Making Sure That You Are Clear About What You Need to Do

Making Sure That You Are Clear About What You Need to DoIf you are going to take up a private tutor, whether as a private tutor in Cambridge or one in London, then you will need to first look at some of the things that you will have to do in order to get the most from your private tutor. If you are looking to get private tutors for yourself or for your child then here are a few things that you will need to look at.The first thing that you will have to do is to make sure that you are aware of the exact location of the private tutor. You will also need to make sure that you are clear about what you will expect from the tutor and how long the tutor is expected to be there.The next thing that you will need to do when it comes to the location of the private tutor is to find out what their hours are. These will be based on the tumor's location. The tutor may charge you per hour or you may only be charged for what time they are actually there.The tutor should also have a list of the workshe ets that you will be expected to do. These will include workbooks and tests. The tutor will also want to ensure that you know how long you will have to wait before they start giving you feedback.You will also need to make sure that you are clear about what you are going to be expected to do before the tutor starts teaching you. The tutor will want to know exactly what you will need to do in order to get the best result from your private tutor. This will include how many hours per week will be covered and what homework is going to be expected from you.The tutor will also want to know about any fees that you are going to be asked to pay. These will vary depending on the tutor that you go to and you will also need to consider the location of the tutor as well. If you are going to use your private tutor for business purposes then this will all need to be factored into your decision.These are just a few things that you will need to look at when it comes to getting a private tutor for you rself or for your child. In order to get the most from a private tutor, you need to make sure that you are clear about everything that you are going to need to do in order to get the best from the tutor.

Career Development Way to Your Success - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Career Development Way to Your Success - Introvert Whisperer Career Development: Way to Your Success Career development is the backbone of every single individual who has a personalized set of goals for their future. It plays an important role in the development of a person as it continues to be with him throughout his lifespan. Planning of a career is not an easy task. When a kid sees a doctor, pilot, an engineer and other people having different skills, they start to idealize them and in this way development of career starts. It’s all about exploring your occupation and deciding which career to pursue.   Any candidate who is seeking to get Jobs in Singapore, India, Malaysia, Dubai and other countries can visit the job portals and gain the best opportunity to get into some of the best companies to work with. The next step towards this is to get the right education and training, applying and finding the employment for the profession an individual has chosen to make his or her career in. It does not have a fixed age and it varies from person to person. After getting proper education and training some people will look to get a job to earn some livelihood while some people will wait for the right opportunity for their desirable job. The ultimate motive for career development is to get the results one has set for himself/herself. Career counseling expert can be of huge help as they will provide you the guidelines to excel in your career. Here are some of the major ways to build your career and grow: 1. Mentor guidance: A mentor is a person who will be standing by your sides, clearing all your doubts, and help you out whenever you face a problem. For an effective career, you should have a good and helpful mentor who will guide you on the initial stage of your career. 2. Improving your skills and knowledge: Knowledge is the greatest asset a human being can ever have. This can be enhanced by studying the relevant books and materials of the profession one has chosen for himself. It will lay down a foundation how to begin your work in a career. Apart from knowledge, skill is also one of the major factors in enhancing your career. It can be acquired by applying practical knowledge of your profession and by doing various internships during your college life. 3. Know your Strength: Personal qualities will determine how fruitful will be your career. An individual should know their own strength and weaknesses. It helps in tackling the toughest situation thrown at you.   Depending on the qualities and traits an individual possess, a person should always look to make a career in their respective fields and support their strength. This will help you in adapting the work environment you have chosen for yourself. 4. Dream Big: One of the major factors in career building is a goal set by the person himself. If a person accomplishes a small target then he should never be satisfied by it. If you have big goals in your mind, your hard work will reflect your achievements. You should always keep chasing your dreams to achieve something big, as it will bring out the best in you. 5. Building Relationships: Having contact with different people with different skills will help you in enhancing your career. You can apply their skills to your advantage and in return, you must always render your knowledge, services or your money. To be successful in your career you must keep those contacts which will turn out to be profitable later. Contacts can be created by meeting individuals in a seminar, workplace or social networking sites. A successful career is not just made in a single day. You have to work hard, be patient and dedicate your time to building it. Your dedication and ambition to achieve goals set by you will lead to a successful career. You just have to believe your capabilities. Author Biography: Chinmayee Jha is a content writer who writes topics related to digital marketing trend and many other trending subjects. She also writes content that includes career guidance, employment opportunities which can set ablaze your career fast forward. https://www.facebook.com/chinmayeeataly Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

