There's no doubt about it -- tutoring has turned into a billion-dollar business. Tutor prices can vary from $10 to $250 an hour. It's really little wonder with all the emphasis on test scores and the push to try to get kids into the best colleges. But do you really need to hire someone from that pricey tutoring site or can you just use the kid next door?
Remember the best tutor isn't necessarily the one everyone in town is using -- or the one who charges the most. The key is to “Know thy child” and find the person who matches your child's learning needs.
Here are five tips to help you hire the best tutor for your child.
1. Figure out the need. Why do you think your child needs a tutor? Is he struggling in a subject? Has homework turned into World War III? Is your relationship with him suffering? Does your child have a learning disability? Does he need specific help the teacher can't provide? Is he behind because of illness or a move? Is a major exam coming up -- and that test score is critical? Are grades plummeting? Be very clear about your objective, and then find a tutor who can best match it.
2. Seek out your child's teacher. Your goal is to give your child's learning a boost, so connect with his teacher and get her take. You might ask: Do you think my child needs a tutor? What specific skills or subjects does he need help in? Is there a test schedule so the tutor can review the material? Does he need a tutor with teaching experience? Do you have any tutor recommendations? What tutoring schedule would best fit my child's attention span and learning capabilities?
3. Tailor the tutoring to fit your child's learning style. Here are three more areas to consider when choosing the best tutor for your child:
• Schedule: What would be the best tutoring schedule for your child? Is it once or twice a week; thirty minute, one- or two-hour sessions; individual or group sessions? How long can he attend to his homework without being distracted?
• Personality: What type of personality would your child be receptive to? The tutor should be someone your child feels comfortable with. So match the tutor's personality to your child.
• Learning style: What kind of learner is my kid? Is your child a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner? (If you don't know, ask the teacher). If your child is struggling, then teaching the concept the same way may not be advisable. Your child may need a more creative tutor who customizes his sessions to your child's learning needs.
There are alternatives to that $250 an hour tutoring center: a retired teacher, a high school student who is a Spanish whiz, the 12-year-old next door your kid adores who helps him with those math flash cards. Ask for recommendations. Interview the people. Then hire the person who would be best for your kid's personality and learning style, and is experienced in the subject matter.
4. Create a tutoring plan. Once you hire the tutor, sit down and create a plan together. Ideally your child should be in on that plan. She needs to be comfortable with this person. A few things to discuss with the tutor include: What specific steps does the tutor plan to take to help your child? How will progress be assessed? How will school assignments and tests be covered in the sessions? What feedback will you get? Be clear from the start about the tutoring schedule and payment plan. Also, find out if the tutor has expectations of you? (Are you supposed to be reviewing lessons as well?) And then check in briefly at least every other week to see how things are going.
5. Prioritize tutoring. Your child needs to know that tutoring is just as important as soccer practice or violin lessons or scouting. In fact, something may have to give so your child isn't overscheduled. If you want the tutoring to help your child's learning, then you must prioritize it. Also arrange the tutoring at a time when he can concentrate on the sessions.
Keep your expectations realistic! No tutor is a miracle worker so it may take time to see progress. And do keep encouraging your child's efforts: “I know this is tough, but here's where you were seven days ago. Look how much you've learned in a week!”
All the best!
Michele Borba
Dr. Michele Borba is the author of Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me: The Top 25 Friendship Problems and How to Solve Them.
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译文:
5个好方法帮你雇到最好的家教
• 毫无疑问——家教已经成为能赚十亿的生意。家教费用从每小时$10到$250不等。大家都知道，所有人都关注孩子的考试分数，以及能否让孩子上最好的大学。但是你确实需要从收费昂贵的家教站聘请一个家教，或者只是让邻居家的孩子来辅导你的小孩吗？
要记住，最好的家教不必是城里每个人都聘请的那个人——或者收费最高的那个。关键是“了解你的孩子”，并找到符合你孩子的学习需求的人。
以下有5个方法，帮助你找到最适合你孩子的家教。
1. 找出需求。你为什么需要给孩子找家教？你的孩子在努力为某个题目挣扎吗？家庭作业等成为了第三次世界大战？你们之间的关系很痛苦吗？你的孩子有学习障碍吗？除了老师给予的之外，孩子是不是还需要特别帮助？他成绩落后是因为生病或搬迁吗？是否大考临近——并且考试分数至关重要？成绩排名突然下滑吗？弄清楚你的目标，然后找到最适合的家教。
2.为孩子寻找老师。你的目的是提高孩子的学习成绩，所以要与他的老师联系，了解老师的观点。你可能会问：你认为我的孩子需要家教辅导吗？他需要在哪些具体技能或科目上获得帮助？有没有考试时间表，可以让家教给他安排时间复习资料？他需要有教学经验的家教吗？你有可推荐的家教人选吗？什么样的辅导进度最适合我孩子的注意力集中时间和学习能力？
3.让家庭辅导适合孩子的学习方式。在选择最适合孩子的家教时，还有三件事需要考虑：
• 时间表：什么样的的辅导进度最适合孩子？是一周一次，还是一周两次；每次一个半小时——或两小时；单独上课还是集体上课？在他的注意力被分散之前，可以有多长时间集中注意力在作业上？
• 性格：你的孩子能接受什么性格的人？家教必须是孩子愿意与之相处的人。所以要让家教的性格适合孩子。
• 学习方式：我的孩子是什么样的学习者？孩子的学习是通过视觉、听觉或是肌肉运动来感知？（如果你不知道，可以询问老师。）如果你的孩子学习很困难，那么以同样的方式教授孩子可能就不可取了。你的孩子可能需要一个更有创造性的家教，能够让其教授的课程符合孩子的学习需求。
除了一小时$250的家教中心，你还有其他选择：一位退休教师、一个专精西班牙语的高中生、邻居家12岁小孩，其曾帮助你的孩子用数学闪卡，并让你的孩子崇拜不已。请其他人向你推荐，并与这些人面谈。然后聘请最适合你孩子性格和学习方式，且在此科目上经验丰富的家教。
4.制定辅导计划。一旦你请了家教，就与其一起坐下来制定一个计划。较为理想的是让孩子也参与计划制定。孩子必须适应这个人。有几件事需要与家教讨论，包括：家教打算采取哪些具体步骤帮助孩子？该如何评定辅导进度？你会得到什么反馈？从开始就要明确辅导进度和付款方式。而且，要明确家教是否希望你做些事？（你是否也应该为孩子复习功课？）然后至少每隔一周简要检查事情进展。
5.将家教辅导优先。你的孩子需要知道家教辅导像足球训练、小提琴课或童子军活动一样重要。事实上，有些东西要放弃，才能不让孩子日程太过繁忙。如果你想让家教辅导帮助孩子学习，那么你就得把它放在优先地位。而且要在孩子能够在上课时集中精力的时候安排辅导课程。
让你的愿望实际一些吧！家教并不能创造奇迹，所以需要一些时间才能看到效果。一定要鼓励孩子的努力：“我知道这很难，但是你七天前才做到这里。看看这一周你学到了多少东西！”
祝你好运！
米歇尔•伯拔