Revelations of a tutor or once again about why we are not at school. If the student comes to the tutor's home Group lessons or private

I myself have been a tutor since 2009. I work part-time, but I don't work. I believe that when tutoring becomes a business, the search for students becomes a pursuit of them, and the entrepreneurial educator simply gains more clients, whether they really need extra classes or not.

I passed the exam in Russian language, literature, English, physics and mathematics. And I prepared for all these subjects myself (the school held additional - free - classes in physics and English). All these subjects passed on 80+. That is why I am critical of tutors and tutoring.

In my opinion, tutoring has one huge minus: tutoring atrophies the student's ability to self-organize. When every week a person comes to a child who thinks out a program for him, homework, exercises in the lesson, then the student simply will not need to think about managing his time. Other people do it for him.
But what happens next? A schoolboy takes the Unified State Examination, enters a university, and there no one will "graze" him. Such a student does not know how to methodically prepare for exams, read the necessary literature on time, and do assignments. And it turns out that he approaches the first session with a lump of debts. Thus, the tutor does a disservice to his student.

If the child does not have serious difficulties in the subject, he is able to independently prepare for the exams. A person must learn to set goals and paint a strategy to achieve these goals. Otherwise, in life after school, he simply will not survive. The child should feel that it is he who is responsible for his academic performance, for the quality of learning. Tutors simply interrupt this sense of responsibility in the student. That is why I am annoyed by families where it is believed that once they hired a tutor, then they are now in demand for the results of the student; that the very fact of having a tutor is the key to success.

When I see that a student is able to study well without me, I have a conversation with my parents and explain that tutoring is unnecessary for them. But in most cases, they treat my words with distrust. With a tutor, they are calmer.
I especially dislike cases when parents hire a tutor for the purpose of "helping with homework, with mastering the program." But why, in fact, does a controlling person constantly hang over a child? Well, he doesn’t want to study literature, well, he doesn’t pull on the top five in Russian - and God bless him! I categorically do not understand parents who invite tutors to schoolchildren in grades 1-8. Why is there any coaching at all in the intermediate link? Let the child learn as he learns: not everyone has to be excellent students!

On the other hand, there are times when additional classes are really needed. I had a girl with dyslexia, second grade ... I suffered, suffered, but in the end I convinced my parents that they needed not a Russian tutor, but a qualified speech therapist. Listen, thank God! Then there was another boy with Attention Deficit Disorder. I also passed it to a specialist with a psychological education. Because, in fact, he had no problems in the Russian language and literature. There were guys at home schooling and external studies: yes, they need control.
The tutor will not interfere during the preparation for the Olympiads, for additional entrance examinations. But no more. After all, even here - if the student wants to deepen his knowledge of the subject - he is able to independently get to additional information. I'm not boasting, of course, but by the end of the 9th grade, I had already managed to master the entire school curriculum of mathematics and got to analytical geometry and linear algebra. Herself, herself. It was just very interesting. But there was no tutor who would have prepared me for the Olympiads. Therefore, there were no outstanding results.
So - my conclusion - the tutor is good only for solving point problems, but otherwise let the child learn to cope with difficulties, because in adulthood no one will babysit him.

RN, age: 15 / 21.11.2017

Responses:

Don't worry like that! Most likely the problem is in the tutor who is not working on consolidating the material with you. Our brain is designed in such a way that we need to repeat the same thing over and over, including by solving practical problems. So refuse his services, start reading the textbook yourself, watch free lectures, make cards with formulas and keep them in front of your eyes, solve many problems. Even if you do not have the ability for this subject, patience and work will grind everything and you will be able to get not only 4, but even 5. Most importantly, do not lose sight of any topics, eliminate gaps in knowledge (for example, how exactly do you know the multiplication table "Can you play it extremely fast? This is very important). Calmly and methodically go to your goal, you will succeed. Your parents are just trying to motivate you. So do not worry

Marina, age: 23 / 21.11.2017

Hello! First of all, I want to tell you - you are a very, very diligent person! This is a huge plus that at such a young age you are trying to improve your studies, do not forget about it. It is also very commendable that you want your parents to be proud of you, do not want to upset them. You are a great son!
Just remember not to beat yourself up like that! The more you worry, the harder it will be to learn. Please try to calm down, I understand it's not easy, but I'm sure you can handle it! After all, stress does not have a positive effect on the body, on the brain. Take care of your precious health, don't let stress destroy you. Remember, knowledge can always be improved, learning is never too late, but health is harder to improve.
It will be a huge plus if you start to study this subject more on your own, deepening your knowledge.
You have great potential, you are diligent and purposeful - I am sure that you can do everything! Most importantly, always be calm. I wish you the best, I believe in you! ;)

Rimma, age: 19/21/11/2017

Ivan, age: 37 / 11/21/2017

Good afternoon! I can say from my own experience: fear, a feeling of worthlessness have a very strong effect on the result. It is dangerous to be in this state all the time. Who hasn't failed? Open any biography of any famous person. How many cases are there when everything went to victory, but the result was sad - due to circumstances beyond his control. But people did not lose heart and moved on. You know, a friend of mine who is a successful man in banking, once thought that after university he sent more than 100 resumes to get the job that he needed! Therefore, do not worry! This will not achieve anything. Don't make yourself sick! If you are a believer, read prayers, this will help you stay calm. If not, calm yourself, say that everything will be fine. You do not need 5, but only 4! Good luck!

