One of the characteristics that makes someone an outstanding tutor is the ability to impart both the material as well as the means by which to master it.   Mastery is only gained when the student understands the process behind the solution and is able to reproduce it consistently.  Excellent tutors understand and can demonstrate their own learning process and teach their students to do the same.  They also tailor their instruction to students’ unique learning traits, coaching them in understanding how their own minds work.

Here are some questions and comments that help both the student and the tutor better understand the student’s thought process: (more…)

So you, or your child, or your child’s teacher, have decided that extra help outside the classroom is in order.  How then do you go about assessing the many options for tutoring in NYC: peer tutoring, resources at the school, referrals from fellow parents, individuals who specialize in a given subject, tutoring companies that send out a variety of candidates with different skill sets.  Any of these options can result in a positive tutoring experience but if you know what you are looking for, the odds of success will be greatly increased.

Here are the things that we, at Partners With Parents, look for when hiring tutors and selecting candidates to meet specific client requests:

• Knowledge of the Subject – Obvious?  Well, yes.  You should certainly make sure that your tutor is knowledgeable in the subject he or she is about to teach your child.  Beware, however, that credentials alone do not tell the whole story.  I had a Nobel Prize winning chemistry professor in college who couldn’t convey the basic concepts in Chemistry 101.  He was one of the worst teachers I have ever had. (more…)