Getting a Tutor, part 3: What you should ASK YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

Are you considering hiring a tutor to help your child?

Have you thought about what information would be beneficial to acquire from the teacher in order to help your child have success with that tutor? A tutor is not going to school with your child each day and does not automatically know everything about how. a particular teacher conducts her classroom.

Here are some things you should ask your child’s teacher so that you can pass that information on to the tutor:

1. Ask for a Scope and Sequence (Planning Guide/Pacing Guide).

   This document is a list that shows all the content that is to be covered for the entire year. It may have material laid out week by week or month by month (usually not day by day). A teacher should have some sort of plan for the direction of the school year. Many schools have testing near the end of the year, so the teacher needs to make sure the material has been taught prior to the time of testing. If you cannot get this information from the teacher, ask the principal for more information. Some schools and school systems have pacing guides the same across the entire county or school system (i.e. Every second grade teacher follows the same order of material).

2. Ask about tests.

   Your child’s teacher might not know the exact test dates, but he or she should have an idea of HOW tests will be conducted. Will tests be given each week? At the end of a chapter? At the end of a unit?

   What is the format of the tests? All multiple choice? Fill in the blank? A mixture of true/false and short answer? How many questions? Some teachers design their own tests, while others use whatever test comes with the curriculum. Knowing how your child will be tested will help the tutor prepare your child better when the time comes.

   Ask for a study guide. The teacher might have one prepared or a particular review page in the book might be recommended.

3. Ask about the curriculum or textbook.

   What are the primary resources used in class? Will the teacher follow along with the textbook exactly or are the materials pieced together with resources the teacher has ordered online? Becoming familiar with the way the content is laid out will help your child be more successful. Not to mention, the tutor having access to those materials will help the tutor best use the tutoring session to prepare your child for class time.

4. Ask about projects.

   What large projects are planned for the year? Is there a guide (checklist or rubric to follow)? How will the projects be graded and how much time will be given?

5. Ask if you can have early access to information.

   Sometimes you can get content such as spelling lists a few days ahead of time so that your child has a bit of extra time. Another idea is to get a book list so that your child has extra time to get required reading completed. Can you think of additional information you could ask? It does not hurt to ask and be honest that you are trying your best to help your child succeed.

   Think of how your child’s tutor could use that one-on-one time to help your child before material is introduced. Thinking of the self-confidence it can build in your child once the material is taught in class! Your child will already have some understanding and be able to focus better without feeling behind.

6. How does the teacher grade and weight assignments?

   Are tests counted more than regular daily assignments? Different teachers and different grades will figure the average differently. Be sure that you ask so that you can have an idea on how to strategically plan out your time. If a daily homework assignment is only going to be counted 1 time and a test counts 3 times as much, then you will want to spend more time preparing for the test. If a project is counted the same amount as a test, then working hard on the project can really help a poor test taker to improve the grade. You can also ask if the lowest grade is thrown out before the final average. Some teachers do this. Others do not.

   What other questions can you think of that would be helpful to have answered by your child’s teacher? Leave them in the comment section below!

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