Finding A Reputable Tutor

[Christine]

And please don't say "word of mouth" because I can't GET any word of mouth recommendations.

I need to find my DD (15) a Geometry tutor. I have called the school and all they use is student tutors (which, for now, I'm not thrilled with).

I have contacted one of those "chain" places (Knowledge Points) and they seem promising but I hear mixed reviews on them.

I have contacted a tutoring place in DC that specializes in kids with learning difficulties. They farm out into Northern Virginia. My cousin recommended them but, in talking to them, it is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get my DD to their facility for tutoring.

I don't know what to do at this point. No one that I know uses tutors and I can't even find any resources for locating one. Then, *if* I did happen to find one, how do I know they are any good or safe for that matter? The going rate around here seems to be $75-$90 per hour.

I also think my DD needs something more than the neighborhood math wiz to help her. I think she has some Math "issues" going way back and I think they need to be figured out (the weakenesses) and worked on, along with the Geometry.

Any ideas? And what do you think of this "tutor chains?"

 

[kdibattista]

I was going to recommend going to a local college but beyond that I'm not much help.

Good Luck

 

[Hedy]

How about Sylvan? I know several college graduates who teach SAT classes in the DC region, so I'd think their math tutors would be similarly qualified.

 

[Christine]

How about Sylvan? I know several college graduates who teach SAT classes in the DC region, so I'd think their math tutors would be similarly qualified.

That is one of my options. The only thing holding me back is that (here goes), my best friend's SIL is a former teacher/school vice principal who went on maternity leave. For some extra money, she decided to try tutoring and she went to Sylvan. I don't know what happened there after she spent some time with them but she decided not to work with Sylvan and said they were "terrible." Of course, this was for elementary-level education and maybe it is different for high school. But it does make me kind of nervous.

 

[dg39]

Maybe you can call your dd's school and speak to one of the teachers in the math department. Unless your school has a rule, that the teachers can't tutor after school, this shouldn't be a problem. In my dd's school the teachers can't tutor their own students, but, can tutor kids that aren't in their class. If you can do this, then at least the tutor(teacher) will know the exact work you dd is doing at all times. Good luck...

 

[powellrj]

I was going to suggest a local college too. We have used 2 different ones in our area with great success. Our oldest DS was tutored in reading in grade school at a state teachers college. They used seniors and you signed a commitment for a semester and paid for the whole semester up front. It was very reasonable.

A couple of years ago we used another local private christian school. This school used grad students and we paid by the week. Once again it was very reasonable. We used this tutor for our middle DS is algebra and he was a great help.

 

[wic0721]

I was in the same boat with my DD (7) this year with reading. The school had no funds to help her (so much for "no child left behind"). So during parent teachers conferences, I asked her teacher if she knew of any reading tutors. She knew of one, herself, and it's working out beautifully...she works with her for an hour twice a week right after school, and I'm paying her out of pocket, but now my DD is reading at grade 2 level, and is actually loving school!

My suggestion to you is to talk to her teacher, and see if she would be willing to tutor your daughter. Or if her teacher can't do it, ask if one of the other math teachers would be willing to.

Good luck!!!

 

[johnsontrio]

Around here it seems like many tutors use the library to meet with their students. Last year I picked up business cards for math tutors that were outside the entrance to the library. I called a couple and did a mini phone interview and then asked them for references. I did call and check those references. The tutor we used provided his resume as well. It worked out great for us and he now is tutoring several families in our small school. They are pleased with him as well. Side note: I did not allow our DD to meet with him alone in the house.

I have talked with lots of parents that have not thought Sylvan was worth the money they paid. We used Kumon one year and that program is largely self-directed and not much instruction is given. HTH, Amy

 

[becka]

$75-90 an hour! I should take my math degree and start tutoring full-time!!! Imagine how many WDW trips I could afford then!

