Posts Tagged ‘Private tutoring’
Some parents will wonder if it is a good idea to have a student meet with a tutor over the holiday recess. While we generally advocate tutoring over summer break, the holiday period comes with more complications. There are some rewards to tutoring during this break, but here are also many draw backs.
Rewards to Holiday Tutoring
We all know students can lose track of their school work during the holiday break. Most teachers at the middle school level and above will assign some degree of work during this time period. Colleges typically have a semester break at this time. Secondary schools, however, often do not end their semester until after the holiday. Even if the semester has ended, secondary school students likely have the same classes for a full year, giving teachers the chance to assign work over the break.
If a student does no school work over the break at all, the student will likely be behind come January. Since students have trouble concentrating and keeping a schedule during this time period, having a tutor can increase the effectiveness of any study time. It is also possible to use a private tutor over the breaks to provide support in areas the student is weak in. This is ideal because the student is not distracted with the day-to-day demands of school outside of the tutoring sessions.
Downsides to Tutoring Over Break
- Some families simply want time to relax and be together during holiday breaks. This is a benefit students deserve, and you may find it is best to show that there is a time and a place to put down work and just relax.
- Just because a tutor is present, a student does not completely shift gears and get back into school mode when on break. While it is true a tutor will make holiday studying more effective, the same tutor would be most effective at a time when the student shows better focus.
- The tutor will have to create concrete lesson plans if the student does not have pressing academic needs. This works great with a dedicated tutor experienced with creating an agenda. Some tutors, however, are better suited to supplement education that is occurring in the classroom. They may have difficulty teaching a student who does not have an agenda from a teacher.
- Tutors are people, too. They may have busy schedules over the holidays that prevent them from being present when you most desire them.
Making the Choice
Ultimately, it is best to forgo tutoring during holiday break unless you know of a concrete need your student has. For example, SAT or ISEE tutoring can be moved forward during the break. Similarly, subject tutoring for a subject your student struggled in can be very effective. If your student mostly needs help completing homework or asking questions outside of class, it is better to only meet with a tutor when school is in session. Otherwise, you will likely find the lessons are much less productive.
Tags: holiday break tutoring, ISEE tutoring, Private tutoring, SAT tutoring, subject tutoring, tutoring over Christmas
Posted in: Private tutoring | No Comments »
The Center for American Crisis and US Chamber of Commerce have collaborated to create a report regarding the state of American schools. It should come as no surprise that the report shows an education crisis; the surprising information, however, is the number of teachers and administrators who agree these issues are contributing to a lack of effective education in the country.
Striking Statistics
According to the report, 90% of teachers in public schools say paperwork and other duties interfere with their ability to teach a class effectively. 60% of teachers additionally disapprove of the way their schools are managed and operated. 72% of principals say their tenure procedures interfere with their ability to fire teachers who are not performing. Ultimately, these statistics show schools are not performing according to teachers as well as parents.
Stimulating Change
The Chamber of Commerce has outspokenly opposed a number of the current Administration’s proposals in healthcare, energy and financial reform. Despite this, however, the Chamber has been a large supporter of initiatives to repair the state of American schools. The Race to the Top initiative, discussed previously on this blog, will aim to provide over $4B in funding to the country’s schools in need. Some of these funds go to cover private tutoring services for students who are in under-performing schools.
Electing Private Options
Some parents, especially in California, favor private options to allow their children to gain access to personalized, quality education. But private schools are not the only private education option available. After school programming and private tutoring services have grown this year despite the trend of the general economy. This growth is largely the result of the increased responsiveness these programs can offer to individual students.
Finding a Private Tutor
The main advantage to working with a private tutor is you can look for one that is ideally suited to meet your needs. In fact, you can try a tutor out, and then decide whether he or she is right for you. When was the last time you got to do this with a school teacher? Like principals have reported, many teachers are under-performing but can still not be let go due to tenure regulations and other political influences. Private tutoring services are free of politics. You have the right to pick a tutor of a certain age or gender that you feel will mesh well with your personal needs. You can change your mind if you do not like the teaching style, and you can replace the tutor with someone else you like better, no questions asked.
At JDTutors, we are unique in the way we share information on our tutors online, including individual tutor profiles with areas of specialty and other information listed publicly. When you choose to work with us, you are not really electing to work with a tutoring service. Instead, you are locating a personal tutor you feel you connect well with, and that tutor happens to be a part of our service. Imagine if you could do the same with teachers - how much better would public education services be?
Tags: education crisis, Private tutoring, selecting a tutor, teacher tenure
Posted in: State education | No Comments »
The Washington Post recently featured a guest blog from educational expert Marion Brady, who shares his thoughts on why the Race to the Top Program is not fit for success.
