Making the Most of Tutoring

Many parents have seen firsthand the enormous effect a tutor can have for a struggling
student. The relationship between a tutor and student is a nourishing one, whether your
child is learning to read, preparing for middle school, or getting ready for SATs.

Tutors can’t be with your student all the time, but you can take steps to maximize the
benefits of working with one, leading to better foundations and lasting habits for your
student.

There are a few things you can do before the tutor arrives to help create an effective
session.

• Get a calendar to keep track of assignments and due dates. Try color-coding to
  help your child easily see what’s due and when. For example, you can use different colors
  for short- and long-term assignments, tests, projects, and reports.
• Find the best spot for tutoring sessions to take place. This is pretty simple—just a
  quiet and comfortable spot away from distractions and interruptions.
• Find the best tutoring time for your child. This can vary—some students do best
  right after school, while others are better studying after dinner. Work with your tutor to
  find the best time for your child when he or she is the most focused. It’s also a good idea
  to put some water or juice on the table so your child doesn’t have to interrupt to get up for
  a drink. Same goes for food—give your child a snack before tutoring, so a grumbling
  stomach doesn’t keep them from paying attention.
• Help your child identify trouble areas and the subjects he or she needs to review
  with the tutor. Examples are great—if you have a copy of math test and can show that
  your child struggles with fractions your tutor knows to start focusing there.

Once the tutor leaves, there are things you can do with your child to help reinforce what
they’ve learned:

• It can be helpful for tutors to leave you with a few notes to review with your
  child after. The more students review these notes, the better, as it helps them practice their
  problem areas. You can also ask the tutor to leave a checklist of daily tasks, which you
  can use to ensure your child is on track. This helps your child stay organized and more
  inclined to eventually make their own lists.
• Find ways to review, review, review. Pick up workbooks or extra worksheets, or
  go online to find additional materials and resources to help drive lessons home. You can
  get creative here, even as simple as practicing subjects in short bursts, like practicing
  math at the checkout line or talking about science at a museum exhibit. If your child
  struggles with English, find a book that’s in an area of his or her interest. With reading,
  and any subject, the more you do it, the better you get at it.

Source: VanderMeulen, Rebecca. “How to Get the Most Out of Your Child’s Tutor.”
education.com.