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There are many reasons why people need to change tutors. Tutors may not match well with students, tutors may have conflicting schedules and even the best tutors, sadly, may quit. Whenever this happens, the process of transitioning to a new tutor is crucial to continuing any success gained so far. A change in tutors can actually be traumatic for a student who does not have the confidence needed to easily move from one set of helpful hands to another. Try these tips to make the process easier:
Do not change mid-semester
It is best to ask your tutor to close out any current obligations before moving on. If your student is preparing for a test, make sure the same tutor carries out the full preparation. The same goes for changing in the middle of a semester. Students often see new semesters as a wholly new challenge, and they will accept a new tutor as easily as they accept a new teacher in a subject.
Talk openly about the change
Do not leave room for surprises when a new tutor shows up. Make sure your student is well-aware the tutor will be leaving and when that will occur. If the student has specific questions for the tutor, make time to have those answered. Some students will really like the way a particular tutor corrects papers, for example, so make sure they can have this done on a key term paper before the tutor leaves. Students who are surprised when their tutor leaves can end up feeling a loss of confidence on a test or paper.
Have the old tutor train the new tutor
If your tutor has worked with your student for a long time, suggest he or she meet with the new tutor briefly. The existing tutor can provide notes on the student’s strengths and weaknesses, so the new tutor can pick up right where the existing tutor leaves off. Starting from the beginning can set a student back.
Have some overlap
Its a good idea to have two tutors overlap with your student to make the transition easier. That way, if the student has specific questions for the old tutor, he or she can answer those questions and address the gap with the new tutor. You will be surprised to see how much a tutor has learned about your student’s habits after just a short period of time. Getting into the same flow with a new tutor can be a bit of a challenge, and an overlap will help this go smoother.
Work with an agency
If you use an independent tutor, you are more likely to have problems with the tutor quitting mid-semester or dropping the ball when its time to leave. Working with a tutoring agency means you will automatically have a new tutor in the door the second your existing tutor leaves. Agencies have practices in place to make sure there is not a gap, and all of their tutors have the same or similar training to ensure there is not a huge difference in expectations.
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Teachers are assigned finals to younger students than ever before. Today, it is not rare for a fifth grader to have finals. While this can be very stressful for such a young student, there are many advantages. The main reason students take finals at a young age is to teach them the skills they will need for taking much harder finals in the future. As such, it is critical for students to apply good study skills to their final exams early on.
Step #1 Make a Checklist
The first step in all successful finals studying is to sit down and make a checklist of items needing accomplished in each subject. Arrange these by subject. For example, an English final may include reviewing a study guide for a novel, completing practice grammar exams and reviewing all vocabulary. Once each subject has been covered, it is time to prioritize the checklist.
Step #2 Set Due Dates
Your due dates for each step should reflect your priorities, not just when the test happens to be occurring. For example, you do not need to make your Health test your number 1 priority just because it is first if you already have an A+ in the class. Prioritize based on how long each subject will take to study for as well as how high your grade is in the class. Even a difficult history exam may be a low priority if you already have a 95% there but only an 83% in Spanish. Based on priorities, due dates for each subject and each micro step can be set.
Step #3 Gather Materials
The best indicator for what will be on a final exam is the material on previous exams and quizzes. You should gather all previous exams and quizzes and place them in chronological order; note any that you received low scores on as you will need to study these more. Gather any study guides your teacher provided along the way. With these materials in hand, you have a “finals packet” for each subject to guide you in your work.
Step #4 Start Checking Items Off
The preparation is done, and its time to dig in and study! Students who start studying before they are fully prepared with checklists will often devote too much time to areas that are low priority. By setting the checklist first, you can move through your studying without worrying about the other items on your list. As long as you stick to your schedule, you will get through every thing you need to do prior to finals time.
Step #5 Leave time for Questions
You should leave a cushion of time after you have completed all your studying before the tests. One or two days is all you need to ask questions of a professor or teacher if necessary. You do not want to be going into the test with any item not 100% clear in your head. When you ask questions, you are also showing the teacher you have prepared well for the exam. While this becomes less important at a higher level, effort is rewarded among young students.
Tags: finals studying, how to study for finals, make a finals study guide, study for finals
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Whether you support the measure to reduce spending or oppose it, one thing is certain: no one is happy about shrinking the budget for education in the state of California. In an article in the Financial Times, David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers’ Association, stated, “We used to have the best schools in the country but education in California is taking 60 per cent of the cuts.” Cities and municipalities are taking only a $4.7bn cut, still large by any standards, compared to the $6bn cut from public education. The state is obligated to repay this money over the next 12 years by law, but students who are in school currently will not receive the benefits of this repayment. So what do these cuts mean for your student today?
