A Parent's Guide to Tutor Doctor: A Specialized Holistic Tutoring Program and Service

Summer is here and in just a few days many of us will be receiving those end of year report cards or as parents we may just be going crazy trying to keep our children from becoming couch potatoes. Either way parents may be researching among the many tutoring businesses out there like Sylvan, Kaplan, Huntington, Kumon and Tutor Doctor in an effort to provide their child with the additional services they may need to get on track, stay ahead of the game or just avoid brain drain this summer.

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Parker Knapp, owner and educational consultant of Tutor Doctor to find out more about their services and get answers to the questions many parents want and need to know.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Why did you decide on Tutor Doctor when you decided to start your own business?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: Tutor Doctor provides us as franchise owners the opportunity to have a business that is independently owned and operated but that is family oriented. It has an excellent support network, with a large organization for support we can rely on. Tutor Doctor game me and my husband (and business partner) the opportunity to combine our personal and professional interest.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Where is Tutor Doctor available?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: The corporate base is in Toronto Canada, but there are locations all over the world.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: How is Tutor Doctor different from other tutoring businesses like Club Z?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: Tutor Doctor uses a holistic approach working together with the tutor, parents, students, teachers, and school district to rebuild missing foundations while mastering new concepts.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Why is this important?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: Say your child is struggling in Algebra; it's probably because they actually have a problem with some basic foundation skills. Reading and math are among the most important subjects and quite often there are simple skills they children just failed to master as they were learning them.

Another difference in basic skills can be because of a difference between a student's existing curriculum and their new one, say in the event of moving to a new area and having to attend a new school. In some cases they may just need some extra assistance to master the skills or information that was missed by moving or transferring between schools.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: I can relate to that situation. Moving to a new school district did cause some changes in both our child's study habits as well as the academic challenges.

So what is Tutor Doctor's ultimate goal?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: Tutor Doctor moves away from the shame and embarrassment that students may experience in the classroom or by having additional assistance within the school system. Students have the freedom to make mistakes and our ultimate goal is give them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and then provide positive reinforcement and ultimately build confidence. As they have more confidence they get better grades and more recognition leading to again more confidence.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Do you have classrooms or offices? Where does the tutoring take place?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: We tutor students in their own homes with trained tutors and educators.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Tell us more about your tutors, since you are in people's homes and dealing with their children what "vetting" process do you use to give your families safety?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: When we interview potential tutors for employment we looks that their credentials, experience, goals as well as ask them situational questions. Tutors are trained, background checked, and finger printed. We also try to match tutors with students not just for academic needs but also personality. We also require that there is a parent or guardian in the home during all tutoring sessions or there will be no session that day.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: How does the process work?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: First we provide a free family consultation and assessment. We discover what are the student's academic successes and struggles and get to know the family dynamics. We consult with the school district to determine their standards as well as determine if there are any disabilities.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: How do parents begin the tutoring process?

Tutor Doctor Parker Knapp: They contact a Tutor Doctor near them and answer some initial questions; then the family visit and assessment will be scheduled. After the assessment the parent or guardian will receive a report with goals and information and continue with discussions regarding tutoring sessions, topics, and pricing will be provided.

AC Featured Parenting Contributor: Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us about Tutor Doctor's services, process and answer the questions that many parents want to know before they contact a tutoring service provider.

More information as well as locating a Tutor Doctor in your area can be found online.

Related Articles:

Houston Parents Guide 2010: Summer Sports Camps for Kids

Houston Parents Guide to Arts, Drama and Dance Summer Camps for Kids

Advice on Creating an Environmentally Sound and Healthy Home for Our Children by Dr. Robert Sears

Summer Activities for Kids: Writing Ideas