Education is a lifelong journey. But to get it right in the early years is to set yourself on a course of consistent success. A good teacher is not only one that teaches the subject but teaches how to learn. As a parent, you want to give your child the best things in the world. The best gift you can give is the gift of a good education. So when finding people and centres for high school tutoring, do it carefully.
Here are some questions to ask a tutor before you hire them.
Will the Child be Tutored Along With Someone Else?
Getting personal attention is great because your child gets the space to clear doubts, ask for clarifications, and share ideas freely. Sometimes, children feel conscious about sharing their thoughts, but getting them acknowledged, appreciated, and refined one-on-one can help them communicate better in larger settings.
Personal tuition also means the teacher gets enough time and energy to focus on understanding the child and providing what is needed to hone their skills.
How Many Students Do They Take on at Once?
Does the tutor have just a couple of other students? Or do they have batches after batches all day? Consider the timings of your scheduled classes and ask yourself: if you were the tutor, would you feel excited about seeing the child at that hour after having taken multiple classes and met multiple students before? The teacher’s energy levels have a definite role in how fruitful tutoring sessions are for your child.
Will Their Fees Hike Up Next Year?
If you wish to set up a continuous high school tutoring plan for the next few years, consider that tutors might price their sessions according to the child’s age. A child in second grade and one in seventh have very different syllabi, require different kinds of attention, and can be expected to take on different levels of challenging tasks. Do the fees rise as your child advances through the years, too? Compare the calculated costs with your budget.
What’s Their Experience Like?
Have they taught in schools before? Or did they start their career with individualised tutoring? Of course, their education, qualifications, and previous work history can affect their approach to education to a great extent.
Some teachers are selective and only take students of a particular age group—only seniors, for instance. Since every year of high school demands different levels of rigour, tutors might choose to be selective.
Do They Reschedule Missed Lessons?
If the teacher misses a class for personal reasons, they usually reschedule missed classes. But do they reschedule in case your child has to miss a class? What about public holidays? Make sure your child gets enough hours. Consistency can be crucial in the learning process for some children.
Can You Withdraw?
High school tutoring can be a very personal experience. You and your child will interact with the tutor regularly. That’s why you must get along. But sometimes, it simply doesn’t happen. Your child might not become completely comfortable with a tutor’s teaching style, or a tutor might have teaching strategies that could be better for your child. Can your child choose to drop out? You should have some form of a getaway window before you commit. A trial period works best in this case. Can you try out sessions for a week/month before hiring them for the year?
