Summer is finally here and your kids are headed home from school for eight long weeks of rest. If you’re like most parents, you’re probably interested in finding ways to keep them busy over the break with fun camps or other activities. In addition, as you review your child’s final report card of the year, you may have also noticed that they did not perform as well as you hoped during the previous school year. Hiring a private tutor may be just what your child needs to boost their performance next year and here are four reasons why getting some outside help may be an excellent idea:
Because the Summer Slide is Real: If the only slide that comes to mind during Summer break is the one at your kid’s favorite waterpark: think again. Though students may have a blast slipping and sliding into a fun swimming pool, they are also at a great risk of sliding into a loss of many key reading skills they learned during the school year if they are not provided with engaging and meaningful opportunities to maintain them over the Summer months. It’s called the “Summer Slide”, and though it disproportionately affects students from low-income backgrounds who may have limited access to literacy programs and reading over the Summer, students from middle to high income homes may also experience some loss if they are not provided opportunities to retain and refine the reading skills they’ve gained during the school year. If the majority of your child’s Summer plans involve playing, sleeping and snacking, hiring a private tutor for as little as once or twice a week is a great way to provide them with opportunities to prevent the Summer Slide and be better prepared for the upcoming school year.
Because You’ve Been Fighting All Year Long: In the past three years or so that I’ve worked as a private tutor, I’ve noticed a very familiar sequence of events when I get new clients. First, they call or email me to find out if I am good fit for their family. Next, they invite me over to their home or to a local coffee house to meet their wonderful children. There, we talk about the children’s interests and personality and the fun things they do outside of school. Then, we have our first session and the truth comes out. Eyes roll and speaking volumes rise as the parent introduces me to their child’s homework habits and class assignments. My head turns left and right like a pingpong ball as each party attempts to convey their version of what the student really needs “help” with until finally, I get a word in edgewise to smile and say “I have it from here” as the mother retreats to fold the laundry, run an errand or have a glass of wine.
It’s true, I do just as much mediating and bridge building between parents and children, because at the end of the day, sometimes kids just don’t respond as well to their parents attempts to help them as they do to a middle man like a private tutor. If you think a partnership with someone your child will grow to love and trust may be the key to creating a more calm and productive study time at home, send me an email and we’ll talk about it.
Because You Dropped the Ball Last Year: When I was a classroom teacher, I’d always have one or two parents that I could rarely get in touch with during the school year as their child struggled through each grading period. They’d miss conferences, fail to respond to emails and never returned phone calls. Finally at the end of the year, when their child was on the brink of failure and possibly being recommended for retention, they’d vow to “work with them over the Summer,” and despite the mental side-eye my inner mind was giving them, I’d politely smile, hand them a list of things they could do at home and wish them well. As a teacher, I am equipped with interventions and tools to assist students who need a little extra help during the school year, but it’s also been my philosophy that student success hinges on investments from tachers and schools just as much as parents and guardians. We all have a role to play and sometimes, parents don’t always hold up their end the bargain at home.
Yet, I get it, parenting is hard. There are tons of responsibilities and commitments involved and sometimes a child’s academic needs aren’t always prioritized as they should be. There’s no judgement to be dished from me if you’re a well-meaning parent who doesn’t really spend as much time on academics as you’d like to with your kids. How-e-ver, if you know that you’re not going to invest the time with your kids that they need (for whatever reason) it may be a good idea to consider hiring a tutor if you are able to. In my experience, I’ve worked with stay-at-home moms busy juggling ballet, soccer and cooking as well as professional mothers who are trying to squeeze in a few minutes of homework help between after-care programs and dinner. It’s a lot to manage and I understand. But, if this sounds like you, are you really confident that next year will be any different from last year if something doesn’t change? Hiring a tutor may just be the answer to fill in the time gap missing in your home!
Because You Want to Give Them a Head Start: Often when people think of “tutor” they think of someone who helps students who are failing and falling behind at school, but that’s not always the case. While I do get hired to help a lot of struggling students, many parents hire me to help their children maintain a few steps ahead of their classmates at school. Even if your child is bringing home excellent marks in their classes, a private tutor can use the Summer months to begin teaching them concepts and skills for the upcoming school year, equipping them with an extra bit of confidence and preparedness for what lies ahead.
No matter what the reason, hiring a private tutor is a great investment in your child’s academic future and now is a great time to reserve your space on the Pink Chair Private Tutoring Schedule. To get started, complete our New Client Survey here, or send us an email here!
Have a Happy Summer!
-Shavonta