Svetlana, age: 38 / 22.11.2017

Hello. Analyze whether the material became easier for you after extra classes, whether the topics have become clearer, maybe it’s worth changing the tutor, a lot depends on him.

Irina, age: 29 / 22.11.2017

Hi! I really sympathize with you. Just don't despair. If you die, you will definitely disappoint your parents. They love you regardless of your grades. Naturally, they will scold you for triples, this is because they are worried about you, for your future. You can still fix everything, there is still a lot of time before the exam) go to the tutor, and for all additional ones, and study at home, then you will definitely be able to improve the result) The main thing is that you have a desire for this) Remember that grades are not the main thing in life. And exams are not as scary as it might seem. Do not lose hope for the best) If this problem worries you so much, then you can chat with a psychologist online. And you can also ask the Lord for help) God created you a wonderful person, He loves you very much and will never leave you) Ask Him for help more often and it will become easier for you) I wish you finding the meaning of life, more patience and strength, good family relationships, academic success, good health, always good mood, happiness, more love, joy and peace in life and all the best! God help you! Guardian Angel to you!

Anastasia, age: 11/19/2017

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An unpleasant situation familiar to many parents: the child begins to lag behind school curriculum and get bad grades. What to do? If the joint solution of homework does not change the picture in the diary, then there are already too many gaps in knowledge, and it's time to turn to a tutor for help. But private teachers should be contacted not only to improve school subjects, to prepare a child for the Olympics or to enter a prestigious university. The individual format of classes is also very effective for developing the creative qualities of children. Ivan Ivanov, founder of Upstudy.ru, an online service for finding tutors, coaches and psychologists, spoke about the benefits of individual lessons and recalled some of the pitfalls of such an educational format.

Why is it needed

The problem with lack of knowledge is best "caught" at the very beginning. A professional teacher will quickly determine where the child has gaps and get to work, and in a couple of weeks you will notice the first results: corrected grades, success on tests.

A good teacher will be able to establish contact and adapt to the characteristics of the child, his temperament, mindset and speed of perception of new information. This approach will ultimately have a positive effect on the quality of knowledge, the student will become more confident in the classroom.

What should be negotiated "on the shore"

When hiring a tutor, make sure of his professionalism: ask for a portfolio and recommendations, collect reviews, ask what materials he works with. This is an absolutely normal practice, it is better to be meticulous in this matter than to scold yourself for short-sightedness later.

You know your child very well, and this will help you understand whether he will improve communication with the tutor. If in doubt, it is better to offer the teacher several trial paid lessons. If everything goes well, the child will continue to attend classes, if not, it will be possible to disperse without mutual claims.

Does a child need to win a music competition or write an annual test for the top five? Immediately put in front of the tutor specific task. Knowing what results are expected from him, he will be able to correctly build a training program. It makes sense to discuss the level of requirements in advance. Too loyal approach can spoil the child, and excessively high expectations can completely discourage him from learning.

Keep in mind that the tutor also evaluates the child to find the best format for classes, and may also agree or refuse to cooperate. One of our tutors in mathematics, Pronkin Ruslan Sergeevich, notes: “It is imperative to observe the student a little - to note his inclinations, how he learns information, what is easier for him and what is more difficult. And after the main points are clarified, you can make a decision on what method to work with a particular student so that the classes are useful, interesting and effective.

An important point is the scheme of payment for classes. It is clear that individual lessons are a priori more expensive than group lessons, but their cost should not be cosmic. Seeing wealthy parents willing to do anything for their child, unscrupulous tutors can set prices several times higher than average. In order not to fall for this bait, make inquiries in advance. Professional exchanges of tutors can help out in this matter, on which hundreds of questionnaires are posted indicating the cost of an hour of classes, calculate average price it will be easy. To avoid unpleasant situations later, immediately agree with the teacher how you will transfer money for lessons: through a child, personally or transfer to a card.

A few "buts"

Individual lessons have a lot of advantages, but there are also some nuances. The main one is that by hiring a tutor, you actually create greenhouse conditions for the child. Week after week, the teacher will methodically analyze each topic and help in solving all issues. As a result, the child may get used to the fact that the information comes to him already in a “chewed” form, and lose interest in independent study. To prevent this from happening, arrange with the tutor to constantly involve the child in a dialogue and ask him to reason out loud. Conclusions that people come to on their own are always digested better.

Classes with a private tutor are a bit of an artificial situation, also because the child communicates only with the teacher. By virtue of his age and education, the tutor will try to smooth out sharp corners and in something to go towards the student. Lessons in small groups in this regard are closer to reality: there is healthy competition, each student is motivated to attract the attention of the teacher and get his approval.

Group lessons or private?

