Parent demand for online tutoring has been gradually increasing. It is a flexible way to help support your child on their educational journey, whether it be through helping them fill the gaps in their learning or by giving them the extra challenge that they need to reach their full potential.
If you are considering acquiring the services of a tutor and want to get the most out of the experience, read on for some important tips.
Use a reputable company
Using a reputable company such as ISA-Tokyo.com means the tutors will have been vetted. Not everyone has the skills to be a tutor, and although it may be more expensive to go through a company, this will ensure that you get someone who has the right qualifications and experience.
Timing is everything
Consider the best time for your child to undertake their tutoring session(s). Older students may be able to cope with after school tutoring sessions, but younger children may be too tired. The weekend may be a better solution for them. Remember, a tired brain is not an effective brain.
Try before you buy
Do a trial lesson first to make sure that your child feels comfortable with the tutor and that the tutor is going to be able to meet their needs. It’s a one-to-one relationship and therefore there needs to be a high level of trust.
Be clear with your expectations
What do you want your child to achieve through tutoring? Remember you are paying for a service, and so you can make certain requests, although they should be reasonable. Discuss these with the tutor from the start.
Early assessment
Ask the tutor to assess your child early on and find out what their objectives will be for the tutoring sessions going forward. Tutors are generally adept at assessing students both formally and informally, and therefore should have a clear set of objectives when working with your child.
Other feedback
Share any feedback that you have received from other educators in your child’s life with the tutor. Having all the relevant information will help the tutor plan what they need to do to maximise your child’s learning.
School curriculum plans
Share any curriculum plans that you have received from your child’s school as often it is more helpful for the school and tutor to work in unison. Having the tutor reinforce skills learnt at school or help your child pre-learn them before tackling them at school, can boost your child’s confidence and make the learning journey easier.
It takes time
Do not expect miracles after one lesson. It will take several sessions before you may see any tangible difference in your child’s learning. Give it time and be directed by the tutor.
Regular feedback
Get regular feedback from the tutor so you know the progress that is being made. Some tutors will automatically give you some short feedback after each session; however, if your tutor is not doing that, do not be afraid to ask for some feedback either orally or in writing.
Attitude
Monitor your child’s attitude. Your child’s attitude is very important as children learn best when they are motivated and positive. Are the tutoring sessions helping your child become more confident? If not, speak to the tutor.
Homework
Do you want the tutor to set homework? Not all tutors will automatically set homework, and this tends to be age dependent. If homework is important to you, make sure that you have shared this with the tutor and are able to support your child if need be.
Little problems become big problems
Speak up if there is an issue. If you are not happy with something in the tutoring sessions, talk to the tutor so that any issues can be quickly rectified before they become bigger. Also, if you are very happy with your child’s progress, let the tutor know. Everyone likes to receive positive feedback!