Parents often wonder when is a good time to call upon the help of a private tutor for their high school student. The answer depends on whether the tutoring is for homework help, test prep, or ongoing academic enrichment. Establishing your student's academic goals before investing in tutoring services is essential. 

 

Find a balance between being independent and getting a helping hand.

 

We all want our students to be independent. 

 

We expect them to use their critical thinking skills to unpack problems and come up with solutions. They have access to resources we as parents never had growing up: the Internet, YouTube, free online courses, etc.

 

But there comes a time when a student has reached their limit.

 

It's important for parents and students to recognize when a helping hand can save them time and frustration. 

 

For students, taking on a new class is very much like being an employee who is promoted within a company. In life, companies don't expect employees to "figure out" their new position on their own. Instead, companies offer training, or a mentor, to bring that employee up to speed until they can be fully independent in their new role. 

 

Likewise, when your student takes a new class in high school, it's like getting a new job or a promotion. Since the complexity of the work has increased, they might need a tutor to train them now, so they can be independent later.

 

Consider the following questions when deciding whether it's time to call a tutor:

 

Is the struggle taking a toll on your student's self-esteem?

 

A student's self-esteem is vital for their well-being, in and out of school. 

 

If they feel like their efforts fail, no matter what they do, their self-esteem will take a hit. These hits accumulate over time until they're exhausted and glad to give up on the class they're taking.

 

Even students who are self-disciplined and efficient at studying on their own can sometimes feel overwhelmed and depressed by their workload. As a result, their performance drops, and they feel like throwing in the towel.

 

When you see these things, it's time to hire a tutor. 

 

Remind your student that knowing when to ask for help shows great emotional intelligence, and the decision leads to a solid win.

 

Students who struggle will finally get the help they need to get on track. Self-disciplined students who might feel burned out by complex subjects and a heavy course load will get the motivation and support they need to finish strong.

 

 

Will their current struggle be resolved in time to take standardized tests?

It's hard to know if academic struggles are temporary or if they'll turn into long-term problems. If your student has a learning gap, they may not close that gap in time to do well on standardized tests.

 

This is especially true for AP, SAT, and ACT preparedness. If the learning gaps are difficult to close and your student is constantly playing catch-up, they may not get their act together in time to score their best on these tests.

 

Protect their academic record by investing in tutoring sooner rather than later.

 

Is homework time monopolizing your free time as a parent?

 

It's no secret that a child's first teacher is their parent, but if homework time feels like you've taken up a second career as a full-time educator, it's time to get a helping hand.

 

 

Use tutoring to catch up or as enrichment to get ahead.

The beautiful thing about tutoring is that it's not always about catching up. Sometimes it's about getting ahead. Many parents invest in some form of enrichment for their high school students, knowing that it could eventually translate into academic scholarships for college.

 

Whether your student is trying to catch up or get ahead, consider when they've reached their limit and seek the support of a reputable tutoring service.

 

BGap Online is an award-winning tutoring center based in Stockbridge, Georgia. Voted Best of Georgia 2021, the company strives to help students overcome their current struggles by connecting them with a vetted, state-certified educator who will create a personalized plan for their success.

 

Get your student the help they need today. Say goodbye to super long study sessions, hours of watching YouTube tutorials, and test scores that don’t reflect your student's true potential.

 

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