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Finding a Tutor for Your Teen
By Felicia Hodges
Let's say your daughter is having difficulty with algebra even though math has never given her problems before. Or your son, although he knows the material well, has difficulty with the state practice tests his 12th grade physics teacher has been giving over the last few months. The idea of a tutor has crossed your mind, but you're not really sure if one could benefit your child. How do you decide if a tutor is right for his or her needs?
"I would say that if your child's grades begin to rapidly decline, if they are showing a lack of interest in a particular subject or if they having difficulty where they never had it before, it might be time to look for a tutor," says teacher and tutor Jennifer Warren, who has been tutoring students in English and SAT preparation in upstate New York for the past 10 years. "Also, if their class is large or if they have a not-so-great relationship with the teacher, a tutor might be very helpful."
Warren says that from what she has seen with her students, the need for a tutor may have less to do with the child's ability to do the work than with the motivation level to learn the subject.
"A lot of times it comes down to a motivational issue," she says. "It's not like the children are inept. They just need a push to get them motivated to do the work."
"Some big franchises -- like Sylvan or Huntington Learning -- offer tutoring in small groups instead of one-to-one," Korpics says. "This works well with some students because it is very structured." She adds that sometimes, the center's tutors are uncertified teachers or teachers certified only in elementary education.