A Little Extra Help When Parents Are Unable To Assist A Child With Their Studies, Sometimes A Tutor Is The Answer

Helping a confused child with homework can make an evening frightfully long.

Some parents find it’s nearly impossible to offer much assistance because their brains are imploding from the strain of trying to recall an algebra formula they haven’t used for 20 years.

As a result, some moms and dads are discovering that a few dollars spent on the right tutor not only translates into academic success for their children, it restores peace and harmony on the home front.

But how do you know if your child really needs a tutor? Are Ds and Fs on report cards sufficient reason to hire a tutor?

Pat Mainella, elementary reading and language arts coordinator for Spokane School District 81, says parents who are concerned about academic performance should first schedule a conference with their child’s teacher.

“Teachers are more likely to say, `Here’s what I’m going to do at school, here’s what you can do at home’ and if parents can’t do those things then they would hire a tutor.”

Doris Liebert, director of the student teaching program at Whitworth College, agrees. She also says that parents might consider finding a tutor if they’ve worked with their child for a long period of time and are feeling frustrated.

The recent growth in the number of private tutors and tutoring centers comes in part because parents are too busy to provide their kids with ongoing assistance, says Liebert.

However, before parents go through the time and expense of hiring a tutor, she suggests they first look into the availability of after-school tutoring, which is provided at no cost through many schools.

Mainella believes there’s another reason for the increase in tutoring services: “There’s a much greater emphasis on early intervention than ever before.”

Over the past few years, District 81 has implemented several tutoring programs at the elementary level. Five area schools recently received grant money to hire tutors. In addition, many schools are coming up with creative ways to use volunteers and older students as tutors.

Mainella credits members of the Volunteer Literacy Program for making a huge difference at 21 area elementary schools, where adults commit to several days a week of reading for 20-minute blocks of time with each of several children.

Parents who are seeking a tutor for their child should look for someone who is resourceful and uses eclectic methods of teaching, Mainella says. It also helps if the person shows an interest in kids, and your child enjoys working with him or her, she adds.

Bryan Fallquist, 13, has been tutored since early elementary school.

“He needs some extra help. Anytime we can steer toward that direction, it’s money well spent,” says his father, Dave Fallquist, who views Bryan’s $260-a-month tuition at a tutoring center as an investment in his son’s future. “I’m kind of a firm believer in it. If a kid needs help, try to get funds and help him.”

In the past Bryan has worked with private tutors, but made the switch last year to A Thousand Points of Knowledge learning center.

Bryan enjoys working with his current tutor, a young man in his mid-20s, who makes learning interesting. In addition, Bryan’s successes earn him points that translate into fun rewards such as an autographed basketball.

A good tutor can take pressure off parents, who often can’t remember how to do certain tasks because they haven’t used those skills in their professions, says Fallquist. His son’s tutoring has resulted in more confidence and better grades. In the year Brian has been at A Thousand Points of Knowledge, Fallquist says, “he’s gained two levels in his education, and his reading has picked up.”

Berry Fowler, certified teacher and owner of A Thousand Points of Knowledge, said the center gets a number of clients who are in the transition from third to fourth and sixth to seventh grades, when children are required to assimilate more information independently.

“These kids are falling behind, not because they are dumb or stupid, but because they missed out on some basic information and have some gaps in their education,” says Fowler.

Tutoring isn’t just for elementary or high school students. Many colleges also offer tutoring programs for students.

North Idaho College provides free tutoring for its students. The program serves 200 students per semester and provides part-time jobs for others. Student tutors are recommended by faculty and must have a reference.

To make the best use of their tutoring time, NIC students are asked to attend their classes regularly, do as much work as they can independently and come prepared with their homework and a list of specific questions, Wheeler says.

While tutoring has traditionally been used to help students who struggle, Fowler said he has noticed over the past few years a growing number of children who are using his center for enrichment. He says as many at 40 percent of their students test at or above grade level.

Liebert says some parents hire tutors to keep their kids ahead of the game. “They’re just doing it because they want their child to have the grades to get into a good school.”