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Tutoring Your Kids at Home
With the recent events that have taken a toll on many sectors, including the education sector, many parents have been guiding their children at home through home-based learning. While Singapore has taken measures for blended learning, many parents are still getting more and more involved in their children’s education. However, even with those that wish to go back to normal and go back to schools soon, it’s undeniable that this can be used as an opportunity for parents and children to spend more time together.
With many parents getting used to tutoring their children at home, there may be certain considerations as to continuing to tutor the child when the pandemic is over. However, there are also certain factors that parents should think of before committing to tutoring their children at home.
Should you tutor your child?
As mentioned, there are several factors that need to be considered when a parent is thinking of tutoring their child.
• Time
It’s very important for a parent to consider if they have ample time to tutor their child. Remember that routine helps build good study habits and if the child isn’t getting the time they need for every schedule from the parent, it can be counterproductive. For parents, time should be considered greatly as tutoring may not be the only thing they do. They also need to consider if time spent can affect their work performance if they are working or if they have free time for chores around the house.
• Commitment
Parents need to understand the importance of routine when it comes to tutoring their children for school. As such, commitment is also a very important aspect for them to consider. They need to make sure they can commit to tutoring their child regularly as well as have the capacity to teach academic knowledge and the discipline to do it.
• Child’s personality
Another thing parents should consider is the child’s personality as this will also affect how they respond to tutoring especially coming from their parents. Some children approach learning differently than how they normally behave. So, some children respond well to their parents outside of school but may have problems when the parent is tutoring them. However, other children have a harder time listening to their parents giving lessons and as a result, their parents may also become impatient with them. So, the parent-child dynamic can also affect how the tutoring will work.
How to tutor your child at home
If you’ve already considered the factors stated above and are still determined to tutor your child, parents should also make sure that the lessons the child will get are something they can always look forward to. We’ve gathered some tips on how to effectively tutor your child at home by yourself.
1. Find out the learning style they prefer
As mentioned several times, students learn differently from one another and they also take in information differently from the next student. Some students prefer to listen to take information and retain what they’ve listened to while others are more into visuals and retain the knowledge they’ve read or seen. You must take this into account if you want to teach your kids Spanish at home because this can greatly affect their retention of the language. There are also others who prefer both together with other forms of media.
For professional home tutors, they take time to learn the style the child prefers in order to proceed with home tuition effectively. They may ask the child or observe which they respond better to. The same can be done by parents who are tutoring their own children. Take time to observe and understand what learning style the child prefers to be taught in. This will help make learning easier for the child as well as teaching for the parents. It decreases the chances of mistakes from happening with regards to learning as well as going back lessons after lessons because the child has not retained the knowledge.
2. Dedicate a learning space for the child
There can be many challenges with home-based learning and though there can be significantly lesser distractions than at school, a learning space for the child is still important to ensure they are an area dedicated only to learning. If there is an extra space in your house, you can make that into the child’s study room. You can put in the space everything the child may need when they are learning such as their books, school supplies, art materials, etc. As such, the space should also be comfortable for the child as well as free from distractions and noises.
3. Formulate a lesson and study plan
Learning is a process and so is teaching. Teaching will be ineffective if it is done haphazardly and disorganizedly. Because the parent will be teaching the child, there are chances that they can pick the topics based on what they find easy to teach. However, this wouldn’t benefit the child in any way the parents hope it would. When there is no organization with topics taught, it can be confusing for the child and may skip over some key skills and knowledge that they may refer to when learning about a new topic.
Speak with the teacher with regards to the child’s subjects’ curriculum and formulate a lesson plan based on it. There would be a certain syllabus for subjects that parents can also refer to. Additionally, parents can also use other resources that can help them devise a lesson or study plan throughout the semester. Lesson and study plans are also great for the parent and student to be used as guides so both sides would also know beforehand what they are learning or teaching next.
4. Teach in a way they understand
Learning is a process and so is teaching. Teaching will be ineffective if it is done haphazardly and disorganizedly. Because the parent will be teaching the child, there are chances that they can pick the topics based on what they find easy to teach. However, this wouldn’t benefit the child in any way the parents hope it would. When there is no organization with topics taught, it can be confusing for the child and may skip over some key skills and knowledge that they may refer to when learning about a new topic.
Speak with the teacher with regards to the child’s subjects’ curriculum and formulate a lesson plan based on it. There would be a certain syllabus for subjects that parents can also refer to. Additionally, parents can also use other resources that can help them devise a lesson or study plan throughout the semester. Lesson and study plans are also great for the parent and student to be used as guides so both sides would also know beforehand what they are learning or teaching next.
5. Use rewards
Rewards can be good motivators for children. Some children would require an incentive for them to do well in their studies. This can be especially true for younger students who are less invested or less aware of their academic goals. Rewards don’t have to be synonymous with bribery especially if the rewards come in the forms of praise or good feedback. However, parents should also make sure to do this regularly. If they decide to give rewards such as a “Good Job Cookie” or an hour watching television, they shouldn’t do this out of the blue since this will turn into bribery for the child to finish their work or listen to their parents.
Rewards can be used for positive reinforcement of good behavior and can also be used for inspiration. However, parents should also help children understand that they can still work hard for their studies with or without a reward.
6. Be patient
Tutoring a child is never easy and patience may be tested from time to time depending on how well the child accepts tuition. If the child is younger, it can especially be challenging as the parent will not only be teaching but also make sure that the child stays put and focuses on their lessons.
If the parent feels their patience running out, it’s best to call for a short break then continue on with tutoring. Children can be very perceptive and when they see their parents getting annoyed, they may blame themselves and become demotivated with learning. As such, breaks can also help parents gather their thoughts and calm down. For children, breaks can be means for them to use their pent-up energy so they can stay put and focus more on the continuing lesson.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
There may be unavoidable instances wherein the parent doesn’t have the time to tutor their child. It can be because of work or other chores. When this happens, don’t force yourself to spend the time you don’t have. It can be counterproductive for learning, affecting both the parent and the child. The parent may not be fully focused on the lesson and this distraction can transfer to the child.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your spouse, partner, or relative to step in when you can’t handle tutoring the child. Aside from having a new perspective, they may also be able to teach new ways for the child to learn and also serve as a bonding moment for them.
If the parent doesn’t have anyone to step in, they can also hire professional help. Home tutors are experts in tutoring children. They give personalized lessons to every student ensuring the child can receive the best education and considers the child’s learning styles and pace. As such, home tutors are also experts in different subjects so when parents find themselves not having enough knowledge to teach their children, they can also hire tutors for professional and expert help.
Conclusion
Tutoring isn’t something that should be taken lightly by parents. This can also affect the child’s education for the better and help for their future. If the parents aren’t committed and fully give their time and effort to their child during tutoring, then consider asking for professional help. This is better than giving out poor tutoring that can affect them negatively. As such, for determined parents, the rewards for tutoring your own child can also be satisfying.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
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