A steady and long-term tutor is like having a regular doctor. Preventative medicine protects one from possible disease. In the same manner, tutors prevent academic dis-ease by lowering stress levels, academic anxiety, and ensuring that people feel confident about their learning experiences.
As a tutor, I have seen parents in panicked concern, students “freaking out,” and other situations that are uncomfortable, but essentially, preventable. Let’s take a more specific look into the matter.
Having a long-term tutor has many invaluable benefits:

1. Succeeding Feels Good – This is simple, obvious, and yet easily over-looked. Setting goals, impressing teachers and parents, and achieving respectable grades naturally boost self-esteem. It’s a better “Selling-point” to a wary student than the statement, “Getting good grades is essential for success.” The student may be eager to rebel and prove you wrong (as some parents know all too well). Bottom line: A consistent tutor helps students do well and feel good about their progress.

2. Preventing Loss of Confidence – It’s common for the struggling student to feel inadequate, ashamed, and possibly, “stupid.” I once tutored a student who had become very depressed and anxious after doing poorly in school. When discussing her grades, the mother asked me if she thought a psychiatrist would help. I didn’t feel like that was my business, but I did say that I have seen the personality of students open and shine once the good grades become consistent. This particular student’s transformation was unbelievable. After getting As and Bs on her tests, she became light-hearted, enthusiastic, and noticeably happy. I guess a creative tutor is better than anti-depressants!

3. Students Benefit from One-on-One Attention – This type of interaction is just not possible with the nature of our over-crowded school systems. I have worked with students that require specialized attention. ADD, autism, generalized anxiety, and other possible conditions have led me to students who really need special attention from an engaging tutor. One amazing individual, who has autism, made my day when he said, “I just want to be normal. Working with you makes it easier. Thanks Kevin.”

4. No More End-of-Semester Stressful Debacles – Many people have the tendency to wait until their son or daughter displays severe symptoms of academic distress before finding a tutor.
I was once hired to help a senior from failing Chemistry and Economics. There were 5 weeks left in the year and she was facing the possibility of not graduating. Of course, we didn’t let that happen. However, throughout, the student was miserably worried and the parents were very concerned. It turned into a rewarding situation. But believe me, it’s not worth the stress.

5. A New Perspective – Here’s one for the parents! Tutors have the ability to provide insights that no one else may be privy to. I’m 29 and students feel comfortable telling me that which they’d never tell their “old” or “mean” teacher. One 5th grade student accidentally cursed around me, and asked, “Are you going to tell my mom?” I responded, “Look. I don’t think it’s a good idea to curse, but hey, I’m no tattle tale!” The same day, this fifth grader opened up to me and told me why he was having problems in school. Of course, his mom appreciated the insight, I built trust with the student, and we still regularly work together.

6. Treating a Student as a Unique Individual – Rudolph Steiner, an advocate for better educational practice, once said:
“Love of the child is at the basis of all our educational endeavors, and that
all teaching is done through inner, living experience.”
(The New Essential Steiner, Robert McDermott, Lindisfarne Books, 2009, pg. 245)

I think Steiner is wisely suggesting that education needs to be tailored to each student’s particular interests, needs, and abilities. Tutors can teach to the unique individual. Learning is different for every person. A long-term tutor is a consistent resource that engages the student and brings life to the learning process. This make learning enjoyable. Ultimately, this is the source that fuels student progress, promotes future success, and reassures parents that their child is on the right track to a bright future.

Okay, it’s true! – Unlike a doctor, a tutor generally isn’t responsible for heavy life or death situations. However, as mentioned, a tutor can help make the life of a student (and the student’s parents) much simpler, more enjoyable, and less stressful.

I hope that all students, tutors, and parents alike are finding this to be the case.

An hour can go by fast! Even 2 hours, if the tutoring lasts that long, can go fast, and for it to be productive, there are some things that can maximize the time:

Be prepared

First of all, be prepared and start right on time! This applies to both student and tutor. Books, homework sheets, dictionaries, pens or pencils, and any other study props should be on the table, and both student and tutor should be ready to go.

Stay on track

Small talk should be kept to a bare minimum. Getting acquainted should be done in the first few minutes of the first session. After that, unless one of the goals is to practice speaking a foreign language, all conversation should relate to the subject matter, and not the weather, the student’s dog, sibling, or friend, how the school day went, or any other irrelevant topics. Every minute counts! It is up to the tutor to keep the student on track and to make the most of the time. Small talk can be allowed after the session is over.

Avoid distractions

The student should also have a snack and use the bathroom before the tutoring session so that he/she can concentrate on the lesson without getting hungry or needing a break.

It’s not just about answers

When working on homework or study sheets, the tutor should, whenever possible, guide the student towards figuring out the answers or completing assignments. The tutor should never just give the correct answer, but try to help the student figure it out him/herself. That way, he/she can apply what they learn to other challenges. Sometimes, solving a simpler problem can make the problem at hand easier, and will be remembered longer.

It should be a conversation

Lecturing belongs in a lecture hall. Too much talking on the part of the tutor can indicate that the student is not engaged in grappling with the material. Making mistakes is not something to be embarrassed about, as long as the student is encouraged to continue seeking a better understanding. What the student comes to understand will remain with him/her much longer than if simply told by the tutor.

Hiring a private tutor can be a valuable experience for all students. Students who need remediation or are failing a certain subject are not the only children who can benefit from tutoring. Tutoring services can also be provided to enrich learning and to take learning to the next level for students who need to be challenged. Here are some of the benefits of tutoring.

One-On-One Instruction

This is the greatest benefit of tutoring for most students. In today’s schools, children who are struggling cannot receive the attention and repetition of the skills needed in such a short time span as the school day. Although teachers do their best to differentiate for all students, they can get lost in the crowd. In a tutoring session, the student can receive specific instruction to meet his/her needs and have the confidence and freedom to ask questions as needed. There is no competition and the tutor can move the student through the material at his/her own speed.

Individual Learning Plan

Working with a tutor allows the students individual needs to be met in a specific way. When teachers, tutors, and parents work together, a plan can be created for the student to increase the specific skills that are lacking. This enables the student to work on skills they were already taught that they may not have mastered the first time around. There is also time for the repetition needed to master specific skills. Through continuous practice and assessment, the tutor can meet each individual need of the student. The plan should cover a few of the most important goals for the student and how they will be met. The goals should be constantly assessed and rewritten to meet the needs of the student.

Improved Confidence and Motivation

Working with a tutor allows students to build confidence in their skills without competition or the fear of failure. Improving confidence in an area that was once weak for the student helps to motivate the student to work harder. When students see their own gradual progress, they want to do better and continue to work towards the goals set for them. The new found confidence leads greater motivation to succeed.

Provides Enrichment Experiences

Not all students receive tutoring services for remediation. Students who are working on grade level can still benefit from a tutor. Schools teach to the grade level standard and provide instruction for those above and below the standard. Many times there are students that fall well above the standard and could benefit from enrichment in certain areas. Tutors can provide a plan for the student to challenge their skills so they grow as students also.

Improved Academic Performance

Improving academic performance is the end goal of tutoring. This does not mean that the process should stop once a student meets his/her goals. A child who has improved grades may still need remediation, even if just a few days a week. Some children will need the extra help often and throughout their school career. This is one of the best things about a good tutoring program—it grows with the student and continues to meet their changing needs.