It’s not a question that math today is a bit more complicated than what adults remember it being in the past. If you have children that come home from school with math homework that you don’t understand, you’re not alone.
Whether you’re looking to hire a mathematics tutor for yourself or your child, you need to do some reach before making a selection.
A math tutor can come in handy in this situation and plenty of others as well. For example, if you’re taking a GED course or a college math course, you might be looking for a tutor for yourself as well. Whatever your unique situation might be, one thing is for sure: you need a math tutor and soon!
Before you hire just anyone off the internet or even in a tutoring office, you need to look for a few key characteristics. Below are seven essential things to look for in a math tutor before hiring him or her.
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Expertise and Knowledge in Math
If it’s mathematics that you need help in, then you’ll want to find someone who has the knowledge and deep-rooted knowledge of math subject. An excellent way to find someone with these qualities is to choose a tutor who only tutors math students.
You should also consider the grade level or math subject that’s needing improvement. Be sure to find a tutor who is qualified to help with those specifications. You won’t want to hire an elementary math tutor for your high-school student.
It’s also a good idea to find someone who can progress with you or your child as you or your child learns and grows in the subject. This will help you or your child feel comfortable throughout the years, rather than having to find a new tutor each year.
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Ability to Address Student’s Main Needs
Each student is different. Everyone learns differently, and everyone has various hurdles to overcome, along with their own strengths and weaknesses. The tutor you choose should have the ability to address the student’s primary needs by determining the current grade level the student is testing on and much more.
After gathering all of this information, the tutor can then create a unique plan catered to the specific student. If the tutor is unable to determine yours or your child’s primary needs before beginning the tutoring, then you might want to consider interviewing a few more potential tutors.
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Ability to Create a Goal for the End
There should always be a solid goal to reach in the end. A well-created tutoring program should assess you or your child throughout the entire process. This helps the tutor know where the student stands.
There should be the learning of basics math skills and concepts that can then be built upon. In the end, the tutor should want you or your child to be able to continue without him or her because the foundation has been put in place. Be sure to ask your tutor what the end goal is.
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Good Amount of Patience
Just like with a teacher, tutors should demonstrate a good amount of patience. Understanding mathematical concepts can be challenging for many people. The tutor should be aware of this and prepared to teach a concept or lesson in several different ways, several different times.
If you notice that the tutor is becoming frustrated or losing patience with you or your child, then you need to consider interviewing a few other tutors. Don’t become frustrated with yourself or your child. It’s normal not to understand something the first time it’s taught, and the tutor should expect this.
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Ability to Communicate With Ease
To get a lesson across to a student, the tutor should have the ability to communicate with ease. This is true when the tutor is sitting down with you or your child, and when you’re away from your tutor as well. Ask the tutor which methods of communication you’ll be able to use when away from him or her.
Will the tutor allow you to text, call, or email when not in session? This is beneficial for when things come up, and session times need to be changed or canceled. If you’re unable to communicate with your tutor, then it’s best to find another.
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Pushes You to Succeed
The best kind of tutor is someone who pushes his or her students to succeed. You don’t want to hire someone who’s going to give out the answers without encouraging the student to solve the problem himself or herself using the knowledge the tutor gave.
You’ll want to find someone who asks the right questions along the way to ensure the student understands the concepts without giving the answers. If you find the right math tutor, you may even learn the skills so you can excel in advanced level math courses. Consider reaching out to a level maths tutor to get started on achieving these elite math skills.
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A Good Reputation
At the very least, find a maths tutor with a good reputation. Be sure to ask around and learn which tutors friends or family members might have worked with in the past. Look up reviews online from current and past students of the tutor to see what they’re saying about their own experiences.
You can also take a few moments to visit the tutor’s website or Facebook page to get a better idea of what you can expect from him or her.
When you or your child is struggling in math, it’s time to find the right mathematics tutor for you! Use these helpful tips listed above when doing your research.
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