Frequently Asked Questions
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
-Ben FranklinDo I need a tutor?
You may be struggling in school, and feel like a failure. You may have big academic goals, and feel like you need help in reaching them. Could a tutor help? Much of what we learn best is learned from individual instruction, whether it be from parents, grandparents, mentors, friends, co-workers, or teachers. We each have unique needs and ways of learning, and tutoring taps into this effective method of teaching and learning. But can a tutor help you? Would it be worth the cost in time and money? Should you get a tutor?
What are the benefits of tutoring?
Much of what we learn best is learned from individual instruction, whether it be from parents, grandparents, mentors, friends, co-workers, or teachers. Tutoring taps into this effective method of teaching and learning. By customizing instruction to the individual strengths, learning styles, and needs of the student, the tutor can help the student learn more efficiently than is possible in a large group environment.
There is no doubt that such one-on-one instruction is the oldest form of education. Skills and knowledge have been passed on this way since ancient times. But the process is by no means antiquated. Rather, it is time-tested and as effective today as it has always been. In a classic study comparing one-on-one instruction to traditional classroom instruction, psychologist Benjamin Bloom found that the average individually instructed student performed better than 98% of the students who learned in a traditional classroom environment.
As a teacher, the president of Knowledge Team In-Home Tutoring, LLC, Dr. William Green knows the value of individualized instruction. The more individualized the instruction, the better.
Tutoring consistently increases student performance. According to a survey of the research literature by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, tutoring:
- increases mastery of academic skills,
- improves self-esteem and self-confidence,
- improves students' attitudes toward school,
- reduces dropout rates, truancies, and tardies,
- breaks down social barriers and creates new friendships, and
- provides emotional support and positive role models (Fager 1996).
According to Fager (1996), tutoring provides individualized instruction, customized to students' own learning styles, and an environment in which "students progress at their own pace" and receive "praise, feedback, and encouragement over what they might receive from one teacher." Tutoring "maximizes time on task," and students see skills "demonstrated instead of just verbalized."
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning conducted a review of 53 studies of the effectiveness of out-of-school programs for increasing performance of under-achieving students. They found that such programs (which included group and individualized approaches) led to significant improvements in student achievement (Lauer et al. 2004). In one recent study of 146 Mississippi students in grades 3-6, tutored students improved more than non-tutored students (Goyette 2009). Another study of 244 German students found similar results (Mischo and Haag 2002), and a study of 48 college students found that "tutored students scored lower than non-tutored students on the first classroom achievement test, however, tutored students scored higher than non-tutored students on the last two classroom achievement tests (Landrum and Chastain 1998)."
What are the advantages of Knowledge Team In-Home Tutors over learning centers?
Knowledge Team tutors drive to your home. There is no need to travel to a centralized learning center. Our tutors come to you when it is convenient for you. Research has shown that in-home tutoring can be more effective than tutoring that takes place in other locations (Gordon 2009). The Knowledge Team provides one-on-one tutoring, so that your child receives the individualized attention he or she needs. The tutor can customize instruction to your child's individual strengths, learning styles, and needs. This results in efficient and effective learning. Finally, the Knowledge Team does not have the high overhead costs of centralized learning centers, and so we can offer our quality services at more affordable rates.
What are the advantages of Knowledge Team In-Home Tutors over individual private tutors?
At Knowledge Team In-Home Tutors, all of our tutors undergo an extensive interview and background check process, so you can use our in-home services with confidence. Using the Knowledge Team gives you convenient access to a large selection of expert tutors in all subjects, K-12 and college. We match the student with the perfect tutor based on preferred meeting times, subject and grade level, and learning style and personality. We manage all billing and payments, so you can pay with confidence.
Will the tutor come to my home?
Yes. Our tutors travel to your home according to the schedule we establish together. We require that a parent or adult over 21 years of age be present during all tutoring sessions. If the student is over 16 years of age, tutoring can take place at a library or other public location, but we strongly recommend tutoring in your home.
How often will the tutor need to come?
The frequency of tutoring will depend on the needs of the student. In general, more is better, but the average session is 1-2 hours long and most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week.
Does the Knowledge Team have experience helping students with special needs?
Yes. We have tutors with expertise in special education and experience working with students who have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and other learning challenges.
What is the initial coaching session?
In the initial coaching session, Bill Green will personally meet with you and your child in order to assess you child's needs and develop a success plan for your child. During this one-hour session, Dr. Green will:
- help you determine if tutoring is the right option for your child, or if there may be a better path to your child's success,
- interview your child to help him match him or her with the best tutor,
- assess your child's strengths and learning style,
- help your child set priorities and develop some S.M.A.R.T. learning goals,
- help your child clarify and organize career and/or college goals and a plan for success, and
- develop a tutoring plan.
Is there a minimum number of hours I must sign up for?
No long term contracts are required, but we suggest a minimum of eight to ten sessions to really see progress. We do require a minimum of 1 hour per session.
What if my child doesn't like the tutor?
If, after the first session, you decide that the tutor is not a good match for your child, we will find a different tutor for the student and we will refund the charges for the first session.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, and you can pay securely online.
Are there any assessment tests required?
No. The Knowledge Team does not require expensive assessment tests, which can cost as much as $200 with some learning centers and tutoring services.
I have more than one child. Can they be tutored at the same time?
All of our tutoring is one-on-one. During the in-home consultation, we can discuss the most cost-effective ways to provide tutoring for more than one child.
What does it cost?
We strive to keep our rates as low as possible. Our rates start at $50/hour and could vary depending on the subject and grade level. Please contact us for more information.
How do I get started?
You can get started today by visiting our contact page or by calling us at 860-774-0506 or 860-230-1119. We will set up a complimentary in-home consultation with you and your child. Please have relevant school records and schoolwork available for this meeting.
References
Bloom, B. 1984. "The 2 Sigma Problem: The Search for Methods of Group Instruction as Effective as One-to-One Tutoring." Educational Researcher, 13(6): 4-16.
Fager, Jennifer. Tutoring: Strategies for Successful Learning. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Lab., 1996.
Gordon, E. E. 2009. "5 ways to improve tutoring programs." Phi Delta Kappan 90(6): 440-445.
Goyette, Patricia Marie. 2009. "Effectiveness of before and after-school tutoring programs as measured by the Mississippi Curriculum Test." Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences 70(2-A): 455.
Landrum, R. Eric, and Garvin Chastain. 1998. "Demonstrating Tutoring Effectiveness within a One-Semester Course." Journal of College Student Development 39: 502-506.
Lauer, P. A., Motoko, A., Wilkerson, S. B., Apthorp, H. S., Snow, D., & Martin-Glenn, M. The effectiveness of out-of-school-time strategies in assisting low-achieving students in reading beyond mathematics: A research synthesis. Denver, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, 2004.
Mischo, Christoph, and Ludwig Haag. 2002. "Expansion and effectiveness of private tutoring." European Journal of Psychology of Education 17: 263-274
