With over 30 years of experience tutoring high school and college students our tutors specialize in mathematics and general chemistry. Our founder, Dr. Chesloff, holds a Doctorate in Higher Science Education and has developed an education curriculum that engages the student and enhances their learning and thought process to help raise their scores and improve performance.
We offer nationwide tutoring via video teleconference in PSAT/SAT preparation (math, critical reading, writing), ACT test preparation (Get step by step instructions, mock tests and more so you know exactly what to expect with the real thing), chemistry (General Chemistry (including AP), Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry), algebra I/II, geometry, and trigonometry.
Our Mission is to target the specific needs of our students, college and high school, particularly in the area of standardized test preparation.
Our Tutoring allows for flexible hours 7 days a week nationwide via videoconference.
Home > Blog > Why Should My Student Work with A Private Tutor?
Why Should My Student Work with A Private Tutor?
Whether the student in your life is falling behind their peers academically or simply losing interest in their studies, working with a private tutor could help them pursue their educational goals. A private instructor allows your student to study in a one-on-one learning environment that revolves around their unique needs, helping them make the most out of every session. Here are four reasons why private instruction often proves beneficial:
1. Individualized Attention
When your student completes an assignment for their classroom teacher, they need to wait for the entire class’s work to be reviewed before receiving feedback on how they did. By the time they get their assignment back, the material is no longer at the forefront of their mind. Since they may no longer remember their thought processes while working on it, it could prove challenging to correct any mistakes in a meaningful way.
In contrast, a private instructor has fewer papers to review, allowing your student to receive feedback in a more timely fashion. A tutor can also take the time to go over every question with your student to help them do better next time, a luxury that the average classroom teacher cannot afford.
Private instruction also allows students to learn at their own pace. If they understand the Civil War era already, their study sessions can concentrate on something else to remain as productive as possible. If your student is having a hard time understanding the motivations of the title characters in Romeo and Juliet, their instructor can provide additional explanation until your student is ready to move onto something else.
2. Personalized Study Sessions
While classrooms generally need to follow set curricula, a private tutor can design study sessions around your student’s preferred learning style. If they are a visual learner, their instructor can incorporate visual aids into study sessions. Counting cubes might help a young student grasp the basics of arithmetic, while info-graphics can be a great way to illustrate time lines of events for social studies or the principle players in a novel.
If they are more of a kinesthetic individual who learns best by doing, their instructor can engage them with interactive activities to help them get a feel for the material. They might play a game based on solving math problems, or conduct an experiment at home to illustrate scientific principles.
If your student is an auditory learner, their instructor might use a discussion format to help important information stick. Verbal emphasis and oral repetition are an auditory learner’s best friends, especially for any subject requiring rote memorization.
3. A True Connection
Seeing a teacher for an hour each weekday for 10 months or so is not the best way to forge a meaningful relationship, especially since most students are only one of many in any particular classroom. Most students also change teachers at the beginning of each school year, so time is not on their side.
On the other hand, private instruction provides a more intimate setting where teacher and pupil can take the time to really get to know each other. If your student comes to trust their tutor, they may feel more comfortable asking for assistance before a misunderstanding escalates into a significant learning obstacle. Some shyer students also don’t want to admit that they need help in front of their peers, a problem that ceases to exist in a one-on-one study environment.
A private tutor can also use your student’s interests to make sessions more engaging. If your student has a hard time relating to word problems, their instructor might add the names of friends and family members to make them more interesting. A sports fan might use their favorite team’s statistics to make math more approachable, and reading is always more fun if you get some say in the material you work with.
4. Building Study Skills
While most classroom instructors are bound to a set curriculum within a limited time frame, a tutor offers the flexibility to teach valuable study skills that your student can use at all levels of education. For instance, taking notes as you read forces a more active engagement with the material, potentially improving a student’s retention. A private instructor can help your student quickly identify what’s worthy of jotting down to help them make the most of “active reading.”
Similarly, learning how to outline written assignments can make essays and research papers feel a little less intimidating. Not only does working from an outline make it easier for your student to include all of the supporting details they originally planned to, it also prevents them from staring at the page wondering what to say next. It may seem counter-intuitive to spend valuable time outlining, but it often helps students finish an assignment more quickly.
If your student is preparing for a specific standardized test, they can also review test-specific strategies with their private instructor. For example, there is no penalty for guessing on the ACT or SAT, so test-takers should do everything in their power to at least answer every question. Other exams may penalize students for answering incorrectly, so leaving it blank could be the right strategic decision in certain circumstances. If your student deals with text anxiety, their instructor may also demonstrate meditative techniques to help them calm their nerves and concentrate on the exam in front of them.
