How Private Tutoring Can Help Students of All Academic Levels

How private tutoring can help students at all academic levels The Main Line Tutor
Private tutor helping a student on-line

How Private Tutoring Can Help Students of All Academic Levels

Most students rely on traditional classroom instruction for all of their educational needs, but it’s designed to decently meet the needs of the many as opposed to helping each individual pursue their academic goals. Teachers are often overworked, pressured into teaching set curricula that only barely fit within the confines of the school year. Emphasis is often placed on “teaching to the test” as opposed to ensuring that students truly understand the material, leaving them without the foundation that they need to tackle more challenging concepts. Advanced students may be bored to the point of checking out, while struggling students can’t access the support they need to catch up. Even the group setting can be a detriment, as some learners may be too shy to admit they need help in front of their peers.

A private tutor can address each of these issues and help your student unlock their true potential. Here is a look at the five best reasons why one-on-one instruction is such a powerful educational tool.

  1. Your Student Can Work at His / Her Own Pace

Students grasp concepts at different speeds, but classroom teachers don’t have the luxury of ensuring every student “gets it” before moving to the next thing. If your student feels overwhelmed in algebra I or world history, their tutor can slow things down until their confidence returns. If your student already understands the structure and function of cellular organelles, their tutor can provide more information or jump ahead to the next topic even if their classroom teacher hasn’t yet. You won’t find comparable flexibility in a traditional classroom.

  1. Your Student’s Tutor Can Make the Most of Their Innate Learning Style

There is no “correct” way to learn, but most classroom instructors rely on lecture formats because they are the easiest way to present material to a bunch of students at once. A private tutor can certainly lecture if your student is a verbal learner, but they can also provide charts and infographics to help visual learners with verb conjugations, and design interactive activities to help kinesthetic learners make the most of their educational opportunities. Some students haven’t yet discovered how they learn best, and a private instructor can help them figure out something they will use for the rest of their lives.

  1. Incorporating Hobbies Can Make Lessons More Interesting

Students who are interested in what they are learning consistently outperform those who treat studying as a chore, so getting your son or daughter interested in the material is a key to successful education. A private tutor can take the time to get to know your student as a person and incorporate their hobbies accordingly. For instance, sports can be a great gateway to statistical analysis and a variety of other quantitative subjects, while studying your own family history can make social studies more relatable. Struggling readers may also show great progress if allowed to choose their own books.

  1. Private Tutors Always Put Your Student First

Students have to share their teacher at school, but private instructors can provide personalized attention. If your student is shy about asking for help, their tutor can proactively ask them if they understand the material to ensure that any learning obstacles are addressed promptly. You can also receive regular progress reports so you always know where your student is improving and any areas of opportunity that could benefit from further review. It can be tough to get the same type of consistent updates in a group setting.

  1. Tutoring Can Increase Your Student’s Self-Confidence

Believing that you’re smart enough to succeed academically is a big piece of actually doing so, but snide remarks from classmates and even ill-timed jokes from the teacher can hurt a student’s self-confidence. The best tutors intentionally start with questions that they know their pupils will be able to answer, allowing them to build momentum and confidence before introducing something new. Positive reinforcement can also go a long way toward helping students succeed, but sadly classroom teachers may not be able to provide enough praise when your student experiences a breakthrough.

If your student is struggling in school, a private instructor could be just what they need to get back on track. If your student excels academically, a tutor could challenge them to reach for more whether that means pursuing Advanced Placement (AP) classes or looking into prestigious universities. Either way, tutoring is one of the best educational investments you can make!

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

How to Choose A Private Tutor for Your Child

How to choose a private tutor for your child The Main Line Tutor
How to Choose A Private Tutor For Your Child

How to Choose A Private Tutor for Your Child

A good private tutor can make the difference between your child getting top grades in their classes or failing miserably. But trying to find one can be overwhelming when you’re not sure what you should be looking for in a candidate. So what factors should you consider when trying to find a tutor that is right for you and your child?

What Experience Do They Have with the Subject?

What qualifications do they have that are related to the subject you want them to teach? You’re unlikely to need a tutor with a doctorate, but they should ideally have some experience with the field past compulsory education requirements, such as industry-related qualifications or experience as well as academic achievements.

Are they up to date with the requirements of the curriculum your child is following? Different school systems and examination boards may have different grading criteria, even for the same subject. If passing a specific exam is one of your goals, then confirm that the tutor can help with this.

How Long Have They Been a Tutor?

Have they only recently started tutoring, or have they been doing it for years? Everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t be too quick to pass on someone just starting their tutoring career. Confirm that they are familiar with the course or subject you wish them to tutor and that they are otherwise suited for the learning goals you have for your child. If other factors affect your child’s learning experience, such as dyslexia or hearing difficulties, then consider looking for someone who has been tutoring for longer and has experience teaching similar students.

Have They Had a Background Check?

Is it clean and currently valid? If the tutor works for an agency, then they may have run a background check as part of the recruitment process, but don’t automatically assume they’ve had one and passed unless you’ve been told this directly. Be aware that background checks don’t always find all relevant information from someone’s past. Different locales may search for and record different information during a background check. It can also be challenging to piece together an accurate history if they’ve lived in several places during their lifetime. Regardless of these limitations, you should still insist that a tutor pass a background check before hiring them, especially if your child is very young or if they’ll be left alone with the tutor on a regular basis.

Is There Positive Feedback from Their Previous Clients?

