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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

How much differance should a tutor make ?

30 replies

Welshwoman · 07/05/2009 17:15

Hi - thinking of getting tutor for my DS6 - behind in reading and spelling -

I have seen an advert in the paper teachers to do a 1-2-1 program being run in schools saying 10 x 1 hour sessions and wondered is 10 hours enough to make a real difference or just enough for the gov to say they have done something?

I have found someone who sounds fab - teaches maths and literacy through cooking and gardening - DS has a very kinetic style of learning so think will be a great fit

I was thinking of having tutoring till end of summer holidays maybe 1-2 hours a week as the year 3 class is considerably more academic than the class he has been in - is that too long?

sorry a bit of a mixed question - still sort of thinking it all through

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claricebeansmum · 07/05/2009 17:20

I think he is far too young for tutoring.

In primary children very much learn at their own speed.

The best you can do is continue reading to him through the holidays, let him help you with simple maths when you are out and about.

southeastastra · 07/05/2009 17:22

my ds(7) had about 3 months tutoring, made no difference at all. (should have listened to mn)

AramintaCane · 07/05/2009 17:25

I went on a school trip today and discovered from talking to other parents that four of the children in top set in DD class have tutors. I had no idea it was so common.

AramintaCane · 07/05/2009 17:26

BTW DD is six !

Reallytired · 07/05/2009 17:29

Tutoring (kip McGrath) has made a considerable difference to my son. He is in year 2 and really struggles with hand writing. His tutor has worked on the problems outlined in my son's IEP. Although my son was getting support at school, I felt that 5 minutes a week in a group was laughable.

The tutor has worked on my son's pencil grip and letter formation. It has boosted my son's confidence no end. It has been nice to have someone else to do the work of getting him to practice hand writing.

I think you have to have a definate focus for tutoring to be a sucess.

katiestar · 07/05/2009 17:35

I think you spending 10 minutes working with him everyday would be more beneficial than an hour onece a week.

Original poster

Welshwoman · 07/05/2009 17:42

re the 10 mins a day - we have been doing that for 6 months and he is read to at bed time for 20-30 mins most nights

have recently stared headsprout online

I must say I was not very keen on formal tutoring which was why I was pleased to find the lady who teaches through cooking and gardening as Ds loves pratical stuff

will probably get him assed for dyslexia when he is 7 if the struggle continues

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stickylittlefingers · 07/05/2009 17:44

there are tutors and tutors. My dad worked as one after he retired as a teacher and he was very much focussed on the child and helping them with their difficulties, and absolutely not about getting a child through a particular exam (i.e. common entrance etc). A nice laid back tutor, and one who can give a different style of learning (like the one you've found) could help your child without pressurizing. It's really no more than you would do yourself, then, except with a bit more nouse!

TheProfiteroleThief · 07/05/2009 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AramintaCane · 07/05/2009 17:47

I think the tutor you have found sounds lovely. It couldn't do any harm anyway. How much have they helped the person that told you about them ?

tiredsville · 07/05/2009 18:15

Hi, sorry to jump on your thread but I posted in Education but didn't get a response. I was looking online for a private tutor, found uktutors.com which is £9.99 to register. I wondered if this is the norm? If not, does anyone know of a reputable site?

Original poster

Welshwoman · 07/05/2009 18:57

Hi I found her on UKtutors.com but paid no fee - I think its the tutors who pay the £9.99 - good site as you can search geographically and they all have a little biog on there

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tiredsville · 08/05/2009 11:47

Thanks Welsh, I made contact with a tutor via uktutors.com last night. All seems well so far.

seeker · 08/05/2009 11:50

Does the school say he is behind? He is 6 - you can't possibly know whether he is behind or not because there is such a huge range of "normal" at this age.

mascaraohara · 08/05/2009 12:00

My dd is 6 in year 2 and I posted once before about tutoring

general consesnsus was NO WAY!

My dd is behind with hand writing and numeracy

though ahead in reading she is held back by her terrible (and I do mean terrible) handwriting.. she still doesn't/can not hold a pen/pencil properly

I'm still considering a tutor.. but have take no active steps.. can you keep us posted on how you get on? I'd be very interested

dancingbear · 08/05/2009 14:02

DS - Year 1 is behind in his numeracy due mostly to his inability to listen to instructions - one of his IEP targets - I try to support it at home in a mostly informal way. Have just asked his teacher to give me the list of Maths topics to be covered - a week in advance so I can pre-teach him...mostly so he understands and becomes familiar with the Mathematical vocab.

