How to Find a Qualified Math Tutor for Your Child

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Children often require a bit more specialized instruction in their studies than they receive in school every day. When children aren’t do well in their math classes, for example, it is not because they’re not intelligent. Many very bright students do poorly in school for any number of reasons–they may have trouble concentrating, or their instructors’ teaching styles may not be those which are ideal for your child. The best thing for students like this is, in almost all cases, a qualified tutor who can provide one-on-one instruction. But how can you find a qualified math tutor for your child?

Start by honing in on your child’s particular learning style. Different children benefit more from different styles of teaching–this has been known for many years. No two brains are exactly alike, and the way we process information varies widely from person to person. This is one of the main reasons that many intelligent children have trouble in math classes. Math instruction involves complicated abstract concepts that are difficult for many children to visualize and understand. If a student who benefits more from visual instruction is stuck with a teacher who can only express these concepts verbally, they will naturally fall behind. Find out what style of instruction works best for your child, and look for tutors who can accommodate these needs.

The actual process of finding tutors is difficult for many parents, who often have no experience searching for extracurricular instructors. There are numerous tutoring services available in most areas, but you may be unsure of how to find out which is the best for your child. Try asking other parents if they’ve ever hired tutors for their children, and if they can recommend a good individual or service. Tutors get a great deal of their new business from word of mouth promotion, so these recommendations are usually quite reliable. No parent would recommend a tutor who did not work well with his or her child.

Your child’s teacher may also be able to make some tutoring recommendations. Some parents feel awkward about asking the teachers about tutoring because they feel like they are insulting the teacher’s abilities. Might a teacher take offense when a parent asks about alternative teaching options? On the contrary, your child’s teacher is most dedicated to the child’s education, and will be more concerned with finding the best educator than defending his or her own abilities. School teachers often have resources available for recommending tutors and tutoring services to parents. Don’t be shy about asking–your child’s teach is very knowledgeable about these matters and will be more than happy to help.

If you’re still having trouble finding a good tutor, look into local universities and libraries as well. You should be able to find a qualified in-person and online tutor to help your children with their studies. This is a time when educational foundations are built, so don’t skimp on tutoring or wait too long.