March is usually the time when students start staring out the window, either thinking about what they could be doing in the warmer weather or they are making plans for the upcoming break. In short, other things more pleasurable seem to capture students’ attention around this time.
From my perspective, March is the perfect month of digging in rather than letting go, for focusing on the tasks at hand rather than dreaming of a relaxing break. In fact, this may be the best time for most students to have a reality check to ensure they are going to finish the term with flying colors!
What can you do, as parents and partners in their education, to help them stay the course? One way support your student is to encourage them to take stock of what they have accomplished thus far and what is left to do. Another way is to have an honest conversation about whether or not they need to get a tutor.
A tutor? Isn’t a tutor only for struggling students who will most likely be challenged throughout their college experience? Actually, many students–of all abilities–use tutoring, formal or informal, to strengthen their understanding of the course material. Think of a tutor as an expert in the gym who can help you work out more effectively and can keep you on task even if you have pretty good idea of how to work out already.
Unfortunately, too many students think tutoring equals “not good enough,” and they avoid it all together. However, you can help guide your student to understanding what tutoring on their campus is available and what to expect. Here are a few guiding questions that you can work through with your student:
- What is available? (Hint: Most colleges and universities offer some kind of tutoring) The answer to this question depends on the size and needs of your institution. A search on your student’s college website for tutoring should provide you with the information you need. Your student’s institution may not offer tutoring for every course on campus.
- When and where is it available? Some universities place tutors in residence halls or libraries, usually anywhere the students may be naturally. They may also have a “one-stop shop” where all tutoring needs can be taken care of. There may also be online tutoring (through an application such as Skype) to help students who may not be able to attend tutoring physically.
- What does it cost? Often, tutoring services provided by the university or college are free (well, sort of–your student paid for it in their fees). That is one of many benefits of using the tutoring services provided by your student’s institution. There may also be people on campus who tutor as a part-time job, and they may charge $20-50/hour.
- When should my student go to tutoring? Your student should go early and often as needed. There is no need to wait until your student is desperate to pass a class. Tutors can provide instant feedback on how well your student is understanding the material well before a test requires that they prove their understanding.
- What can be expected? A tutor will not your student’s homework nor write your student’s paper for them. Instead, a tutor will be a guide to help your student understand the concepts or assignment and provide concrete feedback on the quality of work. Depending on the need, your student may need to attend multiple tutoring sessions. Most tutoring sessions are limited to 30 minutes or an hour.
- Who are the tutors? Tutors may be “near peers,” which is another phrase for upperclassmen who have demonstrated expertise in the subject. The benefit of a peer tutor is that they may be able to explain things better because they have experienced the course as a student. Tutors may also be professional educators with college degrees as well, which has its own benefits as well.
- What if tutoring doesn’t offer the kind of help my student needs? If your student needs a specific subject, say Intermediate Arabic, that is not available through the tutoring services, I recommend that your student talk to the professor about options. There may be online and face-to-face options available, but they may cost your student (see above “What does it cost?”). If your student needs help developing soft skills such as time management strategies or general reading comprehension skills, your student’s institution may also provide that kind of tutoring or they may be able to recommend someone who can coach them such as a peer mentor, an advisor, or a faculty member.
“Tutoring” should not be a dirty word in college. Many students use tutoring to supplement their work on their own and in study groups. Used wisely–meaning before there is a crisis situation–it can enhance your student’s success and at the very least make them feel more confident in the learning process.
