{"id":3960,"date":"2021-02-18T17:25:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T17:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/?p=3960"},"modified":"2021-09-17T04:26:42","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T04:26:42","slug":"what-can-you-do-if-tutoring-doesnt-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/ns\/what-can-you-do-if-tutoring-doesnt-work\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can You Do if Tutoring Doesn\u2019t Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tutoring is supposed to help students excel in their studies, and it almost always succeeds. However, sometimes tutoring doesn\u2019t work. Before we start pointing fingers, it\u2019s worth mentioning that it\u2019s not the end of the world. There are many reasons why tutoring might not work, and there are solutions for each.<\/p>\n

If Tutoring Doesn\u2019t Work, Here\u2019s Why<\/h2>\n

A rewarding tutoring experience starts and ends with the tutor themselves. Tutors work based on the philosophy that any student is capable of learning any concept, and it\u2019s the tutor\u2019s job to figure out the best way to teach the student those concepts. Of course, the student needs to make an effort to learn the material, so it\u2019s a two-way street.<\/p>\n

When tutoring doesn\u2019t work, it\u2019s important to identify precisely why. Once you know the problem, you can make appropriate adjustments and continue on the road to success. Here are a few issues that might arise, each accompanied by practical remedies.<\/p>\n

Unrealistic Expectations\"tutoring<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s great to be ambitious (we highly encourage it!), but there\u2019s a limit to what human beings can achieve. Given sufficient time and resources, we can accomplish anything, and that\u2019s an apt mantra for tutoring. Unfortunately, sometimes the \u2018sufficient time and resources\u2019 part is left out of the equation.<\/p>\n

Improving a student\u2019s math proficiency from \u2018emerging\u2019 to \u2018extending\u2019 is possible, but it can\u2019t be done within two weeks. Becoming conversational in French is a fantastic goal, but it requires a full commitment. As long as you take these things into account, everything will go smoothly. If you don\u2019t, tutoring might not work.<\/p>\n

Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tutors, students, and parents need to agree on well-defined goals before tutoring begins. Try using the SMART goal-setting format: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Everyone involved in the tutoring process should know exactly what the goals are, recognize reliable ways of measuring progress toward those goals, and agree on a date by which those goals will be accomplished.<\/p>\n

With goals in sight, a tutor can assemble a plan to help their student achieve everything they wish to achieve. As long as the tutor and student have an appropriate timeframe, they\u2019ll have no problem meeting or exceeding any goal.<\/p>\n

Not Enough Time\"tutoring<\/h4>\n

Time is something of which we can never have enough, and that simple fact can impact the tutoring process. If tutoring doesn\u2019t work, the problem might be related to time, specifically a lack of it.<\/p>\n

You can usually trace a lack of time back to unrealistic goals, but that\u2019s not always the problem. Sometimes there isn\u2019t enough time to fully explain a challenging concept before an important exam. Maybe a student hasn\u2019t spent enough time with a certain subject to feel comfortable moving on, hurting their confidence. These are signs that something needs to change.<\/p>\n

Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there isn\u2019t enough time, more time needs to be made. It sounds impossible, but it can<\/em> be done. This might mean scheduling more\/longer tutoring sessions or dedicating free time toward studying.<\/p>\n

To put things in perspective, a one-hour tutoring session represents 0.6% of the 168 hours in a week. If that\u2019s the only time learning is happening, it\u2019s going to be very difficult to retain any information.<\/p>\n

Since every student is different, there\u2019s no magic number for the perfect length of a tutoring session. But if a student feels like they aren\u2019t getting everything they need from a one-hour session, you might want to increase it to an hour and a half or two hours. Also, the student may need more sessions per week to help keep the material fresh in their mind.<\/p>\n

When learning something new, it\u2019s important to maximize exposure. If you can reduce the amount of time between each visit with the concept, the odds of retention increase dramatically. So, if scheduling more tutoring time isn\u2019t an option, students need to practice on their own time.<\/p>\n

Simply telling a student to study won\u2019t help. Studying needs to be done with intent and with good habits. Fortunately, tutors can help students build strong studying routines that will ensure their success. From that point, it\u2019s up to the student to use their time wisely.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like some additional tips, check out our top three ways to make time for homework<\/a>, each of which can be applied to studying.<\/p>\n

