Most parents want their child to excel at their studies from the time they are very young to the day that they graduate from college. However, this ability to do well starts extremely early on in a child’s elementary school days. If you’re worried that your child is struggling with their studies and have heard myths about whether or not tutoring is an effective solution, there are several reasons why tutoring really does work for children of all ages and learning levels.
SchoolTutoring Acadmey provides Elementary School Tutoring.
Why Tutoring Works
There are a multiplicity of reasons why elementary tutoring is helpful. The first and foremost reason is because tutoring provides your child with the one-on-one educational assistance that they do not receive in the classroom on a daily basis. The tutor your child works with should be able to tailor their lesson plans to fit your child’s needs so that they stay on top of what is going on in the classroom and excel at what they are learning.
Secondly, tutoring gives your child the opportunity to ask as many questions as they need in order to fully grasp a concept. The problem with many traditional classrooms is that they do not always give children the chance to ask questions when they don’t understand. In addition to this, many children are afraid to ask questions of their teacher in a classroom setting out of fear that the other children will judge them. In a tutoring session, these social pressures are eliminated and your child has the chance to ask as many questions as necessary to understand what they need to know.
The third reason tutoring works is because it nurtures and builds a child’s foundation for learning that will benefit them throughout their academic career. What ignites a child’s desire to learn and be successful is different from everyone else’s. Tutoring can hone in on what is best for the child at hand and help them develop learning skills that will serve them well into adulthood.
Questions to Ask Your Child’s Tutor
However, in order for tutoring to truly be effective for your young child, it is essential that you hire a qualified tutor that knows how to them. Before you make the final decision to hire a tutor, ask them the following questions:
- Can you tell me about your teaching style? Just like every child learns differently, every tutor teaches differently. The right tutor should be able to adapt their teaching methods to match your child’s strengths.
- How do you intend to help my child? Although your child may not have worked with your child at this point, they should at least be familiar with their basic needs and have formulated a plan to assist your child with learning.
- Is there a reason why you tutor? Unless your tutor is passionate about teaching and helping others learn, they may not be an effective way to help your child ignite their love of learning.
- Can you give me a list of references? References are a good way to determine the effectiveness of a tutor. These references can give you immense insight into their proficiency and personality.
- What are some strategies you will use to help my child become an independent learner? Tutors should help their students learn while they are with them and also help them develop certain strategies to make them stronger independent learners. Find out what your tutor will do to help your child flourish in school throughout elementary school and the years to come.
Asking a potential tutor these questions can help you get a feel for what they are like and what they can do for your child. However, before you make a final decision, do a trial session to find out how your child and the tutor interact.
Taking the Tutoring Even Further
But, helping your elementary school child develop strong learning skills is not dependent on their tutor and teacher alone. As a parent, you can also play a large role in your child’s learning abilities and success at school. To support your child’s learning when they’re away from the classroom and their tutor, exhibit a positive attitude about school and learning to your child. Demonstrating to your child that learning is important and valuable may help them also realize that school is about much more than just sitting in a desk and doing problems all day. To enhance this goal, demonstrate that you are interested in your child’s education by asking them questions about what they did in school that day and what interests them about what they are learning. Don’t let the dialogue stop after you ask them how their day was when they get in the car or walk in the door after school.
One of the best ways to encourage your child’s love of learning is to help them develop their interest in reading. Reading is a valuable skill that can benefit them in every subject in school. You can do this by limiting the amount of time they’re allowed to play computer games and watch television everyday and help them find books that they want to read. For instance, if your child can’t find any books they want to read around the house, consider taking a trip to the local library and letting your child sign up for their first library card.
It’s also important to remember that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. It also occurs while developing life-skills and talents. Encourage your child to explore their interests and get involved in extra-curricular activities. For instance, if your child wants to learn an instrument, help find them the resources needed to start developing this ability. Or, if your child is more athletically inclined, sign them up for a sports team through your local community center.
With your constant encouragement and support as well as the assistance of a dedicated tutor, your child will begin to develop learning skills and abilities in elementary school that will benefit them as they get older and progress in their studies.
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Emma Taylor is passionate about education and giving children the tools they need to succeed. She understands that every person learns differently and welcomes the challenge. For this reason, she finds her work researching and writing for School Tutoring Academy a great joy.