New Interview Prep Partnership

New Interview Prep Partnership Improving Academic Performance MyGuru is proud to announce a partnership with NextLevel Interview Consulting.Everyone takes the GMAT, CFA, CPA, or Series 7 exam for a variety of reasons, but we all have one thing in common - we're looking to enhance our careers.This means the end goal of taking these tests is to get a job that is: More interesting Higher paying More flexible Less stressful More prestigious Capable of providing better learning experiences So, we all realize that a great GMAT score or a CFA or CPA certification is only part of the story. You need to find, interview for, and ideally land a job after taking these tests. With that in mind, MyGuru is proud to announce a new partnership with NextLevel Interview Consulting, a provider of customized, 1-1 interview preparation. The founder of NextLEVEL Interview Consulting, went to small school on theeast coast called Rider University, graduating with a degree in Finance and an MBA. He had a goal of getting a job in financial services at a large Wall Street firm, but his lack of a “big name” school hindered his efforts. These companies, and the executive recruiters that worked with them, would not grant an interview to a young guy from a smaller school. After a year of relentless effort, he convinced several recruiters and banks to interview him, and prepared so well for these interviews that he received several offers. He has a four part methodology to acing interviews that relies on being extremely proactive, engaging, and more importantly, prepared to answer and ask some key questions. We’re proud to be partnered with NextLEVEL Interview Consulting, and hopeful that he’ll complement our private tutoring and test prep services nicely. Click here to learn more about Dan and his approach to interview preparation.

Como ser brasileiro, agora em livro

Como ser brasileiro, agora em livro Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.comFalar das diferenças culturais de cada país é fácil, até certo ponto. O mais complicado é quando somos nós que estamos vivendo e tendo que lidar com situações repletas de comportamentos e pensamentos de uma cultura diferente. Até para os mais multiculturais, viver em um país que têm uma cultura diferente da sua, pode ser um desafio.  Por isso, para ajudar estrangeiros que querem evitar situações menos agradáveis quando visitam o Brasil,  Steve Luttmann escreveu o livro How to be a Brazilian.Baseando o guia na experiência que acumulou em 15 anos de Brasil, Steve, que é norte-americano e ambiciona ser brasileiro, fala de comportamentos e gostos, de forma a dar a conhecer ao mundo como é o jeitinho brasileiro de viver.  No  livro, escrito em Inglês, são relatados gostos como o de sair com os amigos, de paquerar e de ir para a praia.Nesse guia de como ser brasileiro, também é dada a conhecer a gastronomia e o gosto por comer churras co e feijoada. O autor comenta ainda o amor dos brasileiros pelo futebol, caipirinha e samba, chegando mesmo a dizer que o povo brasileiro é o que dança melhor. Além disso, há uma relação de gírias e frases que Steve considera úteis para o dia a dia.Segundo ele, houve uma grande preocupação para que os seu livro fosse divertido e prático, de forma a passar para os leitores a energia e o clima amistoso do povo brasileiro. Sendo que a sua intenção fundamental é ajudar os estrangeiros a experenciarem o famoso jeitinho brasileiro de viver.Sem dúvida que um livro que dê a conhecer facetas de uma cultura é uma ótima forma de promovê-la, especialmente sendo escrito em Inglês. No entanto, até que ponto um livro que tem como título How to be a Brazilian, mas que não aborda todos os costumes de um país multicultural como o Brasil, poderá ser mais do que uma caricatura do que é ser brasileiro?

