So, you’re a little worried about your child’s grades for a while. They seem frustrated with their routine and don’t want to study with focus. Well, congratulations on figuring out what you need.
A tutor for your child. The young mind may be missing the enthusiasm it needs to focus on studies. It simply doesn’t know what’s good in it. The right tutor can introduce your child to a new world, a world beyond what they’re used to.
Let’s find out.
Do you really need to find a tutor?
If you don’t see an improvement even after hiring a good tutor, it may be time to take a closer look at the problem. The standard procedure here is psychoeducational testing, a research-backed test to evaluate one’s emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning. It’s a very comprehensive test to pinpoint the underlying psychological issue that may be stopping your child from unleashing their full potential.
Coming back to hiring a tutor. The question is, how to find a tutor for your child? Where do you even start looking? How do you know the person qualifies to take on the job?
Let’s find out.
Finding A Credible Tutor for Your Child
Credibility is everything. An experienced tutor who fits the role of tutoring your child almost perfectly may have an outstanding impact. How your kid perceives the world can change thanks to the tutor’s influence.
Every step you read from here is designed with credibility in mind.
Step 1: Looking for a Tutor
If this is your first time hiring a tutor, you may not even know where to look. Well, you should first turn to your peers. People you know who have hired tutors before for their children. If you ask around, you should get a few leads. And it’s a good place to start.
If you fail to find anyone through word-of-mouth, ask your child who their favorite teacher is at school. If there is one, you can contact the teacher and see if they’re available for tutoring or not.
The last option is looking for a tutor online. You may even find local communities of tutors whom you can contact directly on the forums. Of course, the availability of tutors will depend on your location and the general tutoring culture of the area.
Step 2: Ask for a Resume
Don’t laugh just yet. When you’re considering a tutor for your child, you’re also considering hiring a person. And the hiring process always starts with the resume.
A resume helps you look a little deeper into the person and their background. Their educational qualifications, tutoring certifications, and specializations in any particular area should be mentioned on the resume.
Step 3: Schedule an Interview
After you narrow down the list of candidates from the resumes, schedule individual interviews with all of them. You must meet the person to talk more details. The tutor needs to understand what you expect from them. And you need to evaluate whether the person can be a good influence on your child or not.
The interview also presents an excellent opportunity to discuss logistics. Both parties must discuss the schedule of tutoring, define specific goals, and agree on remuneration. There is no right answer to how much a tutor should charge so we’re not even going to try. Poke a few fellows in your area and ask around for the standard rate.
Ideally, you should do the market research before you schedule an interview. There shouldn’t be too much of an expectation gap between you.
Step 4: Time to Make a Decision
Once you’re done with the interviews, don’t rush into a decision. Take a few days to think things over. If you’ve taken notes, this is the time to review them. You should only call the tutor after you’re confident in your choice.
Even arbitrary elements like common interests can influence your decision. Your child will obviously be more comfortable around someone they share an interest. If your intuition is telling you something, listen to it without compromising too much in academic credibility.
Step 5: Schedule Follow-Ups
So, the new tutor has already started. The first few weeks are critical as your child and tutor need to find harmony between them. This is also the perfect time for you to monitor the progress.
You can also schedule follow-up meetings every week or every other week. Discuss the progress of your child, what the tutor believes is best for them, and anything else that both parties may benefit from.
Rudimentary Step: Rinse & Repeat
It’s highly likely that you won’t strike gold the first time. Finding the right tutor can take a bit of trial and error. If you feel, at any time, that the tutor is not a good fit, don’t hesitate to let them know. In most cases, the person will appreciate your honesty.
Just make sure you give them adequate notice as agreed on the contract.
