Signs Your Child Needs a Tutor
How do I know if I need a tutor?
Poor grades are a telltale sign to parents that their child is struggling academically and might require extra learning support. In this blog, we’ll discuss some
less obvious indicators that a child may be encountering a learning difficulty. The common denominator with all of these symptoms? They’re each
camouflaging the underlying problem: a learning challenge.
School Refusal / Avoidance
It’s normal for children to have days that they just don’t feel like getting up and ready for school, but if complaints about attending school become a trend, it’s time to investigate. Why are they refusing school? There might be a bully in class that they are avoiding, but it could also be that they struggle to feel safe or successful in their classes and it’s causing them to withdraw. Again, it’s normal for children to occasionally lament that school is “boring’ or say that going to school isn’t fun, but we want to be wary when children appear to be building a consistent, negative association with school and academics. We recommend reaching out for support sooner than later if you suspect this is the case for your learner; it's often easier to help reframe a child’s mindset before their resentment grows stronger.
Low Self Esteem
Statements like “I’m not smart” or “I’m just not good at math” are signs that a child might be internalizing academic failures as a reflection of their character. In psychology, the term “internalization” refers to a process by which one –usually subconsciously– accepts or absorbs an idea and incorporates that idea as a part of their identity. While it’s true that every individual has strengths and weaknesses, we want to ensure that students are not undermining their capacity to succeed. A tutor can help present different strategies and model different ways accessing information so that children can begin to “learn how they learn best,” and use that knowledge of themselves to reach their fullest potential.
Behavioral Difficulties at School
Oftentimes, feelings of frustration or embarrassment –which may arise from feeling confused or unsuccessful at an academic task– can manifest as commonly reported behaviors such as distracting other students during work time, rude language, or emotional outbursts at school. Moreover, a child who is repeatedly off-task may be struggling with attentional difficulties, such as those from ADD or ADHD. When these behaviors are rooted in learning challenges, we must address the cause (the learning challenges) rather than just the symptoms (the behaviors) in order to promote lasting change.
Reliant on Adult Support for Homework
The ultimate goal for all of our learners is independence! While it’s perfectly human to require help from time to time, problem-solving skills and perseverance when presented with challenges is equally important. If you have a child who frequently turns to an adult for clarification or validation when completing homework, it’s time to reach out. We want to cultivate a balance between self-advocacy and self-reliance by equipping students with strategies for independent learning, as well as the self-awareness to discern when and how to ask for help.