He points out several “false assumption” the new program makes, calling it an extension of the same problems that characterized No Child Left Behind.
- The new program blames teachers.
There are a number of external factors in each classroom that are contributing to the lack of focus in our schools. One is the more diverse student body, of which some don’t speak English. Teachers have to work to find common ground to teach on, where common ground used to be the basis for all schools.
- The new program assumes professional educators are responsible for the crash in schools, and they cannot be the ones to fix it.
In fact, professional educators have first-hand knowledge about the challenges they face. It is up to educators to fix education; we think tutors are an important part of this.
- The program advocates working harder than before to fix the education system.
Simply working hard is not enough to fill in the gaps in education many students have today. Working smart is what matters, and working smart is something few large, cramped classrooms have the luxury of doing. Working smart is more achievable on a smaller scale.
- The program treats teaching as if it is only sharing information.
Teaching is not about information, it is about learning and concepts. If your child comes home from school with only new information, you should be worried. Your student should come home sharper, with a grasp of how the world operates on a daily basis.
- The new program advocates a top down approach.
Many independent educational groups, like private tutoring programs, actually work from the bottom up. We see great success with the bottom up method.
*This is just a summary of Brady’s opinion, and the opinions are not supported nor opposed as a whole.
If you are concerned with the new changes in administration of the education field, you should consider getting involved at your local school to see how the changes will affect your child’s classroom. Regardless of your opinion on whether the efforts will succeed, we can all agree on one thing: something needs to change.
We are happy to work with you to inspire a change in the value of education your child receives on a daily basis. While it is easy to feel there is little you can do on the larger scale to improve the quality of education, you should remember you can have an immediate and impressive impact on the education of your own child. Private tutoring, working at home, and supplementing school efforts all increase the value of education your child receives in a day.
Tags: Add new tag, No Child Left Behind, Private tutoring, race to the top
Posted in: Private tutoring | No Comments »
The years a student begins learning the physical sciences (chemistry, biology, physics) are very formative in terms of a student’s attitude toward and success in these subjects in the future. If a student fails to grasp even one concept in chemistry early on, then that student will struggle through physics classes in the future.
If your student is struggling with a science subject in middle school or early in high school, it is important to get help immediately to ensure he or she learns the concepts and does not just pass the tests with a C average.
Adding to the importance of actively resolving gaps in science education is the fact that one bad science teacher can result in a life-time of negative feelings toward the subject. Science is truly cumulative once it gets to a certain level; misunderstanding just one of the physical sciences will mean the other two are not within reach. Standard curriculum in the U.S. allows for a student to take one of each of the sciences each year.
This means a student will learn biology from one teacher, chemistry from another, and physics from a third. Even though the subjects are very interconnected, learning them this way can lead to gaps, especially if the teachers have different learning styles or one is sub-par. Instead of hoping for better grades next year, it is important to address the problem immediately with extra help.
A number of science teachers have difficulty relating to their classrooms. More than any other subject, science is the one parents complain about in terms of teachers who appear to have a disconnect with explaining concepts to students. For example, when a chemistry teacher gives a student a formula such as PV=nrt, shows them how to plug values in, then walks away, students are missing the physical concepts behind the formula.
In fact, this formula is about the relationship volume has with temperature and pressure. Understanding this relationship means observing physical signs of it, comprehending phase changes and knowing why energy is needed for the relationship to exist. English or history teachers may be better at explaining this part than science teachers. Unfortunately, science teachers often forget to focus on the softer side of science and focus more on the technical side.
This is where a tutor can truly step in and help. Instead of simply looking for the right answers on a lab, a tutor can walk the student through a lab step by step, assuring the student understands what is occurring at each part. Whenever something goes wrong, a tutor can stop, explain why, and help the student move forward.
Ideally, teachers would be able to fill this same role. However, in crowded classrooms, they often move forward before every student has a full understanding of what is going on. Those students who take the time to ask and answer their own questions will do best. A tutor can encourage the student to find those answers, whether on his or her own or through a study session.
Tags: Private tutoring, Private tutors, science tutoring
Posted in: Private tutoring | No Comments »
Most schools today offer some type of after-school or before-school tutoring program for groups. These programs are usually free of charge or available at a low charge. They are often taught by the same teacher who instructs in the classroom. Private tutors generally go to the home of the student. They work in a one-on-one environment. Private tutors will be largely more expensive than group tutors, but they have unique advantages that group tutors cannot tap into.
