Ned Johnson, founder and president of PrepMatters, an organization that provides counseling, preparation and education programs, said: "The right mentor is the one that suits your child." "Your friend's children may do well in tutoring, but your children are different. The best tutors have intuition and flexible methods for children. Some children need a gentle touch, while others need a nudge. "
Because some children neglect their studies after taking online classes for more than a year, many parents take tutoring as a solution. Whether it is the first time to consider finding a tutor, or whether your child has cooperated with a tutor, you can take some steps to find a suitable tutor in primary school, junior high school and senior high school.
? What is a good tutor Johnson said that tutors should be interested in understanding and diagnosing students' needs before stepping in and telling them what to do. "My first hour always makes students feel that I am interested in them, not just their grades or grades," he said. "If you want to be an effective mentor, you need to be influential. If you want to be influential, children need to feel that the mentor is trying to understand their views. "
Brett Murphy Hunt is a lecturer at Northeastern University and owns a consulting firm in Boston. He said that mastering a subject does not automatically make a person a good counselor.
"Most importantly, EQ is very important for one-on-one learning, because students' problems may stem from countless difficulties," she said, for example, sometimes it is not a matter of content, but a matter of confidence. A good tutor knows the difference. "Psychological counseling experts say that excellent psychological counselors will recognize the advantages of children, overcome their shortcomings, and guide learning independently. Nicky Gula, founder and CEO of online tutoring resource "Door to the Classroom", said: "Students should look forward to meeting their tutors and feel more confident after class. "
? Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education in primary and secondary schools, said that although it is important for students of all ages to enjoy learning fun, it is especially true when tutoring young students. This is because they may better absorb information in shorter and more interactive conversations, and they may need different incentives.
"For primary and middle school students, it is usually the most effective to start tutoring courses from ice-breaking activities and plan various discipline-related activities for each course, such as playing problem games," Rim said.
For middle school students, parents often look for tutors to help them organize and do homework or certain subject areas. In many cases, when schools are closed due to epidemics, these needs are amplified.
"Teachers saw the influence of coronavirus pneumonia-19 in class, and the' coronavirus pneumonia slide' is real," Geula said. "Many students are behind the grade level, and the tutor is helping to make up the gap. Rich counseling can help children make progress or fill the gap caused by distance and asynchronous education last year. "
? Rim, a high school counselor, said that for high school students, effective tutoring courses may involve more repetitive activities, especially when students prepare for standardized exams such as SAT or ACT. Effective counseling may also look different for freshmen and sophomores.
"Freshmen and sophomores may need more school support when they transition from junior high school to senior high school, which means that tutors may work more closely with students' teachers," Rim said. Junior and senior students may need more support when preparing for SAT or ACT, which will involve separate courses and emphasize the practice of exam review. "
Geula said that like middle school students, many high school students need support to fill the academic gap caused by coronavirus pneumonia-19. However, they also face other challenges, such as planning universities, making subject exams, planning extracurricular activities, choosing courses and planning final exams. "Excellent tutors recognize that each student has a unique set of skills and give full play to their strengths while solving their weaknesses," Rim said. "They communicate and cooperate with students, parents and teachers to set goals, make curriculum plans and measure progress."
? Choose consulting options Consulting options include peer counseling, school resources such as teachers and reading experts, and private companies and individuals. Private companies may offer face-to-face or online choices, both of which are beneficial.
"Although face-to-face tutoring may be effective for students who spend a lot of time online and need to take a break from the computer screen, online tutoring is usually more convenient and energetic," Rim said. "Tutors can use technology to integrate images and animations into the course. All these counseling options may be effective, but it is important to know what you are looking for and verify whether the counseling options you are considering meet the needs of students. "
According to Johnson, peer mentors can work as effectively as professionals, and sometimes even more effectively. "If children feel that they are being nagged too much by their parents or teachers, we should be careful not to choose people with exactly the same energy," he said.
Consulting options and their required prices vary greatly. The level of expertise required, the time required and your location will all affect the cost. According to Payscale, which provides salary data, the national average level of standard counseling for basic subjects is about $25 per hour. But in some parts of the country, it may be as high as $49 per hour. Tutors who specialize in preparing for exams or have expertise in specific fields may spend more.
"You are working hard for an Ivy League school. Do you need serious SAT help? Maybe a more expensive and experienced tutor is more suitable for you, "Murphy Hunter said. "Do you just need a study partner who is more proficient than you to help you maintain a sense of responsibility and progress? Maybe that graduate student is still no problem for you. "
Experts say that before looking for a tutor, it is best to contact your child's teacher to determine the problems they think need to be solved. Then, find an experienced tutor with correct academic background, and you will always get reference. "When looking for counseling companies, please make sure that they have reviewed high-quality teachers with strong academic background, mature classroom experience and a series of price points to adapt to any budget without affecting quality," Geula said.