Was the tutor referred to you by a satisfied customer, such as another parent you know? It’s essential that the recommendations you find or receive come from people who have used their tutoring services. They should not just be friends or relatives vouching for the tutor to help them find students.

Ask how well previous students have done after being taught by the tutor, or more specifically, how much the students’ grades improved, not their final grade score. For example, while it’s impressive for a student to be scoring 90% on average in their tests after tutoring, if the student was already scoring 85% before seeing the tutor, then it’s not a significant change in score overall. But if they were averaging 65% before tutoring, then 90% is a considerable improvement compared to their starting grade.

Have You Met Them in Person?

Always see a potential tutor in person before agreeing to hire them. You don’t need to have a long formal meeting with them; a quick chat will do. A conscientious tutor should want to talk to you first anyway to discuss the learning goals you have for your child. Make sure you are happy to have them teach your child. Find a different tutor if they seem off to you somehow during this meeting.

Finding a suitable private tutor takes time, but by considering the points above, you can make yourself an action plan and start sorting through your list of candidates.

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 Philadelphia
The Main Line Tutor

The Main Line Tutor
We Raise Score & Improve Performance
www.themainlinetutor.com
Tel: (610) 324-8359
e-mail: drchesloff@themainlinetutor.com

The Top 5 Benefits of Private Tutoring

The Top Five Benefits of Private Tutoring

Every parent wants the student in their life to make strong academic progress, but for some reason there’s a societal stigma attached to private tutoring. Both students and parents sometimes see tutoring as the last resort for learners who have fallen behind their peers, like an admission that the student wasn’t smart enough to get by on their own. This attitude not only has adverse consequences for the self-esteem of students who may need a helping hand to pursue their goals, but it also completely misses what private tutoring is all about.

Classroom teachers are busy, and tutors act as a supplement to the learning that takes place in school. Nearly any student can benefit from receiving individualized attention to complement in-school learning, so investing in a tutor doesn’t mean that your student is stupid or that you’ve failed as a parent. Here are five of the best reasons to look for a private instructor:

  1. Private Instruction Allows Students to Learn at Their Preferred Pace

Traditional education is designed to offer something for everyone, generally at the expense of providing an optimal experience for anyone. Some students grasp concepts almost immediately, leaving them bored while the teacher spends a week on a given topic. Others might need a few weeks for the material to click, meaning that their classroom instructor has to move on before they are ready to.

In contrast, a private tutor can introduce fresh concepts as their pupil is ready to receive them. This ensures that study sessions remain engaging without feeling too overwhelming, allowing students to engage with the learning process and develop the self-confidence they’ll need to tackle more difficult subjects in the future.

  1. Tutors Can Teach to a Student’s Preferred Learning Style

All students are capable of learning, but everybody does so in a different way. For instance, visual learners might use infographics to help them understand cell replication or the causes of World War II, while auditory learners might get more out of talking a topic over with their instructor instead. Some kinesthetic learners study best by actively doing something, an approach that the traditional classroom can struggle to accommodate.

There are no rules when it comes to how private study sessions are structured, meaning that students can choose the approach that works best for them. Many instructors can even offer multisensory lessons that are designed to engage students in multiple ways simultaneously. Why force your student to use a generic curriculum when they could be using one designed around their specific needs?

  1. Students Can Build a Personal Rapport with Their Instructor

When one teacher is responsible for 30 or more students, it may be impossible for the instructor to forge a personal relationship with every learner. Furthermore, some students are shy about asking for help in front of their friends, especially during the elementary and middle school years when students are studying fundamental concepts they’ll build upon for the rest of their student lives.

Private instruction takes place in a one-on-one learning environment where the student’s needs always come first. If your student is shy about asking for help, their tutor can create a learning environment where questions are encouraged. If your student is struggling because they find the material dull, their instructor can look for ways to incorporate their interests outside academia to liven things up. For example, sports can be a great way to introduce students to statistical analysis.

  1. Tutoring Can Go Beyond Core Content

While private tutors can certainly review specific concepts such as English literature and the scientific method with their students, they can also delve into broader study skills that can be applied in a variety of classes. For instance, students can learn how to sit down and study for an exam, how to create a plan of attack for a large project, or how to take better notes in class. These skills are vital to student success but generally aren’t taught directly at any level.

Furthermore, a private instructor can share test-taking tips to help students work to their potential. If your student gets test anxiety, their academic coach can share mindfulness tips such as deep breathing exercises and meditative practices to help them concentrate. It’s also possible to leverage many tests against themselves if you get stuck. For example, your student can review how to eliminate incorrect responses on multiple-choice tests or practice showing their work to at least earn partial credit on many math tests.

  1. Tutoring Works

Experts have been studying the efficacy of private tutoring for centuries and the evidence is clear: students who work with a one-on-one instructor tend to earn better grades and get more out of school than those who do not. The specific benefits depend on multiple variables such as a student’s goals, how much tutoring they receive, and so on, but high-achievers and struggling students alike can expect to get something out of it.

Conclusion

Private instruction is a powerful educational tool for students of all ages and ability levels no matter what they’re studying. As such, it is time to remove the stigma attached to it and empower the next generation with the skills and knowledge they’ll need moving forward. Don’t you want to set your student up for success?

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

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES!

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES!

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

Happy Mother’s Day | The Main Line Tutor

Happy Mother’s Day

The best families are built on love, patience, laughter, hugs, and faith…and wonderful Mothers

The Main Line Tutor
We Raise Score & Improve Performance
www.themainlinetutor.com
Tel: (610) 324-8359
e-mail: drchesloff@themainlinetutor.com