Most students can benefit from the help of a qualified tutor. However, the key to successful tutoring is to choose someone who’s personality, teaching style and qualifications are a good fit for your child.
When interviewing tutors, there are some important questions you should ask. These questions cover everything from the methods used for teaching how your child’s progress is tracked.
Important Questions To Ask When Interviewing Tutors
Q: What are the tutor’s qualifications?
At the beginning of your interview, you should ask the tutor about their qualifications.
- What type of education do they have?
- What subjects did they study in school?
- Have they obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)?
You should hire someone who has a lot of expertise and experience. At the same time, you should also take a look at whether or not the tutor has experience with the particular curriculum your child is scheduled to take.
Q: How much previous experience does the tutor have?
When judging a tutor’s experience, don’t just look at the length of time they’ve been tutoring. Instead, look at the type of subjects and tests they have covered.
For instance, you may find it beneficial to hire a tutor who has completed the same types of tests your child will be taking, regardless of the amount of actual tutoring experience they have. Have they done GCSE tutoring,11+ tutoring or a relevant form of teaching?
Q: Can they provide you with referrals?
A tutor should be happy to provide you with referrals from some of their past clients. Frequently, the best way to learn whether a particular tutor is a good choice is by talking to their previous clients.
Q: Is the tutor familiar with the exam board used by your child’s teacher?
Make sure the tutor is familiar with the particular exam board used by your child’s teacher. You should be able to find a syllabus for each of the boards on the Internet.
Often, there are practice tests that can be downloaded, making it easier for your child to master the materials. You may also want to ask the tutor if they have any experience working as an examiner.
This can be extremely beneficial when it comes to teaching your child.
Q: What types of tutoring do they specialize in?
Some tutors focus most of their attention on teaching for exams. Others focus on helping children master subjects they’re struggling with or on helping kids realize learning can be fun.
If your child needs help with an upcoming test, working with a tutor that specializes in that particular exam is usually the best option. On the other hand, if your child needs general help, you can go with a tutor that takes a broader approach to teach.
Q: Can the tutor present credentials?
Don’t take a tutor at their word. Instead, ask to see their credentials.
They should be happy to provide you with the necessary documentation to prove they’re qualified for the job. This should include teaching certificates as well as a current copy of their background check.
You can ask them to bring this documentation to their initial interview.
Q: What type of teaching methods does the tutor use?
The tutor’s teaching method has to be a good fit for your child’s excellent learning style.
Q: Where does the tutor plan on holding the tutoring sessions?
Tutoring can take place in a variety of different environments. Sometimes, lessons are provided online. In other cases, the tutor may come directly to the child’s house. Internet-based tutoring is a good choice for children who do best when they are in familiar surroundings.
Q: What steps does the tutor take to keep children engaged?
Talk to the tutor about how they can help hold the children’s interest and engagement in the subject matter they’re learning. Often, tutors will use teaching methods designed to make absorbing information more fun.
Ideally, the tutor will work with your child to find out how they learn best so they can adapt their teaching style to your child’s specific needs.
Q: How long is each tutoring session?
Most children have relatively short attention spans. Depending on your child’s needs, you may want to choose a tutor that works in half-hour sessions rather than hour-long sessions.
To decide how long the sessions should be, think about the needs of your child. You can also talk to the tutor about their recommendations.
If necessary, schedule breaks throughout the tutoring session so your child will maintain their focus.
Q: How does the tutor feel about working with your child’s teacher?
In some cases, the tutor may need to work directly with your child’s teacher to help make sure the lessons are a good fit for what the child needs help with. Keep in mind, this type of coordination isn’t always necessary.
It depends on the needs of your child.
Q: Does the tutor provide the teaching resources?
Sometimes, tutors will provide resources such as books, paper, and worksheets. However, you’ll probably need to cover the cost of those resources yourself.
Talk to the tutor about the types of resources they use, and whether or not you have to pay extra for these resources so that you are aware of all of the tutoring-related costs.
Q: How does the tutor keep track of your child’s progress?
It’s important to find out how the tutor gauges whether your child is moving forward.
Q: Will the tutor give your child homework?
Typically, tutors don’t assign homework, simply because students usually already have a lot on their plates. In some cases, however, it may benefit your child to continue working on projects outside of their tutoring sessions.
The key is to keep your child from getting too overwhelmed. Make sure your tutor knows how much homework your child has so they can adjust the amount of homework they assign accordingly.
Q: What assessment methods does the tutor use?
Different tutors assess progress differently. Talk to the tutor about the method they use when assessing your child’s progress.
Q: How will the tutor keep you updated on your child’s progress?
As a parent, it is important to be kept in the loop when it comes to your child’s tutoring sessions. Different tutors handle this differently.
In some cases, they may present you with written reports. In other cases, they may want to meet with you in person to talk about how your child is doing.
Q: Can you reach the tutor outside of the time normally scheduled for lessons?
If you have a question for the tutor, can you get a hold of them between lessons? Sometimes, tutors are open to this.
In other cases, they prefer only to communicate with clients during scheduled times or specific hours.
Learning to study and willingness to study are two completely different subjects when it comes to kids. Some kids don’t know how to study, and they don’t have the best studying skills.
Others are simply unwilling to take the time to focus on the topics they need to cover for the next day or an upcoming test. Get tips to help your kids turn from whatever is currently distracting them to taking the time and having the skills they need to succeed in the competitive world of school.
