Research shows that children in smaller classes, with more direct instruction, are 3 months more advanced than their peers when the learning curves begin to even out around Year 7 (5th grade). The child realises his or her own potential to learn and succeed in a smaller instruction group.
The trick to effective learning, however, is effective tuition. To find the right tutor, you need to decide what kind of tuition he needs, when it would be most helpful, and where it would be most productive.
What Kind of Tuition?
Parents tend to jump for private tuition, making sure that their child has one-on-one instruction. Although this is the best approach in theory, it might not be right for the child. In certain cases, private tutoring might be more advisable, especially in specialised subjects such as math and science. In those cases, it’s best to look into companies like Ezy Math Tutoring which offer personalised one-on-one tutoring. However, some children are more comfortable in small tutoring groups, because the pressure is lessened and the interaction helps them think. This might be the best fit for extroverted children.
Some children, however, are shy and feel uncomfortable and pressured with face-to-face interaction. In that case, online tutoring might be more instructive to them. Even though their tutor is online, they still feel secure at their own desks or in their own rooms. Online tutoring may even provide more interactive learning programs for them to play and Math tutors from LearnOK are always there to help you with your assignments.
What Time is Best for Your Child?
No matter what kind of tutor you get for your child, the tuition needs to be scheduled around your child’s productive time. Some students are restless after school, wanting to go out to bike or play with friends. In that case, let them out and simply tell them what time to be back. Children, especially boys, just need to shake off their pent-up energy. When they come back, with a snack and a bit of rest they’ll be ready to settle down for extra lessons.
Other students want to rest until after dinner. Other students will want to do their homework and extra lessons right away–the let’s-get-it-over-with kinds of students. This forms part of their learning style and should be followed. When students are in a learning mood, they will automatically retain more of what they are being taught.
Where is Best for Your Child?
Private, in-house tutoring is held up as the ideal. However, it might not fit your child’s learning style. Some students, when they get home after a long school day, want to shuck off the learning mentality along with their school bags and just relax. Those students might learn better if they are tutored in a library or other outside space.
Some also learn better if the tuition is scheduled after regular lessons with teachers. The environment is more open, and they are still in a learning mindset, so it is easier for them to absorb the extra tuition. Other students, especially if they are more shy or introverted, might learn better in a familiar environment, such as their home, at the dining table or in the study.
Choose the Right Tutor
Your child must discover and realise that he or she has strong potential to learn, so make him or her the centre of the decision-making. After that, you can settle on the academic goals for your child, and the needed credentials of the tutor. Your child’s best interests come first.
Excellent words of encouragement Tarnya we researched the lady who currently Tutors 3 of our children, best investment we’ve ever made.
Thanks, Adel. It’s great to hear of the advantages from someone who has experienced the benefits first-hand. What do your children think of it?
One to one tutoring can really help build confidence too, no matter where the child is in their school life. From my experience it certainly isn’t just about helping struggling children but also to help children realise their full potential and excel.
That is so true. Sometimes we get so preoccupied with ‘correcting’ weaknesses that we forget to nurture the strengths too. Thank you for taking time to leave a comment!