what to expect from a home tutor

[cheesesarnie]

we have a tutor coming on friday to meet dd-10,ds 9 and ds2 4.not sure what to expect.theyre doing maths and english.the tutor knows that ds1 is dyslexic and that ds2 is starting full time primary in september.

[PatriciaHolm]

Well, why are you employing them? Surely start by talking to them about that. They will then be able to tell you what they can do to help.

[SleepingLion]

Need a bit more information! What are you expecting the tutor to do? - are they coming to tutor all 3 children at once? Even your DS2? A tutor at 4 seems a little excessive!

I tutor a boy once a week in English - started with him half way through Year 9 and he has just finished Year 10. I anticipate being with him until he has taken his GCSEs; I spend an hour with him - sometimes on tasks I have chosen to develop his key skills in the subject, sometimes on things he needs more support with/going over again things he has covered in class. I always turn up with a lesson planned but aim to be flexible depending on his needs.

Presumably the reason for having a tutor for primary age children is that they haven't yet nailed the key literacy and numeracy skills? In that case, that is what you want the tutor to do to ensure that they start secondary school with the foundations in place. Not sure about the four year old! - you're probably better off working with him yourself and letting the tutor focus on the older two.

[cheesesarnie]

the tutors were recommended by ds1 school to all parents as 'extra help' when they(the tutor) phoned it was them who said about ds2,i thought it was bit odd,hes 4!
when they come on friday its as like a trial thing to see if dc/we can benefit from theyre help.

[domesticsluttery]

The tutors were recommended by the school?

Isn't that like the school just saying that they aren't doing their jobs properly?

[ViveLaFrak]

Well that depends on why they're having a tutor really or why the school recommended the tutor.

That sounds all very odd to me, though, with the tutor calling up about your DS2

Generally you can expect the tutor to do some kind of evaluation on what they need to catch up on (or use the school's info), have a couple of targets in each session with fun activities to practise a key skill e.g. addition, problem solving, comprehension and keep you updated about their progess.

Tutors specialising in work with dyslexic children should have a range of suggested strategies for coping with unfamiliar words, making educated guesses at spelling, detangling sentences etc.

[cheesesarnie]

thanks.they phoned about ds2 then asked if i had any other school age children.i mentioned ds2 but said he wasnt even starting school till september.
i think for ds1 the help would be more for learning stratergies and confidence-his school is fantastic but he does need extra help.for dd -her school is too big for her to get the extra help she needs,shes slightly behind on maths and english although making great progress recently.

[IndigoBell]

This sounds like a marketing ploy I've seen a lot. If you read the letter properly I think you'll see that the school doesn't recommend them - they are just handing out the leaflet they have been handed.

I'd run a mile from them. They are just trying to get money from anxious parents!

[cheesesarnie]

really? the school said on an attached note that some parents from the school had had alot of luck with them last year.maybe i should cancel?or should i wait till friday and see how it goes?was bit worried about the time,theyre coming at 7pm for an hour and a half.so dc will be getting tired and ds1 especially needs chill time.ive no way of contacting anyone that tried it last year!

[SleepingLion]

For a start, they should be coming at a mutually convenient time - if 7 pm isn't convenient, phone them and tell them that you need to rearrange. But I am a bit worried that you don't sound convinced that this is what you want - my tutee's mum sought me out, I didn't go hunting her down! Why were they phoning you and not the other way round?

Don't let yourself be flannelled into something you don't want and your children don't really need. I would put a firm stop to any discussion about tutoring for the 4 yr old for a start - that is completely unnecessary and just blatant profiteering on their part.

I would ask a number of specific questions about how they intend to tailor their tutoring towards your son's specific needs and how they intend to balance his needs with your daughter's if they are tutoring both together.

Ask about price too - I charge £20 per hour, which is on the low side - make sure you aren't being ripped off.

[cheesesarnie]

thankyou-thats exactly the kind of stuff i need to know!i'll give them a ring