The following is a guest blog post from Iris Yuan, an Education Consultant at Tutorspree in New York, NY.
9 Myths about Tutoring
1. Tutoring is only for the stupid kids.
Some students might take longer grasping a subject, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t have the ability to do so. People who seek tutoring are doing themselves a favor by acknowledging that they need and want to improve. Your reputation won’t be damaged by asking for help.
2. Tutoring is only for rich people.
Finding a normal, reasonable tutor is actually quite easy, and the grade and skills your student earns will pay off in the end. While you do hear stories of the ‘privileged folk’ spending hundreds of dollars on private tutoring, this is generally not the case. Check out “The Price of Tutoring” to see how much you should be paying by city.
3. Tutoring means the teacher isn’t doing his or her job.
Maybe class sizes are large. Maybe your child’s teacher is great, but there’s not enough time in the day for individual attention. If your student needs help, it’s time to get that help, not to start pointing fingers.
4. Your child doesn’t need help.
Just because your child doesn’t ask for help, doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t need it. (See SimpleK12’s post, “8 Things Students Are Afraid to Tell You”.)
5. It’s impossible to find a smart, reliable tutor.
No one likes going through pages and pages on Craigslist looking for a tutor that only might be good. Nor do we like telling people that we’re being tutored by our neighbor’s aunt. Although tutors are often matched up through word-of-mouth, it’s not hard to find someone with the right skills, motives, and dedication (see #6). Our search engine at Tutorspree.com can help you find the perfect fit.
6. Tutors are just in it for the money… and they’re not worth the money.
Au contraire! The best tutors also work as teachers, teaching assistants, and education professionals and love what they’re doing. Don’t settle for someone who learned the subject ten years ago and hasn’t used it since.
7. Tutoring takes too much time.
A little goes a long way. Even spending one hour a week on a subject can make a lasting impact. And once your student gets their handle on a certain concept, chances are, they’ll have the confidence to tackle on and absorb new material. Plus, most tutors are flexible and should work to accommodate your busy schedule.
8. Tutoring is only needed to save you from getting an “F”.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Tutoring can also be a source of enrichment and a powerful tool to learn something new.
9. Tutoring is only for kids in school.
Tutoring doesn’t just apply to math, science, and your other K-12 subjects. It’s about learning, and learning is for people of any age, in any subject. How about getting a tutor in violin, singing, cooking, or hip-hop? Or, let’s say you have an important meeting in two weeks and want to brush up on your public speaking skills. Meeting with a tutor beforehand is an easy way to get the job done.
What other myths are there about tutoring and learning outside the classroom?
About the Author:
Iris Yuan is an Education Consultant at Tutorspree in New York, NY. You can learn more about Tutorspree by visiting their website: , reading their blog, or following them on Twitter @tutorspree
P.S. Want to have your blog post featured by SimpleK12 like Iris? Click here to find out how you can be a SimpleK12 Guest Blogger too
