Teenage Tutor and babysitter

[lika123]

Hi,
I was just wondering if any of you would be willing to hire a teenager for weekend tutoring and babysitting for 5-11 year olds in London.

I am predicted 10 A*s at GCSEs and successfully tutored a my mums friends son from a stage where he was behind in his class and barely able to read to wanting to buy books all the time. I really wanted to continue with this but unfortunately they moved away. This summer I also taught beginners piano to some children on my road.

I would love to teach KS1 english and maths or trial lessons in piano before parents commit to buying the instrument. Parents have always said that students learn better with me as I'm not the typical 'scary, mean lady who brings the work' but more of a peer. I can even get references and have a St. Johns Ambulance first aid certification.

Would parents in London be willing to pay £6 - £7.50 for this in London? Or an I being to optimistic .

I would even do a free lesson where the parents could watch my teaching methods.

Even though I am young, I have grown up with tutors, au pairs and nannies and I understand what works, what doesn't and what young people really respond to.

What a brilliant idea :)
Move 300 miles north, then we'll talk
Seriously, good for you and good luck

I'm afraid I wouldn't hire you as an English tutor based on that post, which is riddled with grammatical errors. Sorry.

Have you passed Grade 8 piano?

I can see two errors and one repetition. Not too bad IMO :)

Sorry one additional error
But my comment still stands

Commas? Apostrophes?

Very sorry, I am aware of all the typos and missing apostrophes, I am currently typing on an iPad.

I can assure you that as a debater and a member of my local youth parliament I am an avid reader and my usual written grammar is very good.

I am not yet at grade eight unfortunately. I'm still studying grade 6, have done grade 5 theory and am doing music GCSEs as well as regularly playing for enjoyment and at church events.

Although people often say that you need grade 8 to be able to teach, I would only be willing to do beginners lessons before teacher purchase a piano or commit to an expensive teacher. At the moment I am playing Beethoven and Mozart and so I am fully confident that I could guide a child through popular methods of teaching such as Pauline Hall's tunes for ten fingers (the way I learnt to play).

"Or an I being to optimistic." - two typos and no question mark. A professional English Tutor needs to check these things.

*before parents purchase...

Yes good point about apostrophes, I'm so used to it now my brain fills them in.
Gold star for grammar though.
Anyway will leave as I'm not in a position to do this much as I'd like to, and I'm just cluttering up the thread. Good luck op

Good luck to you. I wouldn't pay for an English Tutor who hasn't passed their GCSE, no matter how much they read.

I would look for a better qualified piano teacher too. Sorry.

Point taken, slow down with my writing before searching for a job, especially one where I am trying to sell my brain. Not that I am in any position to judge, but I am quite sure that job titles shouldn't be capitalised ohmychrist.

Thank you, I understand

I Am not in London anyway but I wouldn't hire a GCSE student to teach my children, sorry. It would be a minimum of A level student

If it's a title, capital letters should be used. As should the subject names. 'English' should never be written 'english'.

Good luck to you, but why not concentrate on your studies for now?

I have an early AS level in RS: ethics which I got 91% in this summer. This shows my commitment to my studies as well as my essay writing skills which have been lacking on this thread. Make any difference?

No, of course it doesn't. Sorry.

You need to set a really good example and not being bothered about mistakes in an advertisement isn't great. Typing in an ipad is no excuse.

In theory, not a bad idea but I wouldn't risk my children's education with someone so young.

Piano lessons I might have a trial though.

Also, you have posted in the wrong topic so expect to be deleted. There is a note to this end at the top of the thread.

Okay, so there are a number of grammatical and punctuation errors, however, you are showing initiative. When writing an advert check, check and check again. People can be very quick to criticise and judge.
You sound as though you could make learning fun for children.
The best way to get clients is through word of mouth. Ask the mum of the boy you tutored to spread the word, be proactive talk to mums out with their children - library, park etc. Prepare lesson plans and a scheme of work for a period of 6 weeks to show potential clients. Also don't sell yourself short, state an hourly rate of at least £8 for the lesson you teach. It will take you at least an hour to prepare a one hour session. You won't get paid for that time.
Good luck.

Point taken. My original thought was that I know many parents who can't afford a 'real' tutor for their children but would appreciate someone who could effectively teach their child their times tables, long multiplication, spellings, handwriting and general homework help. Even someone to go through reading books or help with a research project. When I was younger I had someone do this to me so I was curious to see if it was normal or they were just the exception.

Tapestry12, thank you very much for the useful advice.

Yes I would see this as a babysitter with additional benefits
Can I point out that this poster has better grammar and spelling than many mners, including some teachers. She has accepted criticism and advice graciously. And she is (presumably) 15.
This is the sort of young woman I'd like as an influence in my Dcs' lives.
And now I really a, shutting up before op gets scared of her stalker ;)

That is exactly what I am aiming to do Stealthpolarbear. Thank you very much.

I am a professional tutor and it has seen me through financially from 1st year undergrad to finishing my PhD - it is a fulfilling and flexible job and when I was 19 I was popular for all the reasons you have been commended.

Although I am impressed by your resourcefulness to do your market research here, I would say the best thing to do is to advertise on a tutoring website and through word of mouth in your local area. Offer test lessons for free and aim at a younger market - particularly the sad, disaffected kids who hate school/their teachers, as your youth will offer them something that school doesn't. Don't try and tutor common entrance, 11+ or GCSEs, as they demand specialist skills that require training and experience, but focus on offering reading or homework support, or baby sitting "plus".

If you are good, parents will keep you. If you aren't, they won't. You'll soon find out. In my first year solo (having previously been with a London-based agency), I charged £15 per hour and had about 10 students all year. Now, I have a waiting list and charge three times my original hourly rate. Basically, I'm pretty damn good, so parents pass me around, or I inherit younger siblings or cousins, and I advertise lightly to top up.

However, it takes time. So go for it, but start small and build a reputation, which it sounds like you've already begun doing.