It can be tough finding the right tutor to fit your child’s needs. Let us help you ask the right questions and find the right match.

1. Know your childs needs: The real key to finding the right tutor for your child is knowing what kind of help your child needs. Just because his or her grades are slipping only in math, doesnt mean that your child isnt struggling with other subjects. Do your homework by checking your childs homework and having concrete examples and problems to discuss with potential candidates. The only way to find a qualified tutor is to hire them knowing what youll need. You dont want to be stuck with only a math tutor when your child needs help with writing, too.
2. Know the market: Every community is different, so finding a tutor can take several different forms. In a university town, many parents turn to college students to get their students the help they need. However, college students often have different priorities and are inexperienced in being an independent contractor. An alternative might be going to a tutoring center, but your child might not get the one-on-one attention that he or she needs to rebuild crucial foundations. Some cities have companies that offer one-on-one tutoring in your home at prices equivalent to group centers.
3. Know what questions to ask: In order to find the right tutor, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered: areas of expertise, training, experience, and personality. If your child has special needs, you need to make sure your tutor has experience working with children with your childs specific disability. Often, experience with one does not translate into being able to help with another special need.
4. Involve your child: At the end of the day, you need to find a tutor that your child will listen to and respect. If you get your child invested during the entire process, its much more likely that he or she will bond with the tutor and commit to creating positive habits through the guidance of their new tutor. As a role model, tutors really need to click with their students in order to maximize their teaching and coaching.
5. Be patient:Finding the right tutor can take time. Make sure you dont settle for a quick fix that might end up being inexperienced or ineffective. Your childs future is worth the wait.
6. Do a background check:Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to work with children has the best of intentions. If you go through a company, make sure you ask them to provide a copy of a recent (within one year) background check. If you hire one on your own, you are entitled to ask the tutor to submit to a background check. If they balk, make sure you walk away. Your childs safety is paramount.
7. Get your childs teacher involved: In many ways, finding a tutor is like finding a second teacher– someone to work in tandem with parents and teachers to ensure your child succeeds. If you make your childs teacher aware that youre looking into tutoring and that you would like his or her input, the teacher might be able to shed light on the underlying reasons for your childs issues. This information can prove invaluable for rebuilding foundations and reforming negative habits and attitudes.