Getting a good education today is more difficult. There are increased class sizes and budget cuts. It’s not the fault of the school or teachers; it is a sign of the times. So when is it good time to find a tutor?

First consider the subject matter. Is your child struggling with the basics; reading, math, writing, spelling, even printing? If this is the case, seek help right away. Catching the problem earlier is best, but no matter what age, any student can and will benefit.

Not the basics? Is it the subject matter? Ask yourself, is this something you understand? For instance, you haven’t sat in a Math class for fifteen years, are you going to be able to help your child? Can you explain it to your child without confusing them more?

Below are some of the signs indicating it might be best to hire a tutor.

Are you starting to feel like the bad guy?

Do you feel like you are spending homework time telling your child what they are doing wrong opposed to what they are doing correctly?

Does this sound familiar “Yeah, Yeah – I get it”

Is your child tolerating you when you are trying to help? Signs are rolling of the eyes and lots of sighs. Are you seeing results from this tutoring time compared to the amount of time you are working together?

Is homework time “struggle time”?

If doing homework leads to a power struggle that develops into daily fights and stress, don’t ignore this sign. Children will try to avoid doing work they don’t understand, even starting a fight to avoid it. By the way, most children won’t listen to their parents when it comes to tutoring (you are not alone) but ignoring it will not make the problem go away.

Are you “doing” the homework instead of “helping”?

Do you find that you are doing the homework while your child watches? You might be helping to keep their grades up, but this is not helping your child. If your child is not doing the work, what happens when it comes to test time? The child is the one sitting in the classroom, not you; they need to be able to do the work as well as understand it. So if you are a parent that can’t resist “doing” the work, then you shouldn’t “help” them.

Does your child have a Learning Disability and require the extra help? Is your child trying but the grades are not showing it? Is their homework incomplete? Is their confidence level decreasing and/or are they not motivated to go to school? Are they anxious about tests? Is the teacher complaining that your child is misbehaving? These could be signs of academic problems; big or small they won’t get better without your help. If you have answered yes to any of these questions, do some research and find a way to help your struggling learner.

Finally, if you do decide to outsource your learning, make sure the student knows that they must work with the tutors to get results. They too need to be committed to use the new effective habits and to break the old ones. Attendance is paramount. Even the best tutors are not miracle workers. We too need the support and help of both the students and parents.

Do you have any questions about this article, or require more information? Please feel free to contact Toby at Miller Lake Learning Center – 576-READ (7323).

Toby Humphreys is the owner/operator of Miller Lake Learning Center located in Fall River. ©Miller Lake Learning Services Inc. 2010

1. Invite: Call some friends, neighbours, teammates and invite them to join a reading club. Their ages and reading levels do not need to be the same. This club is based on interests rather than specific books.
2. Survey: Have each person in the group take an “interest” survey. Find out what kinds of books they like to read. For example: vampires, fairies, mystery, animals, etc. This will help even the pickiest reader to step outside their comfort zone.
3. Decision: Have the group decide on their first topic. Once decided (i.e. Vampires) everyone in the “reading group” picks a book at their reading level about vampires. Remember, it doesn’t matter what they read, as long as they are reading.
4. Schedule next meeting: Choose a time/place to meet each week. Remember to set aside a number of minutes every day to read your chosen book. Once you are finished your book, write down what you liked or didn’t like about this book. Also think if you would recommend the book to a friend.
5. Meet/Discuss: this is when you discuss your thoughts/ideas about the book. Each person takes a turn to discuss. This is when your notes come in handy, especially if you are not comfortable talking to a group.
6. Snacks! Don’t forget to pick a topic for next week’s meeting. Parents, you can offer to supply snacks and drinks.

Parents, this group should above all be FUN! There should be no pressure, no formal teaching or testing. Allowing children to discuss and enjoy these groups should teach a child to love reading for reading, not because they are forced to.

Great Resources:
Public Library – Did you know that the Mobile Library comes to the Sobeys Parking lot in Fall River?

Visit their website for times. (http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/branches/locations/mobile-library.html)


Chapter’s/Indigo Books have a great website. You can search for book by category; this will help you find a “just right” for your new Book Club member! (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca)


Call us, we would be more than happy to discuss ways to help your child succeed in learning! (http://www.millerlakelearning.com)