House2Home Ministries

You know how it is. Your child's grades start to slip in a certain class and either you, the teacher, or both of you suggest that they attend tutorials. The presumed outcome is that your child will improve and pull his/her grade up in the class.

Reality Check. Tutorials at many schools are usually no longer than 30 to 45 minutes, with one teacher trying to give attention to several students. Each one of these students probably have different issues on different levels. Sometimes students are just given what I call "busy" work, like a packet, as a way of helping them to practice whatever concept they haven't yet grasped. So ,what's wrong with that? The student is not given the opportunity to articulate his/her specific problem with the subject. Therefore crucial time is wasted on things they already understand rather than targeting what they actually need help with. After experiencing this kind of non-productive effort too many times, I finally got some help that works a little better for my children when it comes to tutorials.

My son's sixth grade science teacher, Mr. Ford, gave me these valuable tips that will make tutorials work for both the student and the teacher:

• Make sure that your child knows WHY they are coming to tutorials. Often, when the teacher asks them what they need help with, the child will shrug and just say, "I don't know. My mom/dad told me to come."
• Let quizzes be your radar. Because quizzes are mini tests, they can alert you to whether or not your child is in trouble and could use extra help ahead of the major test.
• Help your child pinpoint his/her main problem(s), no more than three, and write it down. This way they can appropriately articulate their problem to the teacher and make the most of the short time they have in tutorials.
• Follow up with your child after tutorials and ask them to demonstrate what they've learned. If they are still struggling, it may be time to schedule a parent/teacher conference, utilize helpful educational web sites/apps, or if need be, hire a professional tutor.