Advantages of Group Tutoring
There are a couple key advantages to group tutoring. First, some subjects are better learned through group participation and discussion. For example, a writing class may benefit from peer-to-peer editing and activities. Another key advantage is the teacher who will administer the test is tutoring the group. This means the teacher can give direct information about what students will be tested on and how they are expected to answer. Finally, for busy or working parents, the option for a child to remain in school a few more hours each day may be necessary. If they will be in school, it is a good time to have them getting extra help in subjects where they need it.
Advantages of Private Tutoring
The first considerable edge of private tutoring is that a new teacher with different teaching methods comes into the situation. Most students who need tutors are not struggling with the subject matter itself; they are struggling with the way the teacher teaches the subject matter. By using a different instructor, this hurdle is easily overcome. Another key advantage to private tutoring is it takes place in the home. For students who need study skills, it is essential to learn how to study and work at home and not just at school. Most students will also benefit from the one-on-one attention that allows a tutor to truly track both problems and progress over a long period of time. Finally, many parents will appreciate the advantage of having a tutor come to them instead of the other way around. Even local tutoring centers require some transportation after school, and many parents need the option of having a child take a bus home and remain at home in the evening.
Which to Choose
Depending on the subject and needs of your student, you may choose either option. Group tutoring is best for a student who simply has a few questions before a test. If this is not an ongoing issue, the student will find it easier to ask the teacher directly and get answers in a 30 minute study session. This is particularly true when the student has received excellent homework and quiz grades and just wants a few points clarified before a final.
Students who are struggling in a subject need a different approach. Clearly, what the teacher has tried is not working. Further, students who truly need to learn to study and work independently will not gain these skills through group tutoring. Group tutoring is very similar to a classroom; many students excel in the classroom but cannot learn independently. Getting them to focus at home is an important skill for high school and college.
Tags: group tutoring, Private tutoring, study skills tutoring, subject tutoring
Posted in: Private tutoring | No Comments »
A lot of parents ask if there is anyway reading comprehension can be improved through private tutoring. Reading has a tendency to be classified as one of those skills you either “have or don’t have.” Similar to people who think they “just aren’t math people,” there are many students who feel they are not fast readers and never will be. In fact, the opposite is true. There are a number of strategies private tutors can teach to help improve reading comprehension in as little as a few hours. Improving reading comprehension helps in every class from literature to chemistry, where text book understanding is essential to learning new concepts. Reading comprehension is also a critical part of the SAT and ACT exams.
Study Skills
A big part of retaining what you read comes from the attitude and approach you take to the reading. Students with poor study skills, such as those who rush through homework in the 30 minutes before class, often do not retain what they have read. The same can be said for those students who study with distractions. Watching TV while reading a novel or reading on the bus on the way to school can significantly impact a student’s ability to comprehend information. If a student already is turned off from reading or finds it difficult, it is even more essential to clear away distractions. Students with learning disabilities such as ADD/ADHD are particularly vulnerable to distractions while reading. Clearing away a time and place for reading is essential for comprehension. Time with a tutor automatically puts students in the learning zone and triggers the mind to start focusing.
SQ3R
SQ3R is just one of the many techniques taught for reading comprehension. It stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. This method helps students who are reading text books in particular. During the survey phase, students look over a chapter to gain key insight into what the chapter is about. This includes viewing headlines, charts and other supplemental images. For the question portion, the students either read review questions which have already been prepared or create their own based on headlines. Next, students read the information, but now they have already prepared themselves to be alert for key concepts, this alertness helps them retain the information. Students recite the answers to their questions as they go along. Finally, students review the answers at the end of the reading.
Note Taking
Just like there are methods for reading, there are methods for taking notes as you read which can be helpful for students who need to create their own study guides. Visual learners may like the diagram method. In this method, key concepts are connected through shapes and diagrams, providing a visual map for the written information. One other technique teaches students to write key terms on one side of the paper and key definitions on the other, making a study guide from the get go. A private tutor can select those that are best for your student based on strengths and weaknesses.
Tags: Improve SAT score, improving grades, literacy, personal tutor, private tutor, Private tutoring, SAT content
Posted in: Private tutoring | No Comments »
Tutoring services today offer what is typically termed “study skills” help. This term seems very broad, and many parents considering a tutor do not know whether to opt for this or a subject-specific curriculum. It depends. If your child is struggling only in one subject, say biology, a subject tutor may be appropriate. If you have a son or daughter who is under-performing in more than one subject, though, study skills may be the answer. Often, study skills tutors focus in one area such as “social sciences” or “math and science,” since students usually struggle in one or the other. It is possible to get help across the board with the right curriculum.
