It’s homework time. Math homework time.
Does this sentence immediately cause your shoulders to tense up and create a feeling of stress? You’re not alone. Homework frustration can be incredibly stressful for both caregivers and kids.
It can feel especially challenging when you want to help your child but don’t feel properly equipped to help. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with the methods currently used or perhaps the topics being covered aren’t ones you remember from your school days at all. Perhaps you and your child just don’t have the same learning style. Even if your child is excelling in math, keeping them engaged and excited can be difficult.
Research shows that one-on-one support for students is a proven catalyst for accelerated learning. This is where a great math tutor can help!
Not sure where to start when choosing a math tutor in Toronto? Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered. We’ve created this simple guide to help you choose the right tutor for your child.
Are they math experts?
Is the tutor’s area of expertise math? A tutor whose focus is math will have the foundation and curriculum knowledge to meet your child where they’re at, help with the most immediate math challenges and then continue to support them throughout the school year.
Do they focus on confidence-building & have customized learning plans?
A great tutor should help your child learn the skills they need to succeed and help them build confidence they can use moving forward in their studies and lives. A great math tutor will start with a quality assesment of your child’s current knowledge and understanding and develop a plan especially for your child. By building math knowledge upon what they already know, your child can learn quickly and experience a boost in their confidence right away.
What type of tutoring will work best for your and your child?
Some tutoring services do not offer homework help, some only offer homework help. Some programs are one-to-one learning with a customized plan, others are offered in a group setting. Some tutors and tutoring centres only offer in-person sessions. Consider how frequent the sessions will happen and what your role as a parent or caregiver is expected to be. By truly understanding what each option offers, you can decide what will work best for your situation.
Why are you seeking a tutor?
Following from the point above, understanding the “root cause” that is driving you to seek a math tutor can help you choose the best option and can also help ensure that no matter what option you choose, your child improves and succeeds. While alleviating immediate stress of a challenging module is important, assessing what is truly at the root of any math class troubles can ensure your child not only succeeds in the present, but moves forward with foundational skills for continued success. Just like reading, math builds on foundational skills and understanding of key concepts. If your child is missing the basics, they’ll continue to face issues down the road.
Do they make it FUN?
Math has a bit of a reputation, doesn’t it? Many of us may recall feeling frustrated by it ourselves as students. A great math tutor will know how to turn math into something fun for their students. They’ll recognize that everyone learns differently and be resourceful in coming up with unique, interesting ways to connect and engage with each student to help them find the fun in math and build confidence on the way!
If you’re thinking about getting a math tutor for your child, don’t hesitate to contact Mathnasium of High Park to learn how we can help.
