Turning to a professional for pedagogical help does not mean admitting your own pedagogical or parental failure. It is often a good and necessary step, regardless of whether your child goes to school or gets an education at home.
A tutor starts looking for a tutor in two cases: the child does not understand some topic, and he needs it explained in more detail; or he may become immersed in, for example, mathematics, and you decide to study it in depth. Today, the educational market has a large selection of top-notch teachers for all tastes and wallets. I am sure that with some effort, you will surely find the right tutor.
Defining the goal
It’s not enough to say, “We need a math tutor.” Before you begin your search, you need to understand exactly why your child needs an expert. How to explain incomprehensible material? Eliminate gaps in knowledge? How to prepare for exams and university admission? To study a subject in-depth? Find your best option. Perhaps the online statistics tutor option is right for you.
What does setting a goal do? It helps you find the right tutor for you. For example, if it’s important to you that your child is motivated to learn and the tutor aims to close the gaps in knowledge, it’s not a fact that you’ll be happy with the results.
Study the market
Today, in the market for educational services, a huge number of proposals are being made, and therefore, the question of finding and selecting a teacher is more acute than ever. It is not enough to type “math tutor” into a web browser and call the first phone number you see. You need to find out if the conditions of the teacher are suitable for you, in particular:
- The location of the classes;
- The number of classes;
- The cost of one class.
- The duration of the class.
Finding a suitable candidate
Examine the tutors’ profiles or leave an application to find a teacher. As a rule, this service is free, and the administrators of the resources see the right specialist in a matter of days (the only exceptions are “winter” and “spring” applications: it’s not easy to find a free teacher at that time).
Getting to know a tutor
Before agreeing to the services of a tutor, please read the reviews of his past or present clients on the website. At the same time, 1-2 negative opinions on the background of many positives should not be alerted to.
Any teacher may encounter a situation in which his or her interaction with a student or his or her parents does not go as planned. The reviews on companies’ websites of select tutors are usually real — most of them value their reputation. But if the tutor has his own website or an account on social networks, there will be only positive reviews, which is unlikely to reflect the real situation.
Get to know the teacher beforehand. If possible, schedule two meetings: the first to discuss “adult” issues, the second to tell about the child’s quirks, and the third to learn about the tutor’s methodology. On the second coming with your child: let him get acquainted with the teacher, then the first lesson will be much more effective, and the child will be more relaxed.
If you realize that you are happy with everything after these meetings, you can arrange the first lesson. If possible, be in the next room during the lesson, so you can form an objective opinion about the teacher.
Do not forget to keep in touch with the tutor: call to learn about the progress of the child and the difficulties that arise.