How to Find the Best Tutor For You
Choosing to work with a tutor is only the first step in improving academic performance. It is important to find the best tutor for your needs and learning style. Finding a tutor can be somewhat difficult. You must find someone who is both knowledgeable and patient. You will also need to be able to work well together. Remember you're going to be the one who is working with him or her on a regular basis.
Here are several different ways to find a tutor.
Referrals
Referrals are a great way to find a tutor. You could ask your friends or other parents if they know anyone who they could refer. By asking other people, you'll be able to have a better sense of what type of personality the tutor has and what type of approach they use with their students. This is the type of information you can't get from a resume, but it's essential. Keep in mind that although the person you speak with may have had a positive experience, you may or may not have as much success. The amount of success depends greatly on your own learning style, determination and work ethic.
Learning Centers
Learning centers can either provide names of tutors or can arrange students into groups with different tutors. If you're concerned about the qualifications of a tutor, it may be best to go through a learning center as they often have extensive screening processes. Many of them only hire or refer tutors who have a teaching credential or are in the process of receiving one. Although you will be going through a center, you should still interview several tutors to see whose personality matches well with yours.
Online Directories
Online directories are somewhat similar to a phonebook. Many simply have postings placed by the individual tutors. They usually require you to fill in specific search entries such as city, state, subject, grade level and gender. The gender preference allows you to decide who you would feel more comfortable working with. If you do decide to use this approach, make sure you get references from the interested tutors.
