Are you looking for a good tutor but you don’t know where to start? If the answer is a big yes, read on and I will give you the best tips that will help you find a good tutor. It is very important to discuss with your child first before looking for a tutor.
This will help you find what he or she is comfortable with in a tutor and guide you in choosing a good tutor. The next question you may be asking is: Where can I find a tutor? The number of agencies providing these services is growing each passing day throughout the country.
Some people use personal ads while most people rely on personal recommendations. Tutorfair.com is the first website that allows you to book tutor online as it has hundreds of tutor profiles visible to view. Since this website funds charity work to address educational disadvantage, I would suggest that you check there first.
Always remember that it is not you but your child that will work with the tutor. This is why you need to listen to your child and find out what kind of person he or she would like to have as a tutor suggest James Goldsmith of 11plustutorsinessex.co.uk.
You can let your child look through these by watching the tutor videos and choose one they feel comfortable with.
It is very important to involve your child in the decision-making process as it will serve as a great motivational tool because if the child likes the tutor he or she will be looking forward to the learning process. This means that half the job is done already as the child will want to impress the new mentor.
Ask the tutor the following key questions:
-What kind of learner are you? More visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, or do you learn by rote?
-How will you handle a student who does not feel like doing any work that day?
-Have you ever dealt with any difficult students before and how did you deal with them?
Treat it like an informal interview and check that the answers would suit your child. Avoid giving the tutor a hard time but instead, voice your questions or concerns. Assess the qualifications and teaching experience of the tutor.
Most tutoring agencies require that tutors have qualification at least one level above the ones they teach. For instance, a GCSE Geography tutor should have an A-level in the subject they teach. Some may even require that the tutor should at least have a degree.
However, being very qualified in a subject is not the same as being able to teach it. Some of the most inspiring tutors I have met have been the ones who struggled themselves at school. This is what makes them empathize with those students struggling to ‘get it’.
It is therefore very important to look for reviews from previous clients and evidence that the tutor has taught a certain subject. This will make them aware of the common mistakes and pitfalls that usually occur.
When searching for a good tutor, you need to find a balance between expertise and good teaching skills. Your child should be able to interact well with the tutor.
It is often a good idea to have a tutor who is halfway between a teacher and a best friend to your child. These tutors usually inspire the students to work harder and have that urge to learn.
In most cases, kids love these teachers and do their best not to let them down. I am not saying that all students must love every tutor but what I am saying is that they have to get along. If they don’t, it is bad news for both the student and the tutor.
Therefore, you need to ask your child how he or she feels after a lesson. The child does not have to be overjoyed but rather feel like they have learned something and that they don’t feel completely overwhelmed and not confident.
The right tutor should be able to increase your child’s confidence and make the child feel like they are really ready to learn more and more.