Higher Class Sizes
California classrooms already see some of the highest numbers of students per class in the nation. The average class is just over 21 students, with high school classes even more crowded than that. The following chart is from the State of California Education Program in the year 2007-08:
Class Size by Grade
Elementary- 20.0
Middle - 22.9
Junior High - 21.3
High School - 23.4
20,000 Teachers will Lose Their Jobs
Teachers have been pink slipped over and over in the past fiscal year. In a recent blog, we highlighted how those teachers were being offered the opportunity to hold on to their jobs in a last-ditch effort to avoid such cuts. With the approval of the new budget, however, these cuts will be made permanent. Those teachers plus many others will be displaced. Administrative jobs are the first to be discontinued, meaning teachers will carry the burden of completing much of their own paperwork, which can be extreme in order to meet state and federal requirements. There will be fewer counselors, nurses and librarians far before teachers are laid off. This means the environment in your child’s school will be less conducive to learning as more safety and health interruptions occur. As class sizes grow, more parents should look to private tutors as a way of receiving dedicated education for your student.
Cuts in Music, Arts and Physical Education
The supplementary education programs are the first to be cut. Even if you do not feel it is necessary for your student to learn music or art, studies show learning these disciplines can enhance a student’s ability to learn in academic subjects. Many tutors use music and arts to enhance private instruction and draw interest to a subject. College application reviewers additionally encourage a well-rounded student who has experience in more than just academics. If you are concerned about these program cuts, seek after-school programs with a focus in the arts. It is also possible to secure a private tutor who can bring a balanced education to your child rather than the prescriptive formula that will be maintained in schools as the budget continues to shrink.
Tags: Budget cuts, k-12, LAUSD, Los Angeles Unified School District, Supplemental education
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Of all the questions you have about your child’s tutoring, the most important one is, “is this working?” Some tutors promise a grade increase. Others promise a point increase on standardized tests. These are metrics that can be improved without a lasting impact on your child’s study skills or abilities in a subject area, however. How do you know, at the end of the day, you will not have to hire the same tutor next year?
#1: Your Student is Not Dreading It
When you first start with a tutor, your child will likely dread every session. Most students do not want a tutor. If the tutoring is working, though, the tutor and student should be connecting easily enough to make the sessions at least tolerable if not enjoyable. Your son or daughter should stop complaining when the tutor is on his or her way. It should happen seamlessly and become part of a normal routine.
#2: You Notice Better Organization
Do you remember the beginning of a school year? You probably went to purchase school supplies and laid them out neatly, anticipating new classes with excitement. Most students start the year with the best intentions to complete homework assignments, keep track of grades, and maintain locker organization. Those intentions rarely last once the excitement fades. In a student who has a renewed sense of accomplishment in school, those organization skills will come back. A private tutor will assist in implementing organization, and the student will slowly rededicate to keeping it that way.
#3: You See Improved Attitude about School
When a student is struggling in school, it is natural to want to avoid the classroom. Students may play sick, take opportunities to sleep in each morning, or simply complain every day on the way to the bus stop. You may even receive disciplinary notices about skipping classes, acting out, falling asleep or other signs of mental detachment. Once your student begins to improve academically, his or her behavior should also improve.
#4: You Observe More Academic Independence
Struggling students need reminders to do their homework and study. You may have to keep track of assignments with a teacher each day. You may have to put your child in extra study halls to ensure he or she is finishing schoolwork. Once a student starts to understand assignments, that student will complete them more regularly. As grades improve, these rewards will show how dedicated study time each day can pay off.
#5: The Teachers Notice
A teacher is often the best judge of how much a student is comprehending curriculum. Asking a teacher can reveal answers you cannot observe in the home. Teachers will see less reluctance to answer questions in class, more complete homework and more interest in volunteering to lead assignments or class projects. However, it is important to note that discipline and focus can be affected by factors outside of classroom success. The school system is not perfect, and it is not designed to adapt to each student’s unique needs. Your child may never be a teacher’s pet. Knowing your child’s strengths and personality is a key factor to understanding how he or she is performing in school.
Tags: Improve SAT score, personal tutor, Private tutors, Summer school, tutoring incentives
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