Complex math problems, involved science projects, classroom presentations and reading outside of school (as well as in school) are part of every elementary student’s daily curriculum. College prep courses, including advanced math and foreign language, along with high-tech classes, such as computer-aided design and digital electronics, are becoming the norm for many high school students. While some students are hyper-motivated to make good grades, others are just trying to survive the day-to-day pressures of academic life.
In years past, academic assistance was often used only for struggling students. Today, parents hire tutors to help their kids boost their GPA, prepare for admission tests and to get a better handle on complex subject matter. Private tutoring has become a $5 billion dollar a year consumer-driven industry. When, however, is the right time to pay for private educational services?
The most compelling reason to employ academic assistance is poor grades. However, children as young as 4 or 5 years old can benefit from some extra help to learn basic concepts. Older students who need help with a specific subject area or who have difficulty understanding a teacher’s lessons may also benefit from having a tutor.
[Read: How to Help Your Inattentive Child Thrive at School.]
Consider if your child is working to capacity to understand course content. Many students put forth appropriate effort but still struggle to pass a class. Review homework and determine if the work is sloppy or incomplete or if your child is just getting the answers wrong. Also, consider your child’s emotional state. If your child is experiencing test anxiety or seems to have become much less confident in the classroom, he or she may need some additional support. In many situations, help or a referral to a school-based program for reading or math is all that is needed, while in other cases outside tutoring may be needed.
Some kids face challenges due to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a learning disability. To better understand your child’s needs, engage in a formal psychoeducational evaluation. A proper assessment will identify cognitive concerns, such as the inability to quickly process math problems or unusual difficulties organizing long-term projects. Once your child’s learning style is properly defined, a specially trained tutor can provide personalized strategies. In these situations it’s also possible your child may qualify for an individualized educational plan, or IEP, which will provide school-based accommodations, such as extended time for testing or one-on-one classroom help.
While many students work with a tutor because they are struggling at school, others get assistance to advance their studies. Even before the school year begins, many teens realize they will have an extremely challenging teacher or a particularly difficult class. In such cases, proactively engaging a professional, so that a student knows he or she has scheduled one-on-one assistance prior to encountering a complex concept, can minimize the anxiety a student feels and improve grades.
[Read: The Upshot of a Learning Disability or Attention Deficit Disorder.]
Many who pursue sports or enjoy artistic endeavors, or who are engaged in another time-consuming extracurricular activity, struggle to fit everything in. Sometimes a tutor can help a student get organized and maximize their time. In other cases, however, a weekly conversation and a good calendar may be all that’s needed to keep your child on task.
While there are many excellent books and websites that help students with standardized test-taking strategies, many families are overwhelmed by these exams. These parents often hire test prep specialists who can assist their children to prepare for an independent school admission exam like the SSAT or a college admission test like the ACT. These instructors create a customized learning experience by adapting their curriculum and teaching pace to match a student’s strengths and weaknesses. These experts can also make a student test-wise, since they teach about test format, penalties for guessing and exam-specific strategies.
Do your research, though, before hiring a tutor. In addition to asking about scheduling, verify credentials, especially if seeking specialized assistance. Fees can range from $15 an hour for a college student homework buddy, who gets your child on task, to more than $85 an hour for a specially trained teacher.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
While many students benefit from private tutoring, other students may just need some after-school help or parental guidance. Before hiring a tutor, make sure that your child’s struggle is with academics and not created by personal issues, such as friend drama or stress. Also, give your child a voice in the decision to get academic assistance to ensure the child’s unique needs are met.
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Does Your Child Need Extra Help With Schoolwork? originally appeared on usnews.com