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate - Tutor Hunt Blog

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisor OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisorSchoolsWith no way to objectively assess how good one school is over another many people will simply rely on anecdotal evidence. Parents may select a school they attended many years ago, wishing for their child to enjoy the same educational benefits that they benefited from - or they might choose another school they have heard is academically good, perhaps from friends whose children are pupils there. Like any institution schools can change over time: headmasters and mistresses will come and go, much of the teaching staff will be entirely different decade to the next; and funding structures from local councils may vary over time. All these factors can have a dramatic influence on the school. How is it possible then for parents, when trying to select a place for their child, to objectively judge how good a school is? League table results can be misleading, as schools often have the practice of only allowing pupils of appropriate ability to sit certain exams. Ofsted reports seem like the perfect solution to determining just how good, or bad, a school may be. The institution itself is a non ministerial department of the UK government, unaffiliated with any particular school or university, and is an independent institution which reports only to parliament. Schools can be visited at any point during the term, and though they used to have to give 48 hours notice, this is presently set to change to a mere 15 minutes notice, with Ofsted announcing their imminent arrival with a phone call. New research published by the EDSK, a new Education and Skills think-tank, has cast serious doubt as to the reliability and objectivity of Ofsted reports. The results are indeed astonishing, with separate international studies conducted during 2012 and 2013 revealing that different inspectors are able to arrive at vastly contrasting assessments about the very same school. A small discrepancy would be expected in any kind of large scale review - but the research from the EDSK has shown that, in as many as 50 per cent of inspections, simply having a different inspector can mean the same school receives a vastly different grading. Tom Richmond, Director of the EDSK and former advisor to the Education Secretaries Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan, has said the whole rating system is misleading parents in as many as half of all cases. He did express understanding at how parents consider Ofsted reports to be helpful when selecting a school for their child, but cautioned as to their reliability: `We know that many parents use Ofsted grades when choosing a school for their child. But these same parents have never been told these grades could be very misleading in terms of how well a school is performing.` `Instead, we should focus on giving parents simple, accessible information to help them decide if a school is right for their child rather than Ofsted trying to come up with all the answers themselves.` Ofsted are planning to make changes to the way it assesses schools, with their new system being rolled out this September. The new grading system will apparently focus more on children`s behaviour, with the whole school being marked down if any unruly or discourteous conduct is observed. The new framework for the report will feature a `personal development` category, which will judge how schools are planning to build up their pupils` `resilience and confidence.` A spokesperson Ofsted has recently declared: `We are open to serious debate about how we inspect, as shown through our recent consultation on a new inspection approach. We will be publishing the outcome soon.` The proposed changes have met with positive comments, with The Association of School and College Leaders saying the alterations Ofsted are proposing are a `step in the right direction`. Tom Richmond, Senior Research Fellow at Policy Exchange think-tank in Westminster has said that there`s no evidence that suggests a benefit to `summarising an entire school in a single number or phrase.` Ofsted itself have criticised the report, and rejected the judgement that their school grading system is `inaccurate.` Despite their defence, it seems that Ofsted is planning a major change to its assessment system. Schools do need to be independently graded - parents need a comprehensive tool to help them select the right school for their child; and school`s themselves need to be kept under check, to ensure standards do not slip. 11 months ago0Add a Comment

Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts

Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts Serial.What does that word make you think of?For millions of people, their first thought wont be a serial number, serial code or serial killer, but rather a podcast.Serial  has completely captivated its audience, holding  the record for  the fastest podcast ever to break 5 million downloads on iTunes (when season one premiered  in 2014).Lucky for us language learners, podcasts arent just made in English.That means  the sources  you use  to improve your listening skills could be addicting podcasts like Serial.Sure, there  are lots of podcasts out there specifically made for  language learners, but thats not what this is about. Im talking about podcasts made by native speakers  for other native speakers.  Not only will your listening skills bloom, but youll improve your vocabulary, gain cultural insights and, if you choose wisely, even learn about something else that interests you.Podcasts are  also an easy way to incorporate language learning into net time,  time when youre doing some thing else which doesnt require much concentration, like washing dishes or commuting.To help you benefit from this valuable resource,  Ill show you where  to find such podcasts, how to pick the best one for you,  plus  strategies for using them the most effectively. Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language PodcastsWhy Use Podcasts as Part of Your Foreign Language LearningImprove your listening skillsListening skills are essential to language fluency, but there arent that many ways to practice listening exclusively, in a way that is totally devoid of visual cues that can serve as a crutch for the times you dont understand something.Podcasts solve that problem since they are usually audio-only, which means you need to pay attention to the words being said.Learn new vocabularyPodcasts meant for native speakers of your target language will give you exposure to a huge variety of vocabulary that would not make it into any book for language learners.You might not pick up everythingâ€"at l east not at firstâ€"but listening to podcasts on a regular basis will expand your vocabulary significantly. Youll also become familiar with words you learn elsewhere and get a better feel for the rhythms of the language.Improve your cultural knowledgeLike a TV show or movie, a podcast is a small window into a foreign culture. As you listen to podcasts in your foreign language, youll get a peak at how speakers of that language see the worldâ€"or, if the podcast is about a very specific subject, how they approach that specific subject.Either way, the more you listen to podcasts the more youll be able to understand subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between your own culture and that of your target language.Getting Technical: How to Find Podcasts in a Foreign LanguageOn iTunesPerhaps the easiest way to find podcasts in your target language is through the app store on iTunes. This strategy requires essentially zero knowledge of local culture or celebrities and allows you to easily br owse subjects, so its a great place to start.Open iTunes and click on iTunes store.Scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on change country.Find a country that speaks your target language (preferably the country that speaks your preferred dialect of your target language) and click on it.Click on the podcast icon on the upper-left-hand of the screen. If you dont see the podcast icon, click on the more icon or scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on podcasts.Once youve done that, you can start browsing for podcasts in the language! You can either look at the most popular podcasts for that country (on the right-hand side) or you can search for a particular subject. I like anything related to food and cooking, so I often look for podcasts about food.To get that specific, put the subject in the search box in the upper-right-hand cornerâ€"in your target language, of course. For example, I can search for food podcasts in French by putting cuisine  (cooking)  in that sea rch box. And I get loads of results!On radio stationsThis is a slightly more difficult way to search for podcasts, but entirely valid. Most radio station these days offer specific programs as podcasts that can be downloaded and listened to anytime. These podcasts are often but not always available on iTunes. But they are available directly on the radio stations website.The first step to finding podcasts directly on the producers websites is to find a list of radio stations in your target language. You can accomplish this through Google searches or lists of radio stations like the one on Live-Radio.net.Secondly, you should poke around the website and look for something like programs or podcasts. In most cases, youll be able to find something and download the programs directly onto your phone or computer and be on your way!On blogsA related way to search for podcasts is to visit the websites of influential bloggers and podcasters in your target country. This is the most difficult opti on, because it requires you to know who those bloggers or podcasters are, or do a Google search to find them.If you do search with Google, its a good idea to first change your language preferences in Google so that you get results in your target language!Want a couple suggestions? Here are some thoughts on the best podcasts for French, Japanese, Spanish and German learners.How to Choose  an Appropriate PodcastChoose a level-appropriate podcastNot all podcasts are going to be equally easy to understand, even if they are produced for native speakers. Like with learning material, its important to choose a podcast that matches your language level.Only choose the most difficult kinds of podcast (humor, local dialects) if you already speak your target language very, very well.  