You may be struggling in school, and feel like a failure. You may have big academic goals, and feel like you need help in reaching them. Could a tutor help? Much of what we learn best is learned from individual instruction, whether it be from parents, grandparents, mentors, friends, co-workers, or teachers. We each have unique needs and ways of learning, and tutoring taps into this effective method of teaching and learning. But can a tutor help you? Would it be worth the cost in time and money? Should you get a tutor?
Since ancient times, skills and knowledge have been passed on through one-on-one instruction, and it is as effective today as it has always been. As a high school teacher and owner of a tutor referral service, I have seen the value of individualized instruction—the more individualized the instruction, the better.
I believe that tutoring can always improve learning. But this does not mean every student should have a tutor. Hiring a tutor is an investment, and like any investment, the costs must be weighed against the benefits. How much do I stand to benefit from hiring a tutor? Will the benefit outweigh the cost? There are at least three important questions to consider when deciding whether to get a tutor.
First, how well you are currently performing in school? Obviously, if you are already doing well, you may not need a tutor. But then again, that depends on what level of performance is acceptable to you. Many people may think of tutors when they are failing or doing poorly, and of course, tutoring is an important option in such cases. A tutor can make the difference between passing and failing, graduating and not graduating. But a tutor can also help make the difference between a B and an A, and this can also be a good reason to get a tutor.
The second consideration is your motivational level. Are you really trying? Are you willing to put real effort into learning? Is improvement really important to you? No matter what your reason for seeking a tutor, it is unlikely to help if you are not motivated or not really trying. Before you call for a tutor, look inside yourself, and ask yourself whether you really want to do better, and how badly you want it.
If you are having trouble with motivation, a tutor may be able to help, but he or she will need to start by working on your motivation and goals, rather than math, English, or other subjects. Before you can improve your grades, you have to want to do so. Tutoring is not a magic pill. The tutor cannot download the understandings and skills into your mind. He or she is there to help you acquire your own skills and understanding. That requires your action.
The question of motivation is closely tied to the next one: What are your goals? If you are not motivated to perform in school, it may be because you simply value something else more highly.
What are your goals and priorities in life? If you have never answered these questions, now is the time to start. You may find that answering this question solves the rest of the problems automatically.
The tutor cannot answer this for you. Only you know what you want out of life. For many people, fogginess about goals and priorities automatically leads to struggles with motivation. So, set some goals. Read Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (or Sean Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens), and do some real soul-searching. “Know thyself”, as Socrates put it. A tutor or mentor can help you sort it out. For a challenging perspective, watch this video on YouTube.
Setting goals will help answer the question of how well you need to do in school. What are your goals, and what kinds of grades do you need to achieve them? For some colleges, C’s and B’s may not be acceptable, and straight A’s may help you stand out. Then again, if college is not in your plans, maybe it would make sense for you to spend more time preparing for an alternative: starting a business, learning a trade, or building your own vocation. Maybe you need to make school a priority, or maybe your time would be better spent on something else. Even if college is your goal, maybe there is another task that is more important right now, like a job, family responsibilities, or college scholarship applications. You will need to answer these questions and weigh your priorities. Do you have time to put more work into school? Tutoring takes time, and the more work you put into it, the more you will get out. You may need to reevaluate your priorities and reassess your whole schedule. A goal setting and life-coaching program can help you to sort out these issues, set goals and clear priorities, and plan your schedule accordingly.
If you decide that improving your academic performance is an important goal for you, then the benefits of tutoring may well outweigh the cost. Tutoring could make the difference between getting into college and not getting into college, getting a scholarship and not getting a scholarship, getting a job and not getting a job, getting credit in a class and not getting credit in a class. Tutoring may cost you time and money, but if you have the need and the motivation, tutoring is a time-tested and powerful tool at your disposal. Every one of us is a unique individual, but we don’t have to “go it alone”.
Looking for a tutor in Mansfield, Woodstock, Brooklyn, Pomfret, Tolland, Norwich, North Stonington, or anywhere else in eastern CT? Visit kttutors.com today to set up a free in-home consultation. The Knowledge Team also offers online tutoring services anywhere in the world.
