How to Talk With Your Tutor

Selecting the right tutor is the first step toward improving your child’s grades, but, to ensure that the tutoring is successful, parents should communicate regularly with the tutor, providing information and feedback.

Just as your pediatrician needs information about your child’s symptoms and health history, the tutor needs a variety of information to evaluate your child’s needs and to develop a plan. Just as importantly, the tutor will need ongoing feedback, from both the parent and the student. This will allow the tutor to adjust her approach to meet the student’s requirements.

When a parent calls me to discuss tutoring, I ask about the child’s academic history, study skills, general level of confidence, personality and extracurricular interests, as well as learning style and any observed or diagnosed disability. That information guides me in selection of the appropriate tutor. 

I advise parents to begin that first lesson by showing the tutor their child’s homework, completed tests, report cards, IEP, and any other pertinent materials. Experienced tutors are eager for insights that will allow them to quickly assess and effectively address any deficiencies.

It’s important that you discuss your concerns and observations privately with the tutor. This will preserve your child’s dignity and protect his relationship with his tutor.

Prepare your child for tutoring by encouraging her to openly discuss her needs with the tutor. If the pace of the lesson seems to fast for her, for example, she should tell the tutor to slow down. If she hesitates to express herself, pull the tutor aside and share your child’s feedback with the tutor yourself. 

As lessons continue, keep the tutor updated about changes in your child’s daily classroom performance, his grades, study habits, feedback from his teacher, and events that may be affecting the child’s behavior. If the tutoring doesn’t seem to be working, the tutor needs to know right away so he can make adjustments. If that important personal connection just isn’t there, it’s better to change tutors early before your child digs in his heels and decides to resist all outside assistance.

Diane Trautman owns and operates StudyPros In-Home Tutoring at 661-296-9206 and studypros.com.