Lack of Interest\"tutoring<\/h4>\n

Tutors heavily invest themselves in the success of their students, and their students need to do the same. If a student doesn\u2019t take tutoring seriously, doesn\u2019t want help, or doesn\u2019t care about the outcome, tutoring won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

Students need to be invested in their own success if tutoring is to be of any benefit. As the proverb goes, \u201cYou can lead a horse to water, but you can\u2019t make it drink.\u201d Just so, tutoring doesn\u2019t work if the student doesn\u2019t want it.<\/p>\n

Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n

If a student isn\u2019t interested in tutoring, they probably see no value in it. Everyone has their own motivators, and perhaps higher grades aren\u2019t incentive enough. In this case, it\u2019s important to help the student see tutoring through a new lens.<\/p>\n

Try to make connections between a student\u2019s coursework and their out-of-school interests. If they can see how their studies relate to the things they care about, they\u2019ll be a lot more likely to apply themselves. This could mean incorporating a student\u2019s passions into normal schoolwork or having a deep discussion about how a particular school subject will aid a student in pursuing their passions.<\/p>\n

One\u2019s experiences in school and the real world are completely interdependent: an education can open exciting opportunities in the real world, and real-world interests can enhance the education process. From the perspective of a child, however, it can be difficult to see the correlation between school and the real world. In this case, it becomes the tutor\u2019s (and the parents\u2019) responsibility to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood.<\/p>\n

Once a student understands and appreciates how school and tutoring can benefit them in the long run, they\u2019ll be more likely to take interest. If not, there might be a deeper issue.<\/p>\n

The Tutor Isn\u2019t the Right Fit<\/h4>\n

Successful tutoring is dependent on mutual trust and respect, and good tutors focus on building the rapport to facilitate that. If these criteria aren\u2019t met, it\u2019s difficult to make progress toward an agreed-upon goal.<\/p>\n

For one reason or another, a tutor and student might not get along. In this case, it\u2019s sometimes possible to work through differences and develop a sort of understanding. But certain instances might require an alternate approach.<\/p>\n

Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before you start searching for a new tutor, have a discussion with your current tutor. Listen to their side of the story and try to figure out why they keep hitting roadblocks. Reconcile their thoughts with how your child feels about the process and make sure everyone is on the same page. Sometimes it\u2019s just a simple misunderstanding that can be resolved by revisiting the tutoring expectations.<\/p>\n

If things still aren\u2019t working, don\u2019t fret. It doesn\u2019t mean you have a difficult student<\/a>, and it doesn\u2019t say anything about you as a parent. It just means it\u2019s time to move on and try a different tutor.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind that the conduct of one tutor doesn\u2019t necessarily reflect the entire agency, so don\u2019t discredit them immediately. If your tutor belongs to an agency, ask the agency if they can pair you with someone else on their roster. The ability to quickly find a new tutor is one of the many perks of hiring a tutoring agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve decided to hire a new tutor, check out our how to hire a tutor checklist<\/a> to help you find the best fit.<\/p>\n

If Tutoring Doesn\u2019t Work, We Can Help\"tutoring<\/h2>\n

After having a difficult tutoring experience, it\u2019s easy to feel discouraged. We\u2019re here to remind you that your child is perfectly capable of finding success no matter what success looks like to them.<\/p>\n

At Tutoring\u2026With a Twist*, we take care to match students with tutors who will make a good fit. To enhance the learning process, our tutors prioritize building rapport and developing strong foundations of trust. Our approach empowers your child to unlock their own potential and build the confidence to believe they can do anything.<\/p>\n

We take full responsibility for your child\u2019s learning, and we go to great lengths to ensure we\u2019re teaching your child in a way that works best for them. When your child gets twisted with us, there\u2019s no limit to what they can accomplish. If you\u2019d like to find out more, feel free to contact us<\/a>. We\u2019d love to hear from you!<\/p>\n

Whether or not tutoring is working, you can benefit from some extra help; try our favourite education resources<\/a>!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like more great content like this, check out our Facebook page<\/a> and YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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*Services provided by With a Twist Education Ltd.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n