increasingly confident academically, or are they even more excited about learning today than they were on their first day of school?” If not, ask yourself this follow up: “Am I comfortable with the level of support and the responses I am receiving from my child’s teacher and school administration?”
If you could not honestly answer “yes” to each of these questions, then tutoring may be a viable option for your child.