How Much Tutoring Does My Child Need?
Students will require different amounts of tuition based on several factors:
- Current academic standing: The worse their current performance, the more effort it will take to improve.
- Goals: The more ambitious their goals, the more effort it will take to reach them.
- Grade level: The higher the grade level, the harder the work and the more effort it will take to improve.
- Work ethic: The lower the student’s work ethic and motivation, the more effort it will take to improve.
- Standards at their school: The faster the school class moves, and the harder their school assignments, the more effort it will take to improve.
- Time frame of goal: The faster they want to achieve their goal, the more effort it will take.
As each student progresses, the considerations above will also change, and the amount of tutoring needed will evolve as well.
What Success Takes
The truth is that if a student wants to do well, just getting through the work isn’t enough. They must:
- Take whatever time is necessary to deeply understand each concept, including those challenging word problems, well enough to explain it to someone else.
- Regularly spend time revising and strengthening weak areas.
- Learn and habituate effective study habits and organizational skills.
- Periodically complete timed practice tests to ensure they have good exam techniques, including time management and anxiety management.
- Practice, practice, practice… and, did we mention practice? 🎯
The Universal “Getting Stuck” Experience
This is probably the most universal experience for maths students: The tutor explains an idea, and the student gets it. They even successfully answer some questions on their own. But when the tutor leaves, the student still “gets stuck” when they try it on their own. They can’t continue with the next exercise and have to wait until the next lesson to resolve their problem. When they’re at school, they don’t feel 100% confident in class because they know they couldn’t figure out certain problems from the last homework session. This experience can significantly disrupt their progress, motivation, and confidence. 😓
Maybe this happens because the entire tutoring session was spent answering all of the student’s outstanding questions, and there wasn’t enough time to ensure deep comprehension of every concept. Perhaps the tutor was focused on getting through as much content as possible instead of deeply understanding it. Maybe there wasn’t enough time for practice. Either way, “getting through” content doesn’t create true comprehension, and when the student inevitably gets stuck on their own, it disrupts their motivation and momentum.
How Much Tutoring Does Your Child Need? The Most Common Options:
1 Hour Fortnightly
This option is suitable for students who are generally doing well but experience occasional difficulties with the work. It helps maintain their current level, strategize for an upcoming exam, and deal with minor challenges as they arise.
1 Hour Once Per Week
An hour per week usually helps students review past work and revise upcoming material. However, for students already struggling, this might not be enough. The tutor needs time to answer all questions, ensure true comprehension, and cover revisions and exams. This option is most suitable for primary school students or high school students who need a small boost. 💡
1.5 Hours Once Per Week
This option provides a bit more time for the tutor to slow down and ensure the student understands each concept deeply. The additional half hour allows for more revision, exam reviews, and time to work on study habits and organizational skills. It’s best for high school students who need medium-sized improvements. However, it may not be enough for grade 11 or 12 students needing a significant improvement.
1 Hour Twice Per Week
Two hours of tuition a week is considered the best option for achieving high results in the shortest time. This provides a consistent and structured approach, with ample time for the tutor to address the student’s needs without feeling rushed. The student will quickly gain confidence and stay on top of their work. This option is necessary for students who are behind and need significant improvement, or for grade 11-12 students who want to do extremely well. 💪
In General…
The more tutoring a student receives, the faster they will improve. In an ideal situation, the student would receive regular tutoring for several months to catch up to the class and become an independent learner. After that, they could stop tutoring or scale back significantly. Short to medium-term, intensive tutoring is much more effective than long-term passive tutoring. 🕒
Many parents opt for 1 hour of tutoring once a week. However, they might cancel sessions for holidays, weekend trips, or due to sickness, leading to delays and a constant cycle of catching up. This makes improvement slower, as the student becomes dependent on the tutor instead of developing the confidence to help themselves.
A Disclaimer…
Please note that this is general advice based on our experience and observations. Each situation is unique, so the best way to determine how much home tutoring your child needs is to speak with them and their tutor after the first 1-2 lessons. Also, consider your child’s willingness to engage. If they’re resistant to tutoring, it’s better to start with 1 hour per week and get them on board, rather than pushing for 2 hours a week right away. The key is to avoid creating resistance and frustration. 😌
