| The Carroll Journal |
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By Jonathan D. Carroll, M.A.
Carroll Educational Group, Inc.
Tutoring is a great tool to helping learners be successful. It is not only for the struggling student, but students that are also
experiencing academic success. One thing that I always remind clients about is that…tutoring is a process not a cure.
There are four things one should look for in a tutor. The first is that tutoring should not be all about grades. It should be teaching a child
new skills or showing the child better and more effective ways of doing homework. Think about it…if an adult (let me rephrase that by
saying a qualified adult) would complete a child’s homework, would the child get a better grade? But, by showing a child different
ways of approaching work or assisting in areas of educational deficit is the key to helping a child be successful further down the road.
The second area is how the tutor approaches instruction. For example, if a tutor is hired to work with a child, how does the tutor
foresee future sessions? Are short and long-term goals set? What are benchmarks for success? What materials will be used? What
will be addressed? These are some important questions. When I work with a client, I always set goals both with the family and client.
Everyone needs to be involved with the process.
Third, it is important and respectable to ask a tutor about credentials. Figure out information about your child and see how much the
tutor knows. Interview the tutor. Ask questions like…
- What is your background?
- How many clients have you worked with?
- Do you know anything about (fill in academic subject or need here)?
- What is the time frame?
- What are some current trends in education?
an unsatisfied client?
The last area of importance is seeing if the child is comfortable with the tutor. If you are going to make a time (and financial)
commitment to a tutor, it is vital that there is a connection between the client and tutor. A good tutor will also tell you that he or she
cannot help the child if there is not a connection. Encourage your child to ask the tutor questions. In the end, it is the child that will
benefit from the tutoring.
For more information, please feel free to contact me.