While parents mull over the choice to hire a tutor here are five main points to consider as you decide if a tutor is a right fit for you.

1. Cost

Cost is often the first thing people think of before hiring a tutor but the cost should be weighed not only in dollars but also in the growth in a students’ skills and confidence. When a student grows and achieves academic skills earlier, something a tutor can help accomplish, this investment will pay off later when they can easily ace college entrance exams or write a fantastic college essay that lands them a spot in an elite school. Tip: Look for independent tutors not attached to formal tutoring schools, many have good qualifications but are more fairly priced. (My prices are below.)

2. Flexibility

As most learning has moved online due to Covid-19, students need tutors that will be flexible in both scheduling and content. Scheduling a good time to have a lesson is important because you want your child to be at their best and ready to learn. Unlike school teachers, private tutors can work with you and be available when you need them. Content flexibility refers to how much and exactly what the tutor teaches to enrich and further the skills of the student. A good tutor will be flexible in the first few lessons not overwhelming a student with too much work at first while learning more about their personality and their needs.

3. Improve Academic Performance

Academic performance is of course a most obvious benefit of tutoring but it can sometimes be taken for granted. In the competitive academic environment of today, many young people will be vying for top spots in the nation’s best high schools and universities. A one-to-one tutor will help students during the academic year, review vital points, and lead the student in the right direction on tough assignments. In summer, tutors are a lifeline of continued private education when formal educational institutions take a break. 

4. Qualifications and Experience

With the proliferation of college education in the US, there are more and more of us who have advanced degrees from great colleges. The best qualifications will spring from both the degrees that a person has and also from their job experience and other professional certifications. A great option is someone who is currently working as a teacher, adjunct, professor, or who has previous experience teaching. Time in the classroom, relevant degrees, and references are a must when hiring a tutor. 

5. Encouraging and Approachable

Kids (and parents) can be easily put off by unapproachable know-it-all types who lord it over their classes. Instead, look for someone who is able to find the balance between kind but not so much that work isn’t getting done during tutoring time. Overall, the tutor must be able to keep the child motivated and to always keep it positive! That’s the magic formula for students and tutors. Recently I was lucky to get feedback from a parent who told me that when she asked her son how tutoring was going he said, “Actually, I think tutoring is fun!” This let me know I had hit my mark, making learning fun is what I specialize in. 

If you found any value in this post please like my business page and message or call me if you or someone you know could benefit from having a tutor. As a tutor looking to work with new clients, my introductory rate is only $40 per session, which is far less than the tutoring booking agencies charge. I am a full-time high school teacher and writing coach with years of experience teaching students grades 6-12. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Christian M. McFarland

Certified Language Arts Instructor

Masters in Jazz Research and History

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Media