Otherwise, stick to something easier. Just being able to listen to something meant for native speakers is a win.Here are some guidelines to help you  find a level-appropriate podcast:The easiest podcasts include:Na tional news programsDocumentary-style radio programsNiche subjects that are still quite mainstream, like parenting, fitness or filmsInterviewsMore difficult podcasts might cover:More technical niche subjects, like cooking, cars, DIY instructions, economicsLocal news (local news programs are more likely to have local dialects)Very difficult podcasts include:Any kind of humorAnything produced in a local dialect or non-standard languageTalk shows that involve people interrupting each otherKnow your interestsIts best to choose a podcast that fits both your language level and your interests. When youre looking for a podcast to listen to, choose one that will be interesting to you for reasons other than language learning. If you like to travel, for example, listen to travel podcasts.If youre just starting out with podcasts, try to choose a podcast thats in the easier category. After youve practiced for a while you can move up to listening to comedy routines!Settle on 3-5 podcastsThe major advantage of podcasts is that there are recurring episodes, recorded by the same narrator and about the same subject. This means that (a) once you find a podcast you like, you dont have to spend any more time searching for listening material, and (b) you get used to the voice and language pattern of the podcast narrator.Since most podcasts have regular episodes, you dont need very many podcasts to give you a good amount of listening material. For language learning purposes, its really better to listen to a small number of podcasts regularly than to listen to a large number of podcasts sporadically. So find 3-5 podcasts that you like and stick with them.4 Ways  to Use Foreign Language Podcasts for Effective Learning1. Listen to each podcast several timesPodcasts also have the advantage of allowing you to repeat them as often as you wantâ€"and thats something you should take advantage of! Especially at the beginning, as you get used to listening to a native speaker talk normally and to the format and vocabulary in the specific podcast, listen repeatedly. This will allow you to take note of any unknown vocabulary you need to look up, and to repeat any phrases or grammatical constructions that didnt make sense.Usually, the best bet is to listen to the podcast once all the way through without stopping, even if you dont understand everything. Then listen a second time, stopping to make sure you understand most of the vocabulary and grammar.The third or fourth time you listen to the podcast, you should be listening without stopping againâ€"but this time, you should understand everything. After youve listened a couple of times, try talking along with the narrator and mimicking his or her voice, pronunciation and rhythm.2. Study specialized vocabularyIf youre listening to a podcast about a niche subject, study some specialized vocabulary ahead of time. If its a subject youre interested in anyway, this will be particularly useful vocabulary.If youre into cooking, for e xample, words for poach or rolling pin are going to be usefulâ€"both in understanding the podcast and talking to people about cooking later on.3. Read comments and participate in the commentingOne of the best aspects of listening to podcasts directly on a radio station or blog homepage is that there is often the ability to comment. Reading through the comments will both give you extra reading practice and let you make sure that you understood the podcast in the first place.If youre feeling especially ambitious, start participating in the comments yourself! It will serve as extra writing practice and allow you to build a virtual community with people in your target language.4.  Use the podcast as an icebreakerIf you have a language tutoring session or a language exchange, talk about the podcast. Try to integrate any new words or grammar into your discussion.Try to summarize the podcast as well as give an opinion about its contents: Do you think the travel destination discussed in the podcast sounds interesting? What do you think about current events the podcast mentions? Use the vocabularyâ€"and ideasâ€"from the podcast to start a conversation!Podcasts are a fantastic  resource for language learners. They provide a window into the target languages culture and a never-ending amount of listening material. Plus most  are also free.Like with so many other language learning activities, youll get the most out of podcasts if you focus on material  that is both level-appropriate and intrinsically interesting to you. So choose a podcast about something youre already passionate about and watch your language skills skyrocket!Emily Liedel  is a writer and polyglot. She speaks French, Spanish, Russian, German and Mandarin Chineseâ€"her goal is to speak all of the official UN languages fluently (HINT: Arabic is the language left on her list). She writes about language learning and living abroad at  www.thebabeltimes.com. And One More ThingIf you enjoy learning languages wi th podcasts, youll love learning with FluentU.FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your com puter or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

