Tutoring works.  Not only does a bunch of research tell us so, our common sense tells us also.  Everyone needs a little help from time to time, and kids are no exception.  I've written about it before, but it bears repeating, especially at the beginning of a new year when our resolutions include helping our kids become more successful and confident in school.


I've seen tutoring work in my own classroom, when suddenly a student shows signs of focus – homework done on time and turned in, notebook organized, long-term assignments broken up into smaller tasks, test and quiz grades going up, class participation increasing, and confidence rising.  Even attendance improving.  Kids who receive a little "leg up," a little individual attention from a caring adult, and the boost they need when they know someone's looking out for them can't help but see good results.


The company I work for, Sylvan Learning, is a leader in tutoring.  We've been doing it for more than thirty years, and we have a great track record.  I've talked to more kids and parents than I can count, and they tell me stories of success that make me smile and occasionally tug at my heart.


How to tell if your child could use a tutor?  Here are some tips I've picked up over the years.  They apply to kids who need to catch up, keep up, or get ahead.

  1. Her grades are slipping.  This is the most common sign.  Slipping grades are a dead giveaway that something could be wrong.  It may be a first B for a straight-A student.  Or it may be a slow slide.  Whatever is the case, it's a sign that you and your kid need to talk.

  2. Her enthusiasm about school is waning.  Every kid goes through slumps.  A short slump is nothing to fret over.  Maybe it's just an uninteresting unit in a particular subject.  But when a slump lengthens for more than a few days, when getting ready for school is a major obstacle, then you need to pay attention.

  3. She's "bored" or the work is "too easy."  If we got overly concerned every time we hear the phrase, "I'm bored," we'd be nutso quickly.  But when your child who previously enjoyed the hubbub that's a typical school day is now bored daily, she may be telling you that she's already learned the material and needs more of a challenge.  Simple arithmetic is "too easy?"  Maybe it's time for some early algebra with a tutor.

  4. The work is "too hard."  Equally troubling.  I've noticed that kids who need help in, say, algebra often have skill gaps that go back as much as a year or two.  The foundation is weak.  This is a job for a tutor – filling in those skill gaps so kids can catch up.

  5. He doesn't know how to study.  Parents tell me all the time, "He's smart, and when he concentrates he can easily do the work.  But it's such a struggle!"  The simple truth is that kids need to be taught how to study, not just what to study.  This includes keeping a planner, adhering to a study routine, maintaining an organized notebook and backpack, listening carefully, not multitasking, avoiding distractions in class, setting goals, and paying attention to neatness – all the little habits that become second-nature practices.

  6. He doesn't know how to organize his time.  Every kid gets long-range assignments that require him to break down that term paper or science fair project into small parts so it doesn't seem overwhelming.  Sure, it's possible to put it off until the last minute, but it'll drive everyone crazy, and the final product will look like the rush-job it is.  Guess which way gets the better grade?

  7. He reads, but he doesn't understand what he's reading.  Just because a child has mastered the basics of phonics (letters make sounds, and sounds make words) doesn't mean he understands what he's reading.  (Heck, I can "sound out" words in Italian, but that doesn't mean I know what I'm reading.)  Kids often need help in comprehension.

  8. Math is a problem.  Parents report to us at Sylvan that math is the subject kids need the most help with.  Parents learned math in a different way from the way their kids are learning it, or it's been so long since we've even thought about "polynomials," we're uncertain or insecure about giving some help.  Tutors to the rescue!

  9. She needs a guiding hand.  A tutor can provide the guidance that we parents and teachers can't.  A tutor is an independent, objective professional, all the more helpful because she's working with your child one-on-one.

  10. Homework time is a daily nightmare.  Who couldn't use a little homework support now and then?  Your child, with the help of a tutor, can figure out a routine that's just right for him – a routine that fits his study needs, his interests, and his other routines, like mealtime, scouts, sports, family time, and bedtime.  He'll see that homework is a priority.

Once you've determined that your child could benefit from a tutor's services, how to select one?  I'll present some tips in the next Dr. Rick Blog.