Actually I agree that a local college might be a good place to start. Contact the math department and see if they have a way for you to contact potential tutors. I did some tutoring of high school students when I was in college. I loved doing it and it was nice to make some extra money.

 

[Christine]

Thanks for all of your ideas. I will do some scouting around this weekend at the library. I've already done a bit of checking with our local community college and, so far, nothing.

Her school is not all that helpful in this. They just want to push their honors students on me and I'm just not ready to do that at this point.

 

[Christine]

$75-90 an hour! I should take my math degree and start tutoring full-time!!! Imagine how many WDW trips I could afford then!

You should!!!

 

[Hannathy]

Our YMCA has a tutoring program I would check yours. Do you have a Boys and Girls Club? They have tutoring also. Do you belong to a church could the put a note in the bulletin that you are looking you may be surprise or somebody may know someone. Is there a reason you don't want students? If the school is recommending them I would bet money they are good kids. I think you need to find a 4 yr school to look for a tutor because most comm. colleges don't have a lot of Educ. majors looking for resume add ons.

 

[NMAmy]

I work at a community college. Christine--I recommend checking with the math dept to see if they have any part-time instructors who are interested in tutoring, check with tutoring services, and check with the education program to see if there are any education students who might be interested.

 

[Deb in IA]

Our DD is also 15 and taking Geometry. She is tutored by another math teacher in the high school. He charges $15 per half hour, and she goes twice a week . . Tuesdays and Thursdays.

 

[Janet Hill]

My daughter is a math teacher in Fairfax County. I'll ask her if she knows anyone and post later. What area of Fairfax are you in?

 

[Christine]

My daughter is a math teacher in Fairfax County. I'll ask her if she knows anyone and post later. What area of Fairfax are you in?

Thanks. I actually live in Prince William County but my DD attends a private school in Fairfax county, right in actual "Fairfax" (off of Rt. 50).

 

[Christine]

Well this has been an interesting afternoon. Apparently, I'm not the only one having problems finding a tutor.

I got a call from my son's school nurse today to come pick him up. My DD used to attend this same school along with the nurse's son (they were classmates). My DD ended up going to one private Catholic High School and her son went to another. Anyway, while picking up my son, the nurse said something to me about having to rush around and get her son to the math tutor. My ears PERKED RIGHT UP! So, I got into a big discussion about it. Her son is also having Geometry problems and she, too, started with the school and trying to find some tutoring through the school. She also ran into the same "brick wall" with her school as I did. She told me that they recommended a math tutor for her out of Baltimore, Maryland!! We live in Northern VA--it would take at least an hour to get to Baltimore, MD from where we live (and that's on a good day). So, you can see how helpful this particular school system is working with tutors. NOT.

She ended up going to one of the "chain" places. So far they are happy with it but they only just got started so she is going to keep me posted.

 

[Janet Hill]

Christine,

My daughter doen't know anyone who tutors. She said none of the teachers in her school do it. She does stay after school every Monday to help anyone who needs it, does your daughter's teacher do this? I would offer her up, but she watches her younger brother and sister after school, and I pay her way too much for her to stop that. lol I give her three weeks of accommodations each year in the time share of her choice. She's not about to give up her vacations.

 

[allison443]

For math tutoring, I used a local privately-owned "enrichment center" which offers things like SAT prep, etc. It was just okay-cost was $70 per hour.

Our local newspaper had an article about online tutoring services-people seemed to like it because the kids didn't have to be driven anywhere, and it was flexible. Not sure if that's something you're interested in.

Good luck! My daughter is not enjoying geometry either

 

[petchie]

I contacted our local Catholic college to see if they offered any math tutoring. Turns out they had retired nuns that would tutor-for ONLY $25 an hour!!!!

I signed up the boy and it turned out the tutor was MY math teacher from highschool! While I remember her being a witch, she and my son actually got along great and he was amazed at how easy it was when she explained it.

Is there a convent near you? Those old nuns knew how to teach.