Conclusion
The classroom experience is important, but a private tutor can act as a valuable educational supplement to the instruction your student receives in school. Look into a private instructor today to help your student pursue their full academic potential!
About The Main Line Tutor
With over 30 years of experience tutoring high school and college students our tutors specialize in mathematics and general chemistry. Our founder, Dr. Chesloff, holds a Doctorate in Higher Science Education and has developed an education curriculum that engages the student and enhances their learning and thought process to help raise their scores and improve performance.
We offer nationwide tutoring via video teleconference in PSAT/SAT preparation (math, critical reading, writing), ACT test preparation (Get step by step instructions, mock tests and more so you know exactly what to expect with the real thing), chemistry (General Chemistry (including AP), Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry), algebra I/II, geometry, and trigonometry.
Our Mission is to target the specific needs of our students, college and high school, particularly in the area of standardized test preparation.
Our Tutoring allows for flexible hours 7 days a week nationwide via videoconference.
The Main Line Tutor
We Raise Score & Improve Performance www.themainlinetutor.com
Tel: (610) 324-8359
e-mail: drchesloff@themainlinetutor.com
Home > Blog > 4 Reasons You Should Have A Tutor While in College
Tutor with student via teleconference
4 Reasons You Should Have A Tutor While in College
Having a tutor can help you get good grades in college, which will boost your chances of landing a job after graduation. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 66% of employers screen applicants by GPA. Furthermore, 58% of employers surveyed said they would be much less likely to hire candidates with less than a 3.0 average. Considering how important maintaining a good GPA is, hiring a tutor can be a helpful financial investment that allows you to gain many benefits along the way.
Access individualized help and cut back on the costs of remedial classes, study guides, and test prep courses.
Professors can help you during office hours, and classmates can help you during group study sessions, but you might not get the attention you need from them. Professors sometimes work with hundreds of students each semester. They often juggle visitors, phone calls, e-mails, and their own work during office hours. Likewise, study sessions are set up to help the whole group learn. The group can’t always cover what each member needs help with. If you need a session focused on helping you understand the course material, a tutor is the way to go. Once you become close to a tutor over several weeks or even semesters, they will better understand how you learn. Then, they will be able to tailor lessons to fit your learning style. Hiring one tutor long-term can save you money when you compare this expense to the high costs of remedial classes, supplemental study guides, and test prep courses.
Boost your grades and improve your odds of winning scholarships.
Studying hard with your tutor will improve your grades, which is not only great for your future career but can also help you earn scholarships. Remember, many scholarships and grants are available to upperclassmen. Be sure to ask your financial aid office about merit-based scholarships for which you may qualify.
Raise your self-esteem and lift your spirits. When you spend hours studying by yourself, it’s easy to get discouraged. If you’re studying a subject that just doesn’t come naturally to you, you may feel like other students have a big advantage. Having a tutor on your side can help you start feeling optimistic again. A good tutor should give you positive, encouraging feedback to keep your spirits up.
Learn at an efficient pace and free up time for a part-time job or internship. Again, the problem with seeking help from a professor during office hours or a going to a peer study group is that they may not be able to teach you at your own speed. You might understand some material slowly, while quickly grasping other topics. A tutor can work with you at your pace so that you never feel rushed or bored. These more focused study periods can help you budget your time better, leaving more room for a part-time job or internship to help keep your college debt down.
You may be wondering if the cost of a tutor might cancel out the long-term financial benefits. Chances are, it won’t. Many schools offer free tutoring at an on-campus tutoring center. Hiring a private tutor can also be inexpensive. Check your school’s bulletin boards and campus newspaper classifieds for ads. You will probably find students at your university who tutor part-time at low rates. If you don’t find what you need, post your own ads seeking a tutor, and don’t be afraid to mention your price limit. Ask around at your academic department, too.
If you excel at certain subjects, you might even be able to get free tutoring, a big financial plus. At many colleges, students swap tutoring services with each other. For example, say you need help with calculus, but already aced French grammar. You may be able to find a math major struggling through their foreign language requirement and trade favors. If you like this idea, post an ad and see what responses you receive.
In short, if you think you could use extra academic help, there are plenty of reasons to seek a tutor today. The time and money you spend now will benefit you later. Remember, working with a tutor can be cheap or even free, and will help you get the most out of your college experience.
About The Main Line Tutor
With over 30 years of experience tutoring high school and college students our tutors specialize in mathematics and general chemistry. Our founder, Dr. Chesloff, holds a Doctorate in Higher Science Education and has developed an education curriculum that engages the student and enhances their learning and thought process to help raise their scores and improve performance.
We offer nationwide tutoring via video teleconference in PSAT/SAT preparation (math, critical reading, writing), ACT test preparation (Get step by step instructions, mock tests and more so you know exactly what to expect with the real thing), as well as in chemistry (General Chemistry (including AP), Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry), algebra I/II, geometry, and trigonometry.
