If you’re struggling with some of your school work, you’ve probably seen that homework problems can lead to other problems in your family. When parents or siblings try to help it can lead to added tension. Let’s face it, sometimes we need to look outside the family for help. There’s no shame in that!
On the other hand, it can be expensive to hire outside help. So what can you do?
The first step in deciding whether to invest in a tutor is determining where and why you are struggling in your studies. The next step is deciding how to work the proper type of assistance into your family budget. For instance, if you are performing well in language courses but struggling in math, you should look into seeking one-on-one help either online (if you’re comfortable with that format) or with a live tutor.
If you feel that you need to retrace some of the concepts you learned in middle school to reinforce your general knowledge base, or if you need all-around help in testing and doing homework, a learning center might be the answer. You can choose between a national center or a local center. One may be more affordable than another.
Each student/family will have to balance learning goals with the potential cost for getting help. Some tutoring services can cost several hundred dollars—and even a few thousand dollars in the long run—but they can certainly be worth it! (And there are always payment options.)
National Brand Learning Centers
These centers are national or regional and they operate as individual franchises. They include names like Sylvan Learning Centers and Huntington Learning Centers. The centers normally employ licensed teachers to tutor students after hours. The costs for services can be pretty steep, and many people report having spent thousands on services. On the other hand, many people report that the cost was well worth it. It’s an investment in your future success!
These services do extensive evaluations through a series of tests to identify where each student needs to re-learn some basic skills—the skills that are needed before students can learn more advanced math and language skills. While it is beneficial to go through the process of reviewing and reinforcing skills that were learned in previous grades, it does extend the time the student spends with a tutor. That means it can become pretty expensive.
There are many message boards and parents’ discussion groups on the Internet that address specific learning centers. It’s a good idea to go online to read independent reviews of specific services before signing a contract.
How to Find a National Tutoring Center
Phone directories, Internet search, local newspaper advertisements
Pros:
- They use real teachers
- Will conduct in-depth evaluation of skills
- Personalized tutoring
- Three to one student/tutor ratio (can be a minus)
- Convenient schedules
- Accept credit cards
- Payment plans may be an option
- You can conduct web search for independent evaluations
Cons:
- Expensive
- Tutors can be impersonal
- You can’t choose a specific tutor
Local Independent Learning Center
Local tutoring centers can offer everything that national centers offer at a lower price. These centers also often hire teachers as tutors—although the quality of the centers will vary from location to location. As always, do some investigating before you sign a contract!
How to Find a Local Center
Phone book, newspaper ads, referrals
Pros:
- Flexible scheduling
- Personalized attention
- May do evaluation of skills
- May establish a personal relationship
- Tutors usually have education degrees
- Less potential for stranger danger
- Usually a bit less expensive than national centers
- May accept credit cards
- May know or work closely with teacher
- May accept cash
- Payment plans may be an option
Cons:
- Quality can vary
- May require contract
College Student for Hire
If you live near a college or university, you might be able to find a great tutor at a greatly reduced cost.
How to find a college student for hire:
Put an ad in the college paper, post a notice on college bulletin board
Pros:
- Less expensive
- Some students relate better because of age
- Flexible scheduling
- Expertise can be topic-specific
- Can be greater quality for lower cost
- Cost is negotiable
Cons:
- Professionalism/dependability will vary
- Quality will vary
- Cash only
- Stranger danger potential
- May take time for good fit
Independent/In-Home Private Tutor
How to find a private tutor:
Newspaper ads, community bulletin boards, referrals from school
Pros:
- Less expensive
- One on one attention
- Flexible schedule
- Will work with your teacher/book
- May do evaluation of skills
Cons:
- Can be difficult to find
- Expertise may vary
- Stranger danger potential
- May be limited to one-subject expertise
Online tutor
There are so many options for online tutoring, the search for good help can be daunting. Types of assistance include homework help sites with videos and tutorials, one-to-one tutoring via IMs and chat rooms, and step-by-step downloadable software.How to find help online:
Internet searchPros:
- Less tension
- Available any time
- Any subject is available
- Some site screen tutors carefully—stick with reputable sites
- Accept credit cards
- Good for visual learners
- Good for technology-savvy students
Cons:
- Impersonal
- Can be expensive
- May not screen tutors well—be careful!
- Won’t work with your teacher
- No face-to-face time
