10 Tips for Choosing a Summer Tutor for Your Child

For many children, especially those with learning disabilities, summer vacation poses the risk of losing academic skills they have worked hard to build. Without reinforcement, children forget easily and may require a month or more of review in the fall to get them up to speed. You can help your child retain those skills by hiring a summer tutor.

Finding the best tutor for your child takes a bit of time and effort on your part, but the results will be worth the effort.

1. Include your child in your search for a tutor. Sit down, discuss the benefits of a summer tutor and explain to your child that working a little every week will make school easier in the fall. Although he may not be thrilled with the idea, it is never a good idea to surprise your child with tutoring.

2. Ask parents and school personnel for recommendations, but be aware that some schools have difficulty finding tutors and may recommend someone simply because they are available. Ask what they like about the tutor and why they are recommending this particular tutor for your child.

3. Set up an appointment to meet with prospective tutors. Although you may wish to discuss issues without your child present, it is important that she meets the tutor and feels like she is part of the decision process. This is especially true for upper elementary and high school students.

4. Request background information on the tutor. You can expect to be informed of the tutor's prior experience in tutoring, including the age level and subjects tutored. Ask about any degrees or special training that qualifies the tutor to work with your child. If your child has special needs, be sure to inquire about experience working with children with special needs. Check references carefully.

5. Make an appointment for the tutor and your child to work together while you are present so you can observe interactions. Spend some time in a nearby room where you can observe without interfering with the session. This allows both your child and he tutor to relax and develop a rapport. A good working relationship is vital to successful tutoring sessions.

6. Discuss any specific concerns you have about your child. If you are aware of specific techniques that work best for your child, share them with the tutor. Although the tutor may have extensive training, you are the expert on your child. Sharing that knowledge strengthens your relationship with the tutor and ultimately benefits your child.

7. Work with the tutor and your child's teacher to develop goals for the tutoring plan. If your child receives special education services in school, tutoring goals may be included in the IEP. Make sure both you and the tutor have copies of the goals. Ask for clarification if goals are unclear.

8. Develop a schedule for regular updates on your child's progress. This holds the tutor responsible for working towards goals and lets you know how well your child is doing. Sharing the reports with your child allows her to see that progress is being made. Supply copies to the school, if appropriate.

9. Schedule tutoring sessions at the time of day when your child is most alert and cooperative. Resist the urge to accept times that are inconvenient for your child just because the tutor has an opening. If the tutor cannot accommodate your child's needs, select one who can.

10. Above all, choose a tutor that both you and your child feel comfortable with to make tutoring a pleasant experience. If your child enjoys being with the tutor, he is more likely to put forth his best efforts.

SOURCES:

Family Education: Tips on Choosing a Tutor for a Child with LD

SGBox.com: How to Choose a Qualified and Reliable Home Tutor