Our Mission is to target the specific needs of our students, college and high school, particularly in the area of standardized test preparation.
Our Tutoring allows for flexible hours 7 days a week nationwide via videoconference.
The ACT is operated by, and takes its name from, American College Testing, and first came to the fore in 1959, predominantly in Southern and Midwestern schools. Administered by the College Board, the SAT, on the other hand, was introduced in 1926 and was traditionally the favored test in East and West Coast schools. While many of its takers assume that SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test, the acronym no longer has an assigned meaning. Despite the original geographical distinctions, students across the States are free to take either test. In fact, in 2011 the ACT overtook the SAT as the most popular choice for high school students.
ACT Basics
The ACT includes four components, English, Mathematics, Reading and Science, with an optional fifth Writing section. In total, the five-section test lasts 3 ½ hours. Although the Writing section is optional, many colleges require candidates to take it. Students can receive a maximum score of 36 in each section, with an overall average taken to obtain the final test score. If a student takes the Writing section, the essay score is incorporated into the average of the English section. Students taking the Writing section complete the essay at the end of the test.
SAT Basics
The SAT is divided into Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing sections, with the entire test taking 3 hours and 45 minutes. Each section is scored out of 800, for an overall score of 2400. The first item in the test is a 25-minute essay, which is incorporated into the Writing section score, and represents the only part of the test graded holistically. All the other answers are entered on a bubble sheet and graded electronically.
Significant Differences
In the English section, the ACT tests knowledge of punctuation, including commas, apostrophes, and colons, while the SAT places a heavier emphasis on usage. The ACT Mathematics section tests knowledge of concepts in trigonometry, Algebra I, II, geometry and standard arithmetic. The SAT, on the other hand, does not include trigonometry. Notoriously, the SAT Critical Reading section includes a significant number of questions that test vocabulary, meaning that students typically prepare by memorizing extended lists of sometimes obscure words, often without grasping their essential meaning. The ACT, by contrast, tests knowledge of vocabulary in context only.
One of the most common criticisms of the SAT across all sections is that its 140 questions tend to be abstruse and unnecessarily complex. Although the ACT extends to 215 questions, the wording is significantly more straightforward. The greatest difference, however, is that the SAT penalizes wrong answers in an attempt to curb guessing, whereas the ACT awards points only for correct answers.
Key Changes
In order to address criticism, the SAT test has changed significantly during recent decades. From spring 2016, the test will undergo a further metamorphosis. No longer will students be required to learn lists of suggested vocabulary; instead, vocabulary questions will focus on context, in the same vein as the ACT. Likewise, the Critical Reading and Writing sections will include data analysis, and students will have to cite evidence from reading passages rather than simply selecting a multiple choice option.
The Mathematics section will focus on a narrower set of topics and the use of calculators will be prohibited for some sections, unlike the existing SAT where calculators are allowed throughout. Crucially, points will no longer be deducted for incorrect answers. The much-maligned essay will remain, but will be optional, and 50 minutes will be allowed instead of 25.
Which Test is for Me?
Since the ACT is more closely aligned with material on the high school curriculum, it panders to the strength of students who already have a firm grasp of their existing subjects. Because it also tests knowledge of Science, but offers Writing as an option, the ACT also appeals to students whose writing is comparatively weak. This advantage will no longer apply once the 2016 SAT is introduced, however.
Students who are good at simple test taking, who have a longer attention span, and who have a lower-than-expected GPA will find the SAT comes to the rescue. In theory, a student with a low GPA could ace the SAT on strong reasoning skills alone and somehow compensate for poor performance in subjects tied to Common Core Standards.
To give themselves the best possible college application, students to take practice tests in both the SAT and ACT, either by taking PSATs or simply by accessing free online practice tests. In the junior year, there is no impediment to taking both tests, and students can then choose which scores to send to colleges. In some cases, the disparity in scores could be significant.
About The Main Line Tutor
With over 30 years of experience tutoring high school and college students our tutors specialize in mathematics and general chemistry. Our founder, Dr. Chesloff, holds a Doctorate in Higher Science Education and has developed an education curriculum that engages the student and enhances their learning and thought process to help raise their scores and improve performance.
We offer nationwide tutoring via video teleconference in PSAT/SAT preparation (math, critical reading, writing), ACT test preparation (Get step by step instructions, mock tests and more so you know exactly what to expect with the real thing), as well as in chemistry (General Chemistry (including AP), Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry), algebra I/II, geometry, and trigonometry.
Our Mission is to target the specific needs of our students, college and high school, particularly in the area of standardized test preparation.
Our Tutoring allows for flexible hours 7 days a week nationwide via videoconference.
