Choosing the right maths tutor can greatly aid in a student's success. Here we explore the pros and cons of three common types of maths tutors: students, friends of the family, and professional tutors.
Student Tutors
Pros:
Money: Student tutors are typically cheaper than professional tutors.
Relatability: Students often connect more easily with other students, leading to a more comfortable learning environment.
Recent Knowledge: A good student tutor may be able to explain concepts in a way a student can understand because they recently learned the material themselves.
Cons:
Experience: Student tutors may have limited teaching experience and may struggle to find effective methods for all students.
Teaching Methods: Student tutors may excel at tutoring other high-achieving students but struggle to adapt their methods for students who need more explanation or support.
Reliability: Student tutors may not be as reliable as professional tutors, potentially cancelling sessions or being late due to their own academic commitments.
Knowledge: Students may not have a deep understanding of the current curriculum or the latest teaching methods.
Training: Students haven't typically received formal training in education or how people learn.
Systems: Student tutors often lack established systems to track progress or personalise learning.
Communication: Student tutors may be slow to respond to emails or messages.
Assessment: Student tutors may not have adequate assessment techniques to identify a student's specific weaknesses.
Flexibility: While flexibility may vary, students are typically not flexible and must stick to their own routine.
Feedback and Progress Reports: Typically no progress reports are provided to parents/guardians.
Friend of the Family
Pros:
Trust: There's a built-in level of trust with a familiar friend or family member.
Easy: It's easier to ask a friend or family member for help than a stranger.
Communication: Family friends are typically likely to answer calls and messages promptly.
Cons:
Knowledge: Friends of the family, unless they are educators themselves, may not have a strong grasp of the current curriculum or effective teaching methods.
Training: Friends of the family likely haven't received formal training in education or how people learn.
Systems: Friends likely lack established systems to track progress or personalise learning.
Assessment: Friends may not have strong assessment techniques to identify a student's specific weaknesses.
Bias: There's a potential for bias or awkwardness if the tutoring relationship doesn't work out well.
Feedback and Progress Reports: Typically no progress reports to students and their parents/guardians.
Professional Tutor / Teacher
Pros:
Experience: Professional tutors have extensive experience and training in improving the educational experience for students.
Teaching Methods: Professional tutors have honed their skills through working with many students, tailoring their teaching methods for maximum effectiveness.
Communication: Professional tutors typically respond to emails, phone calls, and messages promptly and professionally.
Reliability: Professional tutors take their job seriously and aim to be on time for every session.
Assessment: Professional tutors use effective assessment techniques to diagnose student weaknesses.
Systems: Professional tutors have established systems in place to help students systematically improve their skills.
Knowledge: Professional tutors have a deep understanding of the current curriculum and keep up with the latest teaching methods.
Trust: Professional tutors have a reputation to uphold, meaning the quality of tutoring can be generally trusted. Many will also have reviews online you can check.
Flexibility: Some professional tutors may offer flexible scheduling or online tutoring options.
Tailored Instruction: Professional tutors often have the expertise to tailor their instruction to meet the specific learning needs and goals of individual students, providing personalised support and guidance.
Feedback and Progress Reports: Professional tutors may provide detailed feedback and progress reports to students and their parents/guardians, helping to track progress over time and identify areas for improvement.
Cons:
Money: Professional tutors can charge higher fees than student tutors, depending on their experience and qualifications.
In conclusion, choosing the right maths tutor depends on your individual needs and budget. Consider your child and how they might respond to the different learning environments. While professional tutors emerge as the preferred choice, it's worth taking the time to weigh up the pros and cons of each option. By thoughtfully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that best supports your child.
Comments