What Every Parent Should Know About Hiring a Tutor

What Every Parent Should Know About Hiring a Tutor Why do we Need Tutors? During pre-modern times a formal education was reserved for religious leaders and the very wealthy, including royalty, who enjoyed a one-on-one relationship with their teachers. Labor skills, however, were passed down in the age-old fashion of apprenticeships whereby a student or very small group of students learned from the master by watching and working side by side with him for many, many years. Girls learned domestic skills as they grew up working in the home by imitating their mothers. In none of these scenarios was the student-teacher ratio as great as it is today, with K-12 classes averaging 30 or more students per instructor. The individual attention that so carefully shaped the skills of past generations has been replaced by overcrowded classrooms full of underdeveloped talent. The earliest American schools were modeled after English institutions. However, unlike the privately funded schools of England, American schools set the first precedence for publicly-funded education. But “publicly-funded” often equates to “under-funded” and, even from the start, American schools lacked the essential necessities for formal learning: books, writing utensils, and appropriately-trained teachers, to name a few. So how have parents been able to prevent their children from falling between the cracks? Well, in a word, tutors. Tutors range from peers who are also students, to professional teachers trained in specific subjects and to accommodate specific learning styles. There are also learning centers that offer a franchised form of tutoring, like Sylvan and Kaplan. So how does a parent decide who to hire? Here are some basic guidelines. How to Find a Tutor Like doctors and dentists, people traditionally rely on referrals to find a good tutor. Parents often turn to other parents, or to teachers for tutor recommendations. However, what if you cannot find someone who knows a good tutor? What if a recommended tutor cannot accommodate your budget or schedule? What if your child’s learning needs are different from that of your friend’s child? You could flip open the yellow pages and start cold calling to set up interviews with various tutors and learning centers; but this is tedious and may still result in a poor match. A better option, thanks to the computer age, may be to hop online where you can now find various listings for tutors on the internet. Multiple agencies post tutor profiles, some even screen their tutors to ensure quality. One particularly useful site is www.tutorz.com, which compiles tutor profiles from multiple listing sites so that users can shop for a tutor from one location rather than searching all over the internet. In fact, Tutorz boasts the largest database of tutors in the world, with over 30,000 listings. Even better, starting in Fall of 2011, Tutorz will facilitate tutor ratings so that clients can post reviews of tutors, similar to how online travel sites like TripAdvisor and Orbitz enable users to rate travel accommodations. So parents will be able to use Tutorz to search for highly rated tutors, in addition to preferences like cost, location, and subject. What to Look for in a Tutor Select a tutor with a teaching style, personality, and schedule that specifically meets your child’s needs. Although it would be nice if teachers could provide the one-on-one help that students need, this is not always an ideal option. First, if the student did not understand the material the fist time, the way the teacher explained it in class, maybe he or she will benefit from the different perspective a tutor can offer. Second, based on individual personalities and preferences, kids do not always feel comfortable working so closely with every teacher. Teachers that are engaging and approachable to some students may be intimidating or irritating to others. Third, many teachers do not have enough time to provide students with the amount of one-on-one instruction they truly need. Secondary teachers are responsible for planning, preparing, and delivering curriculum to more than 200 students. Grading assignments, preparing for classes, adjunct duties like coaching or policing the hal ls, staff development and parent meetings leave teachers with little or no time for “Extras” like phone calls home and tutoring. Children with learning disabilities can easily fall between the cracks at school. If you suspect your child has a learning disability like dyslexia, a condition in which individuals see letters and numbers in reverse order, find a tutor or learning center that has the ability to test for such. Private tutors are generally less expensive than tutoring centers and tailor their instruction specifically to their students, while tutoring centers often use their own curriculum which may or may not work for your child. Consider a tutoring center if your child is fairly self-sufficient and not easily distracted, learns better in a group setting, or has a specific learning disability that the center specializes in. How to Make the Most of Your Child’s Time with the Tutor Create a tutoring plan with your child and tutor that defines the goals your child is trying to achieve, and how the tutor will help him achieve them. Start by identifying your child’s weaknesses, especially where he is below grade level. Do not forget to consider your child’s study skills as a potential area of weakness. Next, outline a plan for how the tutor and your child will use their time together to work on these areas of weakness, and how your child will continue to do so outside of the tutoring sessions as well. For instance, you might specify that the tutor spends 75% of her time reviewing mathematics concepts, one chapter each week, and 25% of her time addressing reading comprehension, which can be augmented by assigning your child books to read between sessions. Also discuss how you, as parents, can assist in reinforcing concepts reviewed in tutoring. For example, if your child is struggling with basic math, then opportunities like adding up groceries at the store or helping to measure ingredients during meal preparation should not be missed. Home improvement projects are a great way to reinforce algebra concepts. Helping calculate and pay the monthly bills will reinforce math and economics skills; and there are ample opportunities everywhere that exemplify science, from the physics of foo tball and chemistry of cooking, to the biology behind hand-washing. Finally, make sure that tutoring supplements and does not supplant learning at school. That is, make sure the tutor is reinforcing concepts that have already been covered in class and is not getting ahead of the teacher. Remediation should be top priority. Plus your child will be bored in class and lose interest if he already knows the material. Facilitate communication between your child’s teachers and tutor by introducing them or exchanging their phone numbers with one another. Provide copies of each teacher’s class syllabus to the tutor. Not only will this help the tutor know what material to cover, it will also help her know how your child’s grade is calculated in each class so she can help your child learn to organize and prioritize his work around these requirements. If teachers do not provide your child with a syllabus for each class, request one in writing. They are required by law in most states. It is important to remember that a tutor should not be employed to help your child with homework. The purpose of homework is for students to practice concepts they have already learned. An appropriate role for the tutor is to re-teach any concepts needed to understand the homework using alternative practice questions. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late Even those of us who took calculus once upon a time would probably find it difficult to recall enough to be of any assistance to our kids today. While some parents are capable of tutoring their own children, many lack the time, ability, or desire to do so. It is important for parents to employ a tutor as soon as possible if their child is beginning to struggle in school, in order to head off frustration, impaired self esteem, and compounding academic deficiencies. The Federal government is so confident that tutoring is an effective way to improve student achievement that it’s No Child Left Behind act mandates that low performing schools in year two of school improvement must provide tutors free of charge to their low income students. However, the tutors must be approved by the state. You can find out which schools are required to provide free tutors for students, which tutors are approved for each state, and how to apply to receive services for your child by visiting www.greatschools.net.