Frequently Asked Questions

How will my child benefit from individualized instruction?
Your child will benefit from one on one instruction because it is tailored to his or her learning style. Every child has learning strengths; the tutor builds learning capacity focusing on the child's strengths. The relationship between the tutor and child must be positive; the tutor not only focuses on skill development, but building confidence as well. Confidence contributes to building capacity. Individualized instruction is about narrowing the gaps in your child's learning. As your child learns and grows, confidence and capacity grow as well!

Why is two tutoring sessions a week most commonly recommended?
Tutoring is commonly recommended twice a week for consistency. It takes repetition, practice, and continuity for children to retain learned information. Two sessions a week supports the working memory and improves accuracy.

Should I share with my child's school that he/she is receiving tutoring help?
It is helpful for an outside specialist to collaborate with your child's teachers. This collaboration creates a positive relationship that benefits your child's performance in the classroom and supports the instruction he receives outside of school.

How can tutoring support my child's grade level curriculum?
Tutoring will support the curriculum your child is learning by integrating the content into the lessons planned for his individualized instruction.

Will I be told if my child is ready to graduate from tutoring?
Your child will be ready to move on once he/she reaches a level of independence that allows him/her to implement learned strategies and apply skills developed on her/his own. Depending on the child, I sometimes recommend reducing tutoring to once a week in preparation for moving on. My goal is for your child to be able to apply the skills and study habits he or she's developed through tutoring on his or her own in the classroom.

When should homework assigned from school become part of my child's tutoring sessions?
This depends on each child. However, in fifth grade, I typically individualize my teaching of basic skills along with completing a writing, reading or math assignment. We also integrate organizational and study skills.

How can I best help my child on the days he doesn't receive tutoring?
I walk my students through what they can work on when I am not present. For developing readers it may be reviewing sounds, sight words and rereading a book or chapter to improve fluency. For a child in the fourth or fifth grade, it could be self editing his or her writing, or completing the next step in a longer homework assignment.

Why is my child resistant to working with a tutor?
Children often have a hard time working through areas of academic difficulty because it is frustrating not being able to accomplish a task. With clear and consistent guidelines, empathy, and encouragement, your child will develop confidence in his ability to overcome challenges and feel reassured.

Will my child's tutoring, learning style, etc. remain confidential?
All information about your child will be held in confidence unless you grant permission for me to speak with your child's teachers. There are benefits to collaborating with your child's teacher regarding the tutor's work with the child. If you would like me to discuss your child with his/her teacher, your child's profile will be discussed in a respectful and professional manner.

Is it okay for my child to watch television?
There are some great educational shows for your kids to watch when they need downtime. We all need some time each day to unwind; I believe that watching a measured amount of an age appropriate show is a way for children to relax.