I would get a tutor if I didn't feel comfortable doing this, if we clashed and he wouldn't co-operate or if I worked and didn't have the spare time. And I'd probably choose someone who taught through a playful medium.

Original poster

Welshwoman · 08/05/2009 14:42

Seeker not quite sure what you mean? -

Yes, school say is behind which is one factor - his reading age is 5.11 so about a year behind, handwriting the same - but my own instincts also tell me he is behind and that there is a discrepancy between his ??verbal?? intelligence and his reading/writing .skills

I have done a non verbal IQ test with him and it was 136, plus I have tested him for learning style which came out as kinetic - as a dyslexic myself that does hint at some form of dyslexia but Bangor Uni wont test till 7

However a lot of research now suggests that the ??sweet spot ?? for teaching reading is 4-6 much beyond 7 it becomes more difficult - probably a little like languages which are learnt easily till aprox age 12 - hence my reasoning in getting him a tutor who will hopefully teach to his style and likes

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Berrie · 08/05/2009 14:53

I do the one 2 one tuition that you mentioned at the beginning. I can't help feeling that the gardening/cookery tuition sounds fun but not focused enough. I think it would waste precious teaching time. You could have fun doing those things yourself.
There is no need for formal tuition to be boring or unexciting. Anyway, it sounds as if your ds needs something a little more specific.

seeker · 08/05/2009 15:07

I suppose I think that a 6 year old has more important things to do than be tutored. I think they all learn at different speeds and focussing too much on academic development could be counter productive. Many European countries don't start formal education til 7 - so I would question the 4-6 'sweet spot theory. And (sorry - I don't mean to be so constantly questioning you!) - I thought that generally intelligence tests and reading ages were not considered useful diagnostic tools any more?

ICANDOTHAT · 08/05/2009 17:36

If they are good ... LOTS !

Original poster

Welshwoman · 08/05/2009 21:08

Seeker - I don?t mind being questioned - I asked a question as am looking for various opinions, I always think it helps to listen to lots of points of view to make a balanced choice, however there is a difference between opinion and fact - I?m interested in both but they should not be confused

I just found the interrogative tone a little surprising, with such a definite ??you can't possibly know??, a bit rude to be honest.

Also
??I thought that generally intelligence tests and reading ages were not considered useful diagnostic tools any more? ??
Not quite sure what you mean by ?? generally?? - IQ tests are used as a gauge of legal competence and are widely used in the scientific community - there has however always been the knowledge that they are not an absolute and have multiple variables and without going all sociological on you have lots of ??affecting?? factors - Non verbal test are considered to one of the most accurate - a lot of Grammar schools and private school use them as part of their selection process

Re the Sweet spot - This is for teaching ENGLISH - most other European languages are much more phonetic and are easier to learn than the very beautiful but irregular English language - try reading the latest American research by the No Child Left behind program. Headsprout.com has a page on the latest reading research rather than just an ??opinion?? of what people generally think

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Original poster

Welshwoman · 08/05/2009 21:12

Berrie - Does the 10 hours make a difference?

I am very torn between formal tutoring and longer term ??fun?? but less intensive tutoring - we do loads of other things together and his maths is very good

I?m a terrible cook - which is why this tutor appealed - even if his reading dint improve he?s still learing a major life skill J

Thanks everyone for all your fab opinions and ideas

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seeker · 08/05/2009 21:35

I;m sorry - I didn't meant to be rude - perhaps I should have said "one" rather than "you" - that's what I meant.

I'm afraid this is a bit of a hobby horse of mine. It seems to me that a 6 year old with a reading age of 5.11 is very much there or thereabouts, and will probably do a spurt - like my own ds did at the beginning of year 2 - reading scheme one week - Harry Potter the next. I line in a hotbed of tutors and workbooks (11+ area) and I just think it's sad - they are so little, they need to be playing!

Jux · 08/05/2009 21:51

When dd started at her last school half-way through year 2, she had not been in school for over 6m and was way behind in numeracy. I got her a tutor for 1/2hr a week for about half a term. It made a huge difference.

She is now in y5, has always been in the top set and the tutor has become a good family friend too.

Original poster

Welshwoman · 08/05/2009 22:09

Seeker - he is 7 in August so 6.9 almost a year behind in reading age - they did the all Wales reading test yesterday - I would love him to have a ??spurt?? and catch up - I would much prefer to spend the £15 an hour on books - but as a dyslexic myself am afraid that if he gets too far behind it will affect all his further years in school - as a summer baby he is already at a disadvantage.

We live in the country and he spends most of his free time sitting in trees, paddling in the brooks and chasing my chickens - I?m hoping and hour a week of tutoring wont scar him for life J

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