The decision to hire a tutor is often a big step for families. Not only does tutoring cut in to resources—specifically time and money—it can often seem like a very subjective service. How will you know if your student is actually benefitting? I am often contacted by families wanting tutoring services who are unsure about the frequency, duration and kind of tutoring their student would benefit from the most. My advice to them is almost always the same and comes from my perspective not just as a teacher and tutor, but as a fellow parent.

First, I strongly recommend hiring a tutor who is also a licensed teacher. Teachers who hold current teaching licenses have been background checked, have completed hundreds of hours of teacher training and ongoing professional development, and, in the state of Oregon, either hold a Master’s Degree in Education or are working toward that degree. While some non-teacher tutors have a knack for explaining a certain content area, they do not, generally, have the breadth of knowledge of numerous strategies and resources, or the depth of experience in working with different kinds of learners as a licensed teacher has.

Second, consider the skills and content areas your student is needing to strengthen. Does your student struggle in just one subject in school? Or are there pervasive issues that affect how he or she does across the board? Is she good at reading, but struggles when she has to do writing of any length for any subject? Does he find task initiation daunting and doesn’t yet know how to break larger assignments down into more manageable tasks? Do you want tutoring sessions to be able to change focus, based on your student’s current struggles, regardless of subject area, or are you wanting a narrow focus on just one skill or content area? As you ask and answer these questions, it will become more clear the kind of tutor you are seeking. A generalist—one with a very strong academic background and numerous teaching endorsements—is frequently a great fit.

Finally, it has to work for you! Because tutoring is a commitment to one more thing in our already busy lives, it has to work for your family. By this, I mean if it is one more stressor surrounding school, or one more battle to be fought with a child, then it is probably not going to be very effective (or enjoyable) long-term. Make sure the person you hire has a genuine interest in your student’s success, and a genuine interest in your student as a learner. Make sure your student feels comfortable asking the tutor questions and letting the tutor know when they feel confused or overwhelmed. Be wary of tutors (or tutoring companies) who want a long-term commitment from you and your student. Tutoring should be flexible and responsive, and if one approach isn’t working, the family should be able to make adjustments.