Using A Tutor For Middle, High School

Discussion in 'Education & Personal Growth' started by Rihana, Feb 4, 2019.

  1. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    This is more a learning and education question, so posting here, not in Parenting.

    Two of my friends and their teenagers are looking for tutors. One in Math (Pre-Calculus Honors) and other for Physics (Honors). Child does not need help on a regular basis. Each mom helped child as needed for the more difficult concepts.

    Parent helping child means parent needs some time to get up to speed or read the lesson too. One of the moms did this: when child asked for help with a topic, she spent time reading it up herself while child did other homework, and then sat with child to explain it. For a busy child, parent cannot take up 2 hours of a child's evening to explain a concept that should take 30 mins. Child has other homework, activities and needs to sleep too. The dad can also help but it ends up becoming a 2-3 hour project with dad employing innovative ways to explore the concept with the child, and recalling how it was explained differently in his college textbooks. Ends with tears and slammed doors. Both moms are pressed for time and need to spend time to prepare for job change and interviews themselves.

    Solution: get a tutor. Here's the problem: Child usually has to meet or skype with tutor at a set time(s) each week. Might or might not be needing help that day. On-demand tutoring websites are an option but they require some advance notice and do not guarantee that the same tutor will be available.

    My kids have used only coaching (not tutoring). Coaching as in preparing for standardized tests and AP tests, which starts a few weeks before the exam, they review all concepts briefly and learning test-taking skills to score better, work faster.

    How to find a tutor for tutoring needs like the two kids described?

    How do 8th-12th grade students work with tutors for science and math subjects when the need is ad hoc? Any suggestions?
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  2. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Question is rather specific to pre-college level. In a college setting, such help is easier to get through the discussion/lab sections and student tutors who know the prof's material very well are available to help on campus for free or low cost.
     
  3. Jey

    Jey Administrator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    What you are looking for is a same-day availability of a specific tutor. That is quite hard to do consistently. By why is the need for same-day. Isn't even 1-day advance notice not possible?
     
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  4. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    That is the gist: they are looking for a same-day availability of a reliable tutor. Idea is to find tutors who can provide the service and try each for 2-3 times and choose one that comes closest to what mom was doing so far.

    Even one day advance notice: I am not sure about their school and specific teachers. In our high school, physics homework is mostly due in 2-4 days. It is assigned when teacher starts the chapter and due when chapter is done which is usually about a week. In math, homework is assigned daily and due the next day unless it is assigned on Friday and due Monday.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2019
  5. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you Vidushi. Those are some useful suggestions. Especially the part about even random classes needing a structure. In fact, reading your post gave an idea. They could reserve a tutor like 3x a week. Use the decided hours if needed, and if not needed pay half plus let him/her know at least 12 hours in advance if not needing help. Some tutor might be fine with such arrangement.

    Also, a belated welcome to IL. I just went and read some of your others posts and threads. Nice to have you aboard. If you have the time and inclination, would be great to read some guidance for kids aged 13+ and their parents on how to organize time, improve study skills. Both for naturally self-motivated kids as well as those who are more laidback.

    I will let my two friends know how you can help. If you have a basic website or maybe a business page on FB, it would be easier to spread the word without saying where I heard about you. :blush:
     

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