Q: My child has struggled this year with school assignments and grades. Do you have advice on finding a tutor to match the child’s needs?
A: We are getting close to the end of this school year, and if your child is having a hard time learning to read, needs a hand with their calculus homework or even SAT or ACT preparation, a tutor may be the answer. The Better Business Bureau has advice on finding and working with a tutor to best meet your child’s needs.
While private tutors can be expensive – $30 to $70 an hour – they do offer the most tailored, one-on-one approach for helping your child learn. Qualifying families with limited income can receive free tutoring sessions for their children as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Commercial learning center, such as Honors Learning Center or Sylvan Learning Center typically costs about $150 per week, paid weekly or monthly. A learning center provides a customized and specialized learning environment for your child.
These programs often offer incentives for children of all ages – kindergarten to precollege – to help make learning more fun and are typically very good about reporting on your child’s progress.
For the computer-savvy child, online tutoring usually carries a monthly fee of $35 to $130. Tutors are often available online 24-hours for kids to chat about their homework or SAT or ACT test prep.
The BBB offers the following advice:
• Check it out. For information on tutoring services or commercial learning centers, start your search at www.bbb.org for a free BBB Business Review that will help you make informed decisions.
• Ask around. Get referrals from your child’s teacher; other parents and friends can be a great resource, as well.
• Look for credentials. Check the tutor’s credentials and make sure they are qualified in the subject area where your child needs help.
• Schedule a meeting. Meet with the tutor and discuss measurable, specific goals and do not be afraid to hold the tutor and the child accountable. While a tutoring program cannot necessarily guarantee a higher SAT or ACT score, a tutor can help identify problem areas and address any specific subjects where your child needs help.
• Play a role. If you use a personal tutor, feel free to sit in now and then and observe how the tutor and your child are working together.
Ask the tutor for advice on what you can do to help your child learn more effectively. For more information on issues affecting your child’s education go to www.bbb.org.
Get answers to your questions each Friday from Jim Winsett, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Inc., which serves Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Submit questions to his attention by writing to Business Editor Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN, 37401-1447, or by emailing him at dflessner@timesfreepress.com.