As students progress through their academic careers, there are often times when they may need additional support beyond what their teachers can provide. In many of these situations, private tutoring can be an extremely beneficial resource to help a student who is struggling. Or, if the student is looking to get ahead in their academics, a private tutor can provide the student with an opportunity to excel well beyond the classroom. Either way, hiring a private tutor for a student is a great way to speed up the process of learning in virtually any subject matter that is needed or required.
With that being said, one of the first things that you may want to think about is how to find a private tutor. Therefore, you need to know exactly what to look for. So, let’s get started by reviewing some of the most common areas of concern that need to be on your list.
- Assess the student’s needs and Objectives
Before getting started on the search for a private tutor, it is important to first determine what the student’s needs, goals and objectives are in advance. This will help you to determine what type of private tutor you need to search for. For example, if you need a tutor to help the student excel in mathematics and science, it would be in your best interest to search for a tutor that specializes in these areas. Or, if you are looking for a tutor that can help the student to prepare for the ACT or SAT, then you would want to look for a private tutor that has experience in teaching students how to master this material.
This part of the process is especially important because you want to make sure that you find the right fit for the student. And, you need a private tutor that matches the student’s needs and goals.
- Ask about the Teaching Style
Once you have assessed the student’s needs and determined the type of instruction that will be required, you should look for a private tutor that matches the student’s teaching style. For example, since every student learns differently, you need to look for a private tutor that has expertise in 1 or more of the 4 following main tutoring styles.
- Visual
- Auditory
- Read/Write
- Kinesthetic
By searching out specific learning styles, you can find a tutor with the expertise to incorporate the approach that gives the student the best instructional resources possible. For example, if the student learns easier from a private tutor that uses a lot of visuals and auditory examples, you want to hire a private tutor that meets these needs and objectives.
Ask for Recommendations from Multiple Close Sources
As you do your research, you may also want to consider asking around for recommendations that you can use to make your decision. For instance, you may want to start this process by talking to teachers, principals, and other school officials.
You may also have friends, family members, colleagues on the job, neighbours, community leaders, and anyone else that you can trust to provide you with honest and reliable information. In specifics, you want someone who has a reputation for being a good tutor and is known for providing measurable results (i.e. top grades in the classroom and high SAT and ACT scores).
Utilize Online Resources
It is also important to note that finding the best private tutors in the industry can be a challenging task. This is because there are a plethora of options online, and it can be tough to discern between qualified professionals and unproven amateurs. For example, when you are searching for a private tutor online, you may want to check out the best recommendations for different subject matter. Here’s a list of the best online resources that can help to get you started.
- NMS Tuition – specializes in French, Spanish, and English as a second language
- Tutor LIM – specializes in elite problem-solving in Math or Engineering
- Dyslexia Deb- specializes in teaching students with dyslexia
- Chegg Study specializes in homework help and textbook solutions
- Preply.com – specializes in different foreign languages
Interview Prospects Before Hiring
Remember to take the time to interview potential tutors. Also, you need to make sure that you are preparing to ask the right questions in advance. For instance, here are just a few of the questions that you should ask:
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- What is your preferred teaching method?
- How many hours per week will you teach?
- What is your availability?
- What do you charge for an hour lesson?
- What subjects do you tutor?
- Do you have references that I can contact?
- What is your professional background and your credential(s)?
Each of these questions will help you to evaluate the tutor based on the specific criteria that you are actually looking for. Also, by asking these questions, you will not only help to save time but also save money in the long run.
Consider the Costs and Payments During Your Search
Another big part of hiring the best private tutor for a student is making sure you understand the payment system that you will be signing up for and agreeing to. The average prices of private tuition and hourly rates can be significantly different based on several different factors, including the subject matter, location, travel involved, and other related things. Therefore, you need to know exactly when, how, and what you will be paying for each session (i.e. per hour, weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly). You need to also know if there are additional fees for late payments or no-shows, etc.
Conclusion
Finding a private tutor can be a challenging experience. Therefore, it’s important to consider numerous factors before making a final decision to hire. Some of the most important considerations include assessing the student’s needs and objectives, factoring in the tutor’s teaching style, asking around for recommendations, looking online for the best available options, interviewing prospects, and reviewing the payment system before making a commitment to hiring.
