After you’ve wisely decided to hire a tutor to provide your child with the extra help and attention he needs, you will most likely be pleased with the results. Your child’s confidence will rise, his grades will improve and he will soon become more comfortable managing studying and homework on his own. There comes a time, however, where it seems that the tutor is no longer a necessity and you will have to decide to end the sessions. It is still important, however, that your child continues practicing and improving the skills that he has been taught.
As owner and director of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services in San Antonio, Texas, Farhan Hussain often discusses with parents ways that they can make sure that their child’s grades don’t slip again after tutoring sessions have ceased. These are some of his most useful suggestions:
Make time for homework: Continue to have your child work on his homework at the same time of day, every day. This is usually about two hours after the child arrives home from school. Encourage your child to keep the schedule and to initiate the homework on his own, without having to be reminded. And try to get the homework completed in the time provided. Of course, this doesn’t mean to rush through assignments. But don’t put off any work until the morning when the house is hectic with everyone getting ready to start their day.
Keep up the routine: Instead of having the tutor meet with your child for an hour in the afternoon, set aside some of that same time to sit with your child and go over his homework and answer any questions he has.
Maintain organizational skills: The time management skills that your child’s tutor works to instill in him can be beneficial for a lifetime. Continue to check your child’s planner to make sure that he is filling in assignments as they are due and that he is setting aside time in his schedule for studying.
Stay involved: While normally the tutor who meets with your child will be in contact with you and the teachers at your child’s school, don’t let the communication falter just because the middle man is no longer present. Schedule appointments with your child’s teachers either in person, over the phone, or even by email so that you can discuss any further improvements and be made aware of any areas where he may still be having problems.
Make it fun: Hussain says that one of the best ways to get a child motivated to learn is to make it fun. Club Z! tutors create games out of homework and studying material to make learning more competitive and exciting. Before tutoring sessions come to an end, ask the tutor which games your child seemed to enjoy the most, and for suggestions for how you can keep learning fun.
Keep in touch: Even if sessions with your child’s tutor are not needed on a daily or weekly basis any longer, there may still be times when a tutor can be of service. Even if a student has proven that he has the abilities and confidence to master his school subjects, he may need some extra enforcement when it comes to taking major tests. It is common for teenagers in high school to meet with their tutor for a few sessions as finals approach to help nail down a study schedule and review any material that has troubled them during the semester.
