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

6 Studying Tips for Better Grades

6 Studying Tips for Better Grades

Exams can be a nightmare for a lot of students, and almost no one can say they enjoy taking them, but preparing in advance makes them an easier ordeal. These six studying tips can help take the pressure off at exam time, for better grades.

  1. Plan Ahead

You may have heard the saying, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” This is true. You have to plan how you will go about studying for an exam early, never try to wing it at the last minute. Your study plan should be an overview of the whole lesson, giving you a clear idea of how to systematically study point by point. It should also allow you enough time to study. A good study plan involves knowing what to study, when, and how.

  1. Practice

Like sports, studying requires practice, for practice makes perfect. To be able to get those high grades you must practice answering model questions. This helps with learning to answer questions quickly and trains you to do them within the time limit of a normal exam. The same principle applies for calculations in basic math or algebra; you must practice those calculations until you can do them in the time allotted. Knowing how to manage your time during exams can keep you from feeling panicked.

  1. Quiet Study Areas

Studying that is productive requires a place where there are no distractions. If the TV distracts you, or your phone is beeping every five minutes, studying like this is a total waste of time. Turn off all your electronics when it’s time to study. If you live in a place with noisy roommates, find another place to study, such as a quiet public library or park.

  1. Memory Tricks

Another good studying tip is finding little memory tricks to remember what you have learned. For example, you can come up with a song to help you remember elements on a chart, or use colors as memory aids for certain concepts. Whenever you attach facts to something audio or visual, you are much more likely to remember.

  1. Know Yourself

One of the best ways to make your studying effective and rewarding is having an understanding of who you are. This entails knowing your weaknesses and your strengths on various subjects. It also entails knowing what works for you in terms of studying methods, and the best time to study for you. With an understanding of your personal study needs, you can get more accomplished in a study session.

  1. Attend Every Class

Attending classes and listening attentively is the best way to truly understand a subject. It builds your knowledge piece by piece as you learn, providing a constant reminder of what you already know. So, attend those classes and pay attention.

There is no magical way to get perfect grades and ace every exam, but starting with effective studying methods can make a lot of difference. Studying hard, and studying smart, equals better grades.

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