These days, tutors for early elementary school students are not uncommon -- some families even choose to get their kindergartners extra help. Life at home can be much easier if the bulk of the homework has been done or at least discussed before dinner time. And, for kids who have learning problems, a neutral homework coach with knowledge of what is being covered at school is a great ally.
If you think extra homework help is needed, take the following steps to ensure you make the best choices for your child.
Evaluate If Your Child Is Behind. First, make sure you have realistic expectations for your child. In addition to looking at report cards and talking with the teacher, have an understanding of the skills that a child is expected to master at each grade level:
If your child has extreme difficulty with homework, or if home assignments are consuming too much family time, consider investing in a professional tutoring service. Costs vary and can quickly add up, so your first step when considering this option is to help your child develop a commitment to working with the tutor and trying to learn the material.
Look at Your Options.Tutoring is available in many forms. Check with your school first to see what they offer for group extra help or one-on-one assistance. Next, look at local organizations that operate kid clubs since many of these groups also offer after-school homework help.
If your child has extreme difficulty with homework, or if home assignments are consuming too much family time, consider investing in a professional tutoring service. Costs vary and can quickly add up, so your first step when considering this option is to help your child develop a commitment to working with the tutor and trying to learn the material.
Keep the Learning Going. In many instance, young children may need help getting ramped up or learning how to organize themselves to study or tackle increasingly challenging workloads. If you see an improvement after some initial tutoring help, don't assume that your child won't benefit from continued help. If you'd prefer not to continue formal tutoring. You might consider hiring a mature high school student. Ongoing interaction with a successful older child can not only help keep your young student on track, but the high schooler could provide an excellent role model for success that will inspire your child.
