Watching your child struggle with certain aspects of their learning can be challenging. All parents want their children to thrive and when there appear to be blocks on the path it is natural to want to remove them. While some of these blocks can be addressed through communication with the school and tweaks within the classroom environment, there may be times when a private tutor is just what is needed to get a child over a stumbling block in their learning.
However, tutors are not simply there for parents who want to support their children to do better. They can also benefit teachers positively and in a myriad of ways if the tutor-teacher relationship is a healthy one, so it is worth exploring how this can maximised.
Dr Catherine Harper tutors biology with mainly A-Level students 1:1. She feels that, “the most important thing is to build trust quickly so the students are unafraid to explain their process and their understanding. Sessions provide an opportunity for the students to ask questions that they might not ask in class. Often the students think they understand during the lesson but realise they don’t when it comes to answering questions and applying knowledge. Lessons are usually very relaxed and flexible according to what the student needs at the time. I think the biggest thing the students get is confidence in their own capabilities.”
Once this trust has been established it is easier to build a working relationship with the child’s teacher if this would better support the tutee. Although, it is essential that this is done with the express permission of the tutee and parents and if the goal and purpose of this collaboration is clearly identified. These ideas may help:
Five ways to build the tutor/teacher relationship
1. Communication is key – it is worth discussing with the parents/carers of any potential tutee the importance of being open with the school about any plans to hire a tutor. Communication between parents, tutees, tutors and teachers can only help to ensure that the intended goal of supporting the tutee through their learning is achieved. When each party is as open as possible, there is more likely to be progress through the sharing of information, plans and the development needs of the tutee.
2. Make sure the focus is on the child at all times – the whole point of tutoring is to support the child to thrive in their learning so their needs must remain front and centre of all plans and discussions. The fact that a parent has decided to employ a private tutor is not a poor reflection on the teacher in any way. In fact, as a teacher, I was always delighted if parents told me they were considering employing a private tutor because the goal is always the nurturing and development of the child, however that is achieved.
3. Unify approaches to learning where possible – it may be that a child is helped through a variety of approaches to a particular piece of work or a skill that they are learning. However, it is important to know (and reinforce) the approach they will need to know for their classroom. Again, communication with the class teacher is key to ensure what the tutor does is as supportive as possible.
4. Consider sharing as much information as possible with child’s teacher – it can be incredibly helpful to know about how the child is doing in the classroom and vice versa. With permission from the tutee and the tutee’s parents, it may be appropriate to see reports, be updated on any behaviour challenges, and receive information on any supportive strategies that are being deployed at school. That mutual focus on support for the tutee is key.
5. Build on the academic challenge – the tutor/tutee relationship is a perfect opportunity to understand and build on the challenge of classroom learning. One tutor commented that the fundamental basis of all tutoring, no matter which subject, is to reinforce and nurture a love of learning. This can make the difference between engagement and thriving in the classroom and feeling swamped. Build on the academic challenge as that love of learning and development of confidence happens.
Great tutors can be an incredibly positive force for good in a child’s learning life, leading to tremendous leaps in confidence and progress in the classroom that teachers will be keen to harness. Working collaboratively with teachers can help to ensure that those benefits are developed over time and the rewards reaped in the classroom and beyond, so it is worth working at the relationship if possible. The overall aim always must be the academic progress and emotional wellbeing of the tutee. When we keep our eyes on that prize, success is even more likely.
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About the author
Elizabeth Holmes
After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading, Elizabeth Holmes completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London. She then taught humanities and social sciences in schools in London, Oxfordshire and West Sussex, where she ran the history department in a challenging comprehensive. Elizabeth specialises in education but also writes on many other issues and themes. As well as her regular blogs for Eteach and FEjobs, her books have been published by a variety of publishers and translated around the world. Elizabeth has also taught on education courses in HE and presented at national and international conferences.