Locate Strengths & Weaknesses
The first part of any study skills program is an assessment to determine strengths and weaknesses. Previous tests, report cards and evaluations can be helpful. The student’s own perspective on what is challenging, a problem, or not “fun” can also be very useful in determining strengths and weaknesses. Generally, the areas of organization, time management, academic attitude, reading comprehension and test anxiety will be the focus of a study skills program. The tutor will try to locate why the student struggles with these issues currently. Once this is located, a course of action can be set to correct the issue.
Learn Note-Taking Skills
Students should discover their learning identification over the course of a study skills program. This usually comes from one of the major categories: visual learner, auditory learner, etc. Based on this, a tutor can present strategies for taking notes in class or during reading. Note-taking is more than just recording what the teacher says; it is a way for students to better absorb knowledge being passed their way. By creating diagrams or drawings, a visual learner will not have to study so hard right before a test.
Alleviate Test Anxiety
Many students simply do not know how to study for tests that are not memorization based. Early classroom experiences focus on memorization; think about spelling bees, time tables and vocabulary tests. Once students get into more free-form tests, such as those that require essays and short answer questions, they can feel a large degree of anxiety about how to study for the test. Complex math problems are additionally hard to study for. A private tutor can show students ways to “study as you go” in many subject, eliminating the need to cram a few days prior. Practice, examples and discussions can also help alleviate the fear that comes with an approaching test day.
Learn Test Taking Skills
Test-taking skills are hand-in-hand with study skills. Learning the process of answering a short answer question effectively can substantially increase a score in history class. Learning how to recognize when answers are inconsistent with reason can eliminate careless errors on math tests. These tips and tricks are inserted casually into every lesson with an effective private tutor. Getting immediate, personal feedback while completing homework gives your student an indication of why he or she missed a question.
Tags: improving grades, literacy, personal tutor, private tutor, Private tutoring, Private tutors, Study skills, Summer school
Posted in: Private tutoring | 2 Comments »
Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Ramon C. Cortines, is responding to pushes for drastic budget cuts to reduce the both the state and local budget crisis in California. Proposed cuts would eliminate over 1,700 teachers. Cuts in librarians, nurses and administrative staff have also been proposed. Cortines has said he will not give in to the proposed cuts easily. He is adamantly defending his stance that the school system is already facing hard times, and additional cuts will be catastrophic. Efforts from LAUSD have saved the jobs of the vast majority of teachers for the time being. However, these measures are not permanent, and many still may be laid off come September.
Problems with Budget Cuts
Cortines argues on a few points that budget cuts are not acceptable. While cutting nurses and library spending may seem like a reasonable solution to many people, Cortines believes these school programs are necessary to keep the institution running and to keep kids safe. He has further stated he will not increase classroom size any more. Many people believe the ratio of teacher to student is one of the key criteria for a good learning environment. Private tutoring is often championed for its ideal ratio: 1 to 1. This mentorship model can provide much more customized learning than the 30 or 40 to 1 ratio in most classrooms in LAUSD.
Proposed Solutions
While Cortines has set forth a counter proposal calling for help from parcel taxes and expansion of counseling and library services, he is the first to admit the proposal is not realistic with the current budget. The fact remains: most people know there is a problem with our school. However, there is simply not enough money to fix the problem. Private school enrollment is costly and not practical for all students. Beyond this, private schools lack the diversity present in most public schools which teaches life lessons. Parents who elect to send their kids to public schools because they believe in the merits of this education have a difficult road ahead.
Private Tutoring Solutions
If your child is not receiving the appropriate attention and flexibility from his or her overcrowded classroom, there are options. You do not have to pursue private school. Consider locating an appropriate private tutor to address areas of weakness. In fact, as lay-offs are looming and summer break is here, many certified, qualified teachers are available for private tutoring. Especially if you are seeking an SAT tutor, private instruction can benefit your son or daughter. In these one on one sessions, your student will be guided and mentored through the entire testing cycle.
The Continuing Discussion
There is no quick fix to the school’s budget crisis. We are facing an uphill battle to deal with social and cultural issues our schools have never before faced. Single parent households or two-income households increase the need for before school and after school programs. Language barriers increase the need for multi-lingual education. While all of these needs are increasing, the budget is shrinking. It is intimidating to try and resolve the issue for all students involved. Concentrate on resolving the issue for your students, and you will make a step in the right direction.
Tags: Budget cuts, LAUSD, Los Angeles Unified School District, Private tutoring, Ramon C. Cortines
Posted in: State education | 2 Comments »
|
RSS feed
2009 © JD Tutors
