Working with a private tutor can help you improve your grades and develop your study skills – that’s a given. So when you’re measuring the success of a tutoring program, academic performance is the easiest sign to track. Do you have a better understanding of the material? Have your test scores or overall grades improved? Are you catching on to new material quicker? These are all telltale signs that you’ve chosen a great tutor, and the program is working for you.
However, there are also additional benefits and results that most students see – “extra credit,” you might say! Here are some of the most common:
1. Improved goal-setting skills.
Knowing how to set (and of course, reach) goals is an important life skill, one that can help you in all areas of your life, from finances to relationships to your future career path. Setting academic goals is a great way to cultivate this skill, while giving you a way to easily track your progress along the way. Just remember to set SMART goals – as in, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Chat with your tutor at your first session to set your goals – and don’t forget to reward yourself when you reach them!
2. Increased confidence and self-esteem.
There’s nothing quite like that “a-ha!” moment, when you finally understand the material you’ve been struggling with. In a classroom setting, often the only feedback you’ll get is your grade on each assignment or test. Or, you may not even get any sort of feedback until halfway through the year on your report card. But an integral part of the goal-setting process is recognizing your achievements and celebrating your wins! With one-on-one guidance, your tutor will definitely notice when you’re doing well, and can help you set up rewards to keep you motivated and excited to learn.
3. Improved organization.
Let’s face it – staying organized is tough sometimes! When you’re taking several different classes (plus afterschool activities, family commitments, and so on), keeping track of your schedule and responsibilities can take some practice. Different students flourish with different strategies, so it may take some experimenting to figure out what works best for you. Does it help to write everything down in a planner? Would you rather use an app on your smartphone or tablet? Do you thrive on color-coding your notes and assignments? Your tutor has likely worked with many different types of learners, and will have tips and tricks to share with you.
4. Lifelong skills and habits.
5. More time for other activities (and fun!).
Want more time to spend on other hobbies or activities? If you’re feeling stuck or frustrated, the temptation to daydream instead of study can be strong. And when you don’t understand how to study productively, you’ll actually end up wasting time that could be spent… well, having fun! A private tutor can help not only with specific material, but general study skills to help you make the most of your time.
6. New-found interests.
How many times have you told yourself “I’m just not a math person!”? While your strengths may lie elsewhere, you might be surprised to find yourself liking a subject more once you truly understand it! Sometimes, all it takes is making the connection to real life, or another subject that you are interested in, to make it much more interesting and fun to learn. And who knows? You might find a new interest, or discover a strength you didn’t know you had.
So there you have it – a few of the perks many of our students see after working with a private tutor for even a few short months. Pretty cool, right? After all, who doesn’t like a little extra credit?
Photo by www.audio-luci-store.it
Suzy S.