In the vast majority of cases, individual lessons are more effective. This format of classes is ideal for hyperactive children who would be constantly distracted by any little thing in a group. The tutor quickly understands when the child's attention concentration changes, and corrects the tasks right in the course of the lesson.

In a group, it is more difficult to keep track of the change in the mood of each student, but you should not write off such classes from the accounts. Moreover, in some areas they are simply necessary, provided that the group does not exceed 2-4 people. We are talking about subjects on which discussions are welcome, for example, literature, social studies, history, philosophy. So, it is quite possible to team up with 2-3 classmates or friends of interest, and visit one tutor together. In this case, the lesson will cost less, but the effect will still be worthy. The main thing is to find a teacher with whom it is comfortable to work in this mode.

How to evaluate the results of classes?

There should be a positive trend: after about a month, the grades in the child's diary should improve, and requests for help with homework should gradually fade away. If this does not happen, then the tutor failed to complete his task. Do not wait until the situation improves by itself, talk to the teacher and find out the reason. In general, try to call your tutor at least once every two weeks and find out how things are going. A teacher who is truly interested in good results will gladly tell you everything.

Individual lessons with a teacher are a fast, effective, but expensive way to master some skills or improve knowledge in a particular subject. Look for professional educators, set clear goals for them, do not forget to receive feedback from them and be sure to ask for the opinion of the child, then excellent results will not be long in coming.

This article will be about sore points - about how not to make a mistake with the choice of a student. Soon September 1, and the students will run to look for tutors, remembering that this year they are passing the exam or a position at work that requires knowledge of the language is vacant. How to weed out those who leave after a few classes?

Such students can be recognized:

1. By ad
2. On call
3. In person

   By ad

This is the easiest stage, when we spend a minimum of effort in case of failure.

1. Everything in the ad text that catches the eye and does not fit into a normal request.
   

   A special approach is required / A strict teacher is needed.

   Thoughts immediately arise that something is wrong with the student - does he jump in class like a goat, does not listen to anything but the sounds coming from his iPhone? I saw one like that, I no longer want to waste my and other people's time.

   You don't need a school teacher.

   The question arises: Why is school bad? In my life I met a bunch of teachers who do not fit into the pattern of an elderly woman with a tuft on her head, who teaches everyone using the grammar-translation method.

   Must have internships / study abroad / live in Oxford.

   It is especially strange when such requirements are imposed on a preschooler's tutor. Does a parent or student want a “cool tutor” to brag about? Maximum benefit for minimum money? I do not pay attention to such and similar applications, most likely, this is an extra headache.

2. If the order states that lesson duration is short: a month or six months - for me, too, a reason not to agree to the order. Then this period may turn out to be even shorter, and the money for the order will be given back, and the students who were refused because there was no free time left have already gone to other tutors.
3. Preparing for the exam in a short time. Especially if it is the Unified State Examination, and especially if they want to pass with a good score, and at school he has a grade of 4 or worse. There will be many claims and expectations from parents, not everyone can explain the relationship between the complexity of the exam format and the real capabilities of the child.

On call

These problems arise, as a rule, when you do not choose the student, but the student chooses you. When on the phone we reach the discussion of the moment “what you want from classes”, you can hear the following phrases that should warn:

In person

Here it is the hardest thing for me to part with a student, because we have already spent time on each other and got to know each other personally. It is always inconvenient to refuse me in such cases, but I try to gather my will into a fist. I have to work with him later.

1. Rudeness. Most often, schoolchildren or the only adored heir. Just ill-bred children who are not taught by their parents the difference between an adult and a peer. Such students may refuse to complete some task in class because they are not interested, go to eat in the middle of the lesson because they want to eat, or write to a friend on WhatsApp. I try to politely explain to my parents that I am used to a different attitude, and I advise you to write in the re-application: “a special approach is needed for the child.” I tell the site administrator directly that I don’t know how to work with difficult children, and I won’t take an order
2. disinterest. Also, most often among schoolchildren who go to English, because their mother forced them (or the whole class is additionally studying with him, we won’t be worse than others). If a person does not want to (and especially a teenager who likes to do everything in defiance), even a lot of beads are unlikely to change anything.
3. excessive workload student. There are also schoolchildren who go to additional dances-volleyball-music-drawing-Chinese, because their parents raise a young star out of them. Such children usually come to class with a desire to sleep and relax, and not to study.
4. Personal dislike. It seems like an adequate-looking character, he does everything in class, but you don’t like him, that’s all. It’s inconvenient to say “you’re somehow not like that” in the forehead, so I explain the impossibility of dealing with sudden personal circumstances.

There are, perhaps, some problems that become visible only after a while, but I haven’t met any serious ones yet. If something does not suit me, I talk with the student himself, or with his parents.

These are the criteria that I try to be guided by when choosing clients. But I don't always succeed. When I was just looking for students, I took everyone who asked, afraid of not finding anyone later. Now I work with two that I can’t part with - I’ve been teaching them for a long time, my parents are counting on me, my conscience torments me, although, in a good way, I should. But now I take new ones according to the rule “Measure seven times - cut one!”.

What students should be avoided