Online learning may have saved millions of children from contracting the New Coronavirus, but that safety may come at a price: their education.
According to Education Week, the average high school student loses more than three months of instruction in reading, maths and science. According to a recent study by McKinsey & Company, at the end of the 2020-21 school year, elementary school students are on average five months behind in maths and four months behind in reading. More than one million young children miss preschool and kindergarten altogether, losing out on early milestones in reading and maths.
The difficulties caused by distance learning have sparked a boom in hiring tutors, with parents hiring professionals to prevent their children from falling further behind. Kathy McIntosh, founder of Capital Learners Education Services, says the new crown epidemic has created an unprecedented demand: “I think parents and educators are now seeing the impact of the epidemic on students, both emotionally and academically.”
Finding someone qualified to help you with homework while keeping your child focused can be tricky. Here’s what industry experts and educators say parents should consider.
Where to find a tutor
Seeking advice from friends and family is a good place to start, but some parents have turned to social media to broaden their search. Meghan Meyers spent months searching around Leesburg for someone who could help her preschool twins with reading and natural phonics, eventually finding success in a Facebook group. However, even there, she says, “the whole thing was scrambled and there weren’t too many openings. I would find people who expressed interest, but some of them either didn’t show up or just didn’t follow through.”
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Your school district or university or learning centre is another great resource. Many high school and college students tutor younger children as a side hustle, and non-profit organizations such as DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative and CityTutor DC have formed an alliance to provide free academic help to students in public schools. You can also search for trained and certified professionals through the National Tutoring Association’s online database.
What to look for in a tutor
Before beginning a search, McIntosh recommends that parents contact their child’s teacher to identify specific areas in which the student may need support. It is also a good idea to check the tutor’s qualifications to ensure that the person is the right person for the job. For example, you may need someone with extensive subject area knowledge or experience working with young children.
Some tutoring services continue to offer online courses, so parents may want to consider which model is best for their child. “I encourage young students to take face-to-face sessions because they have a wide attention span,” says McIntosh. “But the demand for Zoom is still high.”
The best tutors don’t focus on one skill, but on boosting confidence.
Also consider whether your child learns better alone or in a small group of peers – learning centres often offer this option, such as Marks Education or Great Escape tutoring centres.
The best tutors focus not just on improving a particular skill, but on improving students’ confidence in learning, says Joshua Fadden, founder of Teacher Community: “When children develop the myth that ‘I can’t do something’, it takes a lot of energy to rewire their brains and get them to really think about how to overcome challenges.” Helping students gain the perseverance and stamina to get excited about tackling learning obstacles is a key part of ensuring they get the most out of their education.
Which tutors are most sought after?
As reading and maths skills decline during the pandemic, tutors for these subjects are in high demand. In the week following the Covid attack, McIntosh received more than 50 requests. “We didn’t have the capacity,” she says, “so I had to hire people to meet the demand.” There are now more tutors available, including many who have been trained in online tutoring.
One need that remains difficult to meet: tutoring for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD. The National Center for Learning Disabilities estimates that 20% of children in the US have learning and attention problems, but few tutors are trained to work with them.
How much do tutors cost?
According to Tutors.com, parents in the Washington area pay an average of $25 to $80 per hour for a private tutor. Prices vary depending on factors such as location, subject matter and experience. A high school student may offer basic maths help for as low as $10 per hour, while experienced professionals can charge $200 per hour for test preparation, sessions for children with learning disabilities, and other professional services. Some charge more for face-to-face sessions than for online sessions.
There are also many free options. In addition to the free tutoring from the aforementioned non-profit organisations, smaller organisations such as DC College Counseling have created pro bono programs for underserved students in the area. Company founder Colleen Paparella usually charges $200 to $400 per session for academic tutoring and essay writing help, but she offers these services for free to some students in Fairfax County.
Paparella advises parents to hire a tutor at the first sign of struggle. “Don’t wait until the problem gets worse,” she said. “These kids have a hard time digging themselves out of the hole, and we see that all the time.”
