How Do You Know Your Child Needs a Tutor?

There are ads all over town for different tutoring centers that pledge to give your child a leg-up academically.  But are the outcomes worth the time and cost involved?

According to local experts, it's important to get needed support as soon as possible in a child's academic career. Service providers say that the essential foundations of basic skills and classwork strategies must be in place early, in order for students to stay ahead of the curve in school.

The Tutoring Club in Katonah is an owner-operated franchise that has been in business for almost six years.  Patricia Wagner, who has a doctorate in Special Education, believes that personal relationships with her clients make a big difference.

"I get to know the kids and what kind of support they need—whether it is making sure their reading level is on target, mastering math basics, offering accelerated work, or holding classes designed for students with attention issues," she said. "We help them build a strong foundation."

Another service called Aino Education opened in Mount Kisco in August.  What sets it apart, according to its founder Colin Greene, are its proprietary curricula.

"We have a new approach that is tailored to each particular student," he says. "We engage the students by customizing the lesson around something that interests them, for example.  And for students who need extra stimulation, we find ways to challenge them."  The tutoring can also be focused around test preparation or specific subject areas.  This kind of coaching can cost in the range of $100 to $200 per hour, according to Greene.

"We are not just competing with the kid down the block," he added.  "The challenge is to build core skills to compete globally and prepare for future careers."

Steve Marcisz, the guidance coordinator at Fox Lane High School echoes that sentiment. "Students are competing nationally for an exam like the SAT," he says. "Without some type of test preparation, kids are not on a level playing field." He says that as many as 50 percent of students use prep courses or private tutors to prepare for big exams.

Not all tutoring or coaching must be done privately. "If a student needs help in a certain subject, our teachers set aside periods to assist them here at the school," Marcisz explained."  In addition to that, there are free online prep sites that are very good,he says, like www.number2.com.

How does a parent know if a child would benefit from tutoring services?

The following is a short checklist, provided by Cross River private tutor Denise Racanelli, who coaches elementary-aged kids from local schools.  She believes that parents are their child's best advocate and should ask themselves:

• In what areas do you notice your child struggling?
• Is your child having trouble keeping up with the pace of the classroom or having difficulty managing time?
• Is there a discrepancy between your child's ability and their performance level?
• Do they have a positive outlook on school?
• Do they make negative self-references like "I'm not as smart as other kids" or "I just don't get it"?
• Are they trying too hard to please parents and teachers while perhaps compensating for what they are missing?
• Does your child seem to be well-adjusted, not just in school, but in other areas?

For Pat Chambers, a Katonah mother of four, hiring a private tutor for her daughter has made a huge difference.  "My middle-schooler needed help back in second grade—it was a difficult year," Chambers says.  "Having a professional work with her one-on-one, focusing on basic reading and organizational skills was exactly what my daughter needed.  It was hard for me to do on my own because a kid does not always respond the same way to their mother."

She says the cost for a private tutor was about the same as a tutoring club – well worth the relief from the frustration around schoolwork, for both mother and daughter.