Is it Time to Hire a Tutor?
10 Signs a Little Extra Help May Help
A TEXT Michele Ranard
few years back, my first-grader stepped
of wounds, and extra practice and encouragement from
off the school bus in tears. The words he
tutoring are healing too. If your child feels discouraged by
squeaked out in between sobs cut me to the
a developmental delay, remind him of a skill he once could
soul. He said, “My teacher hates my reading
not master yet now does with ease (like tying shoes or riding
‘cause I’m stupid.”
It was the start of the school year, and he had been placed
in a tutoring group of five students to receive specialized
instruction with a reading specialist. Testing revealed that
for reading, he ranked 19th in his class of 21 (these rankings
were obviously not shared with students).

By the end of that school year, tutoring royally paid off,
and his rank soared to the second highest in the class. This
journey with our son, who through the primary grades
wrestled with low self-esteem and achievement, led me into
a career of professional tutoring, where I have helped dozens
of students thrive.

I share the following advice not just as a seasoned educator,
but as a parent of a struggling student. I understand well
how it feels when teachers appear hopeless about your
child’s progress. I understand feeling consumed with worry
and doubt your child will ever catch up. I understand
willingness to do anything to spare your child the agony of
repeated failure.

It may be time to hire a tutor If…
1. Your child’s teacher suggests it.

If your child is underachieving and his or her teacher thinks
extra help will be beneficial, it may be time to seek help
outside of the classroom. As a professional tutor, I love
collaborating with teachers and mapping out a customized
plan to optimally increase learning and achievement.

2. You suspect or have been told your child is lagging
developmentally. It can be frustrating when they are simply a little behind
their peers, but don’t lose hope. Time really does heal a lot
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a two-wheeler). He’ll get there eventually!



3. Your student is muddling through a rough patch.

a safe haven to study and learn new strategies to navigate a
Sometimes life gets messy: hormones, moving, a new baby,
rough patch.

unemployment, illness, etc., can all wreak havoc. Since
children are not immune to stress, they may fall behind in
school work or be distracted in class. Tutoring can provide
4. You find yourself hiding under the bed during
homework time.

It can be emotionally traumatic for both parent and
struggling student when school work is too confusing or
difficult. An alternative to climbing into the dryer (I suppose
there are other more comfy escapes) and hoping for the
best is to contact an expert. Don’t feel guilty when a teacher
demands parents be involved at home. Tutoring involves
patient, mindful and sensitive measures to empower your
child without bribes, yelling or guilt trips. I’ve received
calls from desperate parents at the height of a parent-child
homework meltdown (and can hear the wailing in the
background). It’s OK and normal if what your child needs is
anyone other than you to help.

5. Your student struggles with a teacher.

Like their students, teachers aren’t perfect, and not all
student-teacher matches are made in heaven. My own son
is oversensitive to whether a teacher likes him, and if he
perceives dislike, he shuts down and misses instruction. Our
other son struggled with a teacher who frequently raised
her voice. Tutors may be able to reach students who are shut
down by earning their trust in friendly, upbeat sessions. It’s
much easier to be funny, gentle and attentive with just one
student—far more challenging with 30 students in the room!
Often teachers are stretched thin across a varied group of
learners with multiple learning styles. Your student may
benefit from a one-on-one arrangement where they feel
connected and heard.

6. The classroom is overwhelming.

Not everyone learns best sitting at a desk indoors with a
group of distracting peers. While some students come alive
in a given environment, others may feel over-stimulated or
anxious. While it’s tough to control a classroom’s dynamics,
some tutoring help may fill gaps where understanding
breaks down due to distraction or disruption.

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