OT: Have you ever used a tutor?

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Has anyone ever used a tutoring service such as The Tutoring Club or KumOn? Were you happy with it? Did your child actually improve his/her grades? Any information you can give me will be appreciated.

 

[jonestavern]

We have a private tutor for DS17.

We researched Sylvan(which is the most accessible for us--we live in the sticks)
on these & other boards & by asking friends who'd used that service.
We settled on a teacher from the school system & one who works with learning disabled students. Much cheaper & she is familiar with the system & the textbooks. She tutored DN who became a Nat'l Merit scholar.

DS is( & has for the past 3 years) taking college level history courses, honors English but the math...the math is sadly really pretty awful
We're keeping our fingers crossed & if he pulls a 'C' & passes the math SATs (he passed the Eng/Language sections at age 13 without any prep! ) we'll be happy.

Jean

 

[lonegirl]

I taught six years before "retiring" to stay home with our two preschoolers. I earn extra money by tutoring three days a week. This is what I tell the parents: My job is primarily to help your child's confidence in (whatever subject). As a result, they pull up their grades.
Some kids simply need the one on one, and from someone other than their parents (especially when they reach that age where they think their parents know nothing).
As far as the large tutoring companies go, I used to work for one, and I did not agree with their system. I would see if you can find someone like me in your area...a certified teacher looking for some tutoring hours. I usually charge $25 an hour. OR a teaching student, or a college student who works well with your child.

 

[kellyg403]

We have only gone the private tutoring route. Oldest DS had alot of trouble with reading. He had an awesome 3rd grade teacher who noticed that because he was such a good kid he was able to compensate for his lack of reading skills and noone noticed. Turns out he never really understood how to sound out letters to form words, a kindegarten/1st grade achievement.

My ex Mil used Sylvan learning centers for my SIL when she was in the 5/6 grade. It was alot of money. They did not have such great success, though I have heard others say they did.

Kelly

 

[pigget74]

I worked for Sylvan and only stayed for a couple of months because I did not agree with the way they did things. They cost a lot of money and if your child is really struggling your money would be better spent elswhere. I would have up to three kids all on different subjects and grade levels. Could not really give the one on one quality. HTH

 

[Fabooliss]

I too am a teacher/SAHM turned tutor, I tutor mostly high school math but have done just about everything. Here's what I tell people considering coming to me.

If what your child needs is drill work, like multiplication tables, spelling, or lots of fractions or grammar practice, then the big centers are the place. They have lots of resources so the child won't get (as) bored with the stuff.
Most of the time though, children have "missed something" (for my students, it is algebra basics). This is where one-on-one is important, a teacher with 3 or 4 students all working on different, set topics is not going to be able to spot what the student is having difficulty with.

As others have also mentioned, a private tutor is frequently LESS expensive than the big centers, and some will even come to you!

As an aside, I've never figured out WHY someone would work for them, they pay only $10-$15 an hour in our area. I charge $30 and don't have to leave home.

 

[AnnaS]

I used Sylvan almost five years ago for my daughter. I would recommend getting a college student or a teacher who tutors twice a week rather than spending all that money on one of the tutoring centers.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like a private tutor is the way to go.

 

[rt2dz]

Curious, How do you go about finding a private tutor?

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Our community newsletter usually has ads for tutors. I also plan on asking my child's teacher as well as the school office if there is a tutor referral service.

 

[lonegirl]

In response to the last poster, as to how to find a tutor....
I regularly tell my teaching friends when I have room for a new student, so ask your child's teacher or someone at his school. Also, ask other parents if they know of/use a tutor...many of my new students are from word of mouth of satisfied parents of my former pupils. Check your library bulletin board, the local newspaper classifieds, etc. I always have references to give new parents, so you probably want to ask for those. The going rate around here (I'm in suburbs north of Houston) is $25-30/hour certified teacher, $15-20/hour college student, teaching student, etc.
Also, I have the students come to my home and charge more if I ever have to go out to tutor.
Good luck!

 

[lonegirl]

a word on Kumon...again some things work well for some and not others. I am currently tutoring two students who formerly attended Kumon, and according to the students (5th grade), they walked in, were handed a stack of worksheets, went to a desk and completed them, the teacher checked them and they discussed the ones they missed, and went home. I know this is from the mouths of babes, but I've heard it from others as well, and that is not money well spent.

 

[jonestavern]

DS17's tutor is $45.00/hr. This is in RI, where he is away at school. The price was shocking to us, but as I said, DNiece went from C averages to solid 'A's in algebra & geometry, so we are hoping!

She will also be evaluating him, to some degree, for math disabilities (we already know he has trouble with sequential reasoning).

My sister teaches in the same school system & she was a good resource on tutors & the efficacy of tutoring schools.

Best of Luck!
Jean