Have you used a tutor?

[JD03]

Hi,

My first post on mumsnet so please bear with me, though a lurker on and off for a while!!

I am considering getting a tutor for my son, who is just about to turn 7. He is in year 2 and the youngest in his class, and he has made great progress over the laSt year and is around average for his year on most things.

However, he has come home recently and admitted that he struggles with some aspects of english and maths.

He is a bubbly outgoing, confident little boy at the moment and I dont want that to change because he feels he is not as able as his other friends, so was thinking of a tutor to help him, not from aN academic achievemnet persepctive, but to help and support him so that he feels he is not behind.

Myself and hubby do homework with him and he flys through it sometimes and not on others, however when we do try to help we are always concernec that we are showing him the wrong way of doing things as approach to maths and english is quite different now!, so I think this is more about techniques and how to do things rather than not being capabe.

So, anyway, after ramble!!, am thinking of a tutor for 1 hour a week, anyone have any experience with this?

Many thanks
JD

I posted a very similar post to this a few weeks ago - asking if anyone had ever tutored just to increase confidence, as a 'boost' rather than for any specific purpose or school entrance attempt! I had very few answers, interestingly.

We're looking into doing just this for our dd1 in Y3, who had disrupted years in YR and Y1 due to teachers going on maternity leave, another one being seriously ill, etc etc. Its only now that dd2 is finishing Reception that I can see the difference in what consistency can give - and perhaps a teacher who is more experienced, too, as well as different child of course.

dd1 clearly has some wobbly bits in maths concepts that dd2 is grasping very firmly - so a bit of friendly tutoring will hopefully help her feel more secure. She's in her top set for maths, just about, but has no confidence - and refuses to do much at home with me, so we're hoping this is the way forward: she is keen, and her best friend is doing the same thing

Oh, and a big 'welcome' to MN!

Thanks for the welcome Elibean!

Its exactly that, a booster for his confidence and yes, our DS doesn't really like doing anything other than his homework with us, coupled with the fact that we don't really know what to do! I was confident when he started school that I would support him and help him with school work, how to do things etc, but it is quite different from when I was at school!

Interestingly, my DS2 (4) and DD (3) are coming on leaps and bounds as they see and hear and like to do what DS1 does so their written, counting and addition, subtraction etc is really good already (I didnt think they were capabke at that age!), so I think it also proves that any extra support can only help. As DS 1 is first with everything, it is as new to us as it is to him to some extent......

I have also discussed with DS1 and he seems keen, he is interested in school and his work, which I think is half the battle, I just want to make sure he doesnt feel pressured in anyway as thats the last thing I want.

I am thinking of starting in July, so that he has an houe a week through the summer hols so he doesn't forget the last terms work!!

Are you thinking of tutoring over the summer to?

Sorry, inset days and away so rubbish signal! No, we'll start in September I think - but have assessment in July. I think having a lovely tutor must help - just make sure you find one that you have a good feeling about!

Good luck :)

I tutor maths and have mainly GCSE students but I do also have some children who are in KS2 (I also offer KS1). My first and main objective at any age is always to inspire more confidence in maths. Being able to do exam questions or brushing up on topics is important but the confidence is key with the children I tutor. Tutoring doesn't have to be 'hot housing' style- I do a lot of games, mental maths activities, using the whiteboards, break the concepts down into very small steps- very much like you might see at school but with the tailored 1:1 aspect.

I think it would be important to find the right tutor with a similar attitude, don't be afraid of conatcting a few to see what they do but be clear with what you want. The relationship between tutor and tutee is really important so it's worth taking the time to get the right one.

I'm thinking of tutoring now for DS (year 3) who is doing ok in English/ literacy but he doesn't find it easy. I have been wondering if tutoring for a few months could give him a boost so that he finds the work at school easier and begins to believe in himself more?

I don't know if you want to hear from people who don't think it's a good idea to get a 6 yr old - who you have said yourself is doing fine in school - a tutor ?
If / When my dcs say things along the lines of "he feels he is not as able as his other friends" then that is the time when I talk with them about the things they are good at - be it a sport or making people laugh, or one particular aspect of school, or some musical talent, or their kindness or charms or whatever. Every child can't be top of the class. Maybe, just maybe, he is of "average" academic ability. That would be fine with me. IMVHO, it's his self esteem you'd be better working on rather than more school work.
Of course, being a young one in the year, and being a boy, it's more than likely he's not finished his "catching up" yet, and he will blossom in years to come.

We paid for about 6 sessions. It was really worth it as dc had missed uk system. If you think they are ready to get some basic concepts that could take them forward then a few sessions should be enough. Anything more and it I think it tells you they are not ready. I would also add what hubby and I learnt in 6 sessions was worth the money as we understand how we can help younger siblings.