Ma & Pa do the tutoring in our house. I think a lot of people kind of get scared off from doing it, but it's not that hard, and the money and, more importantly, time saved from doing it on our own is significant.
The exception is OT; we have outsourced that in the past, but we do try and take notes of what's done so we can work on it at home in the same fashion. |
English is my second language and I have never learned phonics. I am 100% unable to teach phonics to my son. Also, I don’t know how to teach numbers either. I can help him memorize them and write them of course, but the abstract concepts are something that teachers are much better than me at. Also, playing games that are fun is important. Finally, my son learns much better from someone that is not his parents. My older kids don’t need tutor because I am 100% capable in helping them learning the states and capitals or multiplications/divisions and fractions. The money I spend on tutors for my son are probably the best money I could ever spend! |
One of my high school children does. We cant help him with his math-- multi-variable Calculus-- so he has a tutor. He really just reviews concepts and homework with the tutor so he feels more confident. Math was easy for him until he hit Calculus. |
Tutoring is a function of wealth more than anything else.
In my wealthy neck of the woods where the public/private school breakdown is 50/50, nearly all kids are tutored, whether for remedial or getting-ahead purposes. My oldest has ADHD and needed tutoring by us in elementary, and outside tutors in middle and high school, to get straight As. The costly kind: one-on-one, in-person by excellent people, from $90 to $250/hr. My second is gifted, organized, and everything you could wish for academically. We're still going to get her SAT test prep to ensure a perfect score. This has financial repercussions: A. It's cheaper than 70K a year at Sidwell, and the kids in private still get tutors. B. Oldest got merit aid in college for his high stats. I expect second kid to do the same. |
Sort of.
DS has excelled at math since a young age, and his teachers suggested he try the AMC8 contest beginning in 6th. The coach charged a fee for the prep sessions. That turned into Math Counts. He made the school team. Coach still charged $$ for weekly online classes with other children. We told him he could quit the coaching anytime. He wanted to continue (his idea). Has done geometry in 8th & just accepted into TJ. But I think it’s more him than the online coaching for mathcounts. |
Yes. DC has severe adhd and a math disability and other. He’s had a math tutor since 6th grade and is in the 11, also has has English tutor and Spanish tutor for all 3 grades. |
Spouse and I are the tutors. We supplement a fair amount of work and teaching home, I help my one that struggles with executive function stay organized and on top of things. Not gifted in the sense that no one is graduating high school at 12, but highly accelerated for their age/grade. Public school- where they would learn very little if entirely left up to school. |
He’s five. You don’t need to teach him phonics or whatever it is you’re talking about. Unless he has a learning disability he will learn all these basic skills in class with his classmates. |
This. My kids are still little (PK, 1st, 4th) and we haven’t seen a need yet. Growing up I did kumon and had a latin tutor for a bit so I would get rotors for my kids if I saw a need. If we didn’t pay $50K/year in tuition for each of them to go to private school on top of a nanny to help with driving in the afternoon (I work full-time as does my husband) I would consider paying for kumon because math seems to be taught poorly everywhere. But since we pay so much for school I would rather spend money on sports and other enrichment. |
Started in 11th grade for SAT and whatever else she wanted to use it for. I bought hours and she decides when and how to use them. She doesn’t complain and I think she likes it. She’s a good student but sometimes needs support in things like calculus. Tutoring means that she can use lunch breaks for other things. Honestly, it just reminds me that I have money to burn because it’s not a necessity at all. |
Each kid had a math tutor for a period of time when they needed it. One also had a Spanish tutor for about 6 months |
My kid had a language tutor because the teacher at the W school sucked. All she cared about was making sure the native speakers would get 5s on the AP exam so she looks good. |
We did a math tutor for DC in 6th grade and it was absolutely worth it. Her learning style and the teaching style was a mismatch. I'd definitely do a math tutor again. I'm more confident in other areas |
This makes sense. He has a specific goal and has a tutor to help him get there. I only know of tutors for struggling kids or kids with a learning disability. The ones that went to the top colleges didn’t need or want extra help. |
PP did not sound smug. I think you didn’t like their response because their arrangement did not work for you. We hired a Latin tutor for our son when he was in 8th grade and failing the class. He eeked out a C and wanted to stay with Latin in high school even though we encouraged him to switch languages. Wouldn’t you know it - he ended his freshman year with an A and has all A’s this year, both without a tutor, so now we just think his 8th grade teacher was horrible. |