Benefits of Afterschool Tutoring [Guide for Parents]
- Swarnim Sinha |
- August 28, 2024
Updated By
Reviewed By
An effective approach that continues to gain popularity in today’s fast-paced environment is after-school tutoring. This supplemental education service offers numerous benefits, providing personalized attention, reinforcing classroom learning, and addressing individual challenges.
Here are a few things to know before acknowledging the benefits of afterschool tutoring.
Looking for private tutors? Book a Free Trial Lesson and match with top tutors for concepts, homework help and grade improvement on Wiingy today!
What is after-school tutoring?
Afterschool tutoring involves providing additional academic support to students outside of their regular school hours. As parents, you all want the best for your children, especially when it comes to their education.
With growing academic demands and competition, many parents turn to after-school tutoring to give their children an edge in academics and other curricular activities.
It is not only confined to academic enhancement. It is utilized for other types of learning like sports, musical instruments, and more. This can be in the form of in-person tutoring sessions, group tutoring, or even online tutoring.
Types of afterschool tutoring
- In-person Tutoring: Personalized attention from a tutor focusing on your child’s specific needs.
- Group Tutoring: Small groups of students working together with a tutor.
- Online Tutoring: Virtual sessions conducted over the internet, offering flexibility and access to a wider range of tutors.
Top 10 benefits of afterschool tutoring
1. Enhanced academic performance
Regular tutoring can help children grasp difficult concepts, leading to better grades and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Tutors assist with homework, helping students stay on track, and reduce the stress associated with challenging assignments.
The additional support helps refresh knowledge of what they learn in school, leading to better academic performance.
Research by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) shows that after-school programs have a positive impact on students’ educational outcomes, school attendance, and social and emotional learning.
2. A better understanding of subjects
Tutoring helps in breaking down complex topics and making them more understandable. Tutors can help your child with in-depth explanations. They provide detailed explanations and use various teaching methods to ensure the child comprehends the study material fully.
For students looking to refresh their concepts, subject tutors help them reinforce concepts. Regular sessions build upon subject learning from school, making it easier for students to retain information and perform better in exams.
3. Improved study habits and skills
Good study habits are essential for academic success, and after-school tutoring can help develop these skills. Regular tutoring sessions encourage a structured study schedule and time management.
Tutoring offers students a systematic approach to prioritizing tasks and homework, that helps manage their workload more efficiently. Children can create and stick to a structured study schedule, ensuring consistent study times.
It also teaches how to manage students’ time effectively. They help you set targets for every topic and exercise under that topic.
4. Effective Study Techniques
Tutors can introduce students to various study techniques that enhance learning. One of the best techniques consists of note-taking strategies. Good note-taking is a valuable skill that can improve a student’s ability to understand and remember information.
They can also help your child with test preparation, and any assignment guidance. They can provide specific strategies for test preparation, helping them to perform better under exam conditions. Tutors make sure that these strategies are tailored to children’s learning needs and styles.
These techniques can include regular practice test, that creates an exam environment, and provide important questions from every chapter. Tutors also offer real-world examples to make concepts easy to understand.
Eliminating incorrect options in multiple choice questions and summarizing information are some answering techniques offered by private after-school tutors.
5. Parental peace of mind
Parents also benefit from afterschool tutoring, gaining peace of mind knowing their child is receiving additional academic support.
As parents, you can maintain open communication with your child’s tutor. Regular updates and feedback can help you stay informed about their progress and address any concerns promptly. Parents gain valuable insights into their child’s strengths and areas for improvement. You can refer to the research article by PeDOCS titled “Why do parents employ private tutors for their children?” for psychological factors in parents.
6. Increased confidence and motivation
Confidence and motivation are key drivers of academic success. A supportive and encouraging learning environment can make a significant difference. After-school tutoring provides students with a positive learning environment.
Tutors can offer constant encouragement, which helps boost a child’s confidence in their abilities. They help students set realistic academic goals and guide them toward achieving these milestones.
They are there to acknowledge and celebrate successes, no matter how small, these small gestures can enhance a student’s motivation to learn.
Tutoring provides a safe space for students to ask questions and express their difficulties without fear of judgment. This practice creates a safe and supportive environment.
7. Enhanced communication and social skills
Afterschool tutoring can also contribute to the development of social skills. Interaction with tutors can enhance communication skills. Your child will get to learn how to communicate their academic challenges better.
Talking through problems and solutions with a tutor contributes to improved students’ verbal and interpersonal skills.
In group tutoring settings, children interact with peers, developing social skills and learning to work collaboratively. It helps in building positive relationships and boosting confidence in oneself among peers.
8. Development of critical thinking
After-school tutoring can help develop students’ critical thinking skills by providing personalized attention and tailored learning activities that challenge their reasoning abilities.
Tutors can introduce problem-solving exercises, encourage open-ended questioning, and guide students through complex concepts at their own pace.
This focused environment allows students to explore ideas deeply, make connections, and develop strategies for analyzing and evaluating information, ultimately enhancing their ability to think critically and independently.
9. Individualized attention
One of the biggest advantages of afterschool tutoring is the personalized attention your child receives. Tutors can tailor their teaching methods to suit students’ learning styles, ensuring they understand and retain the study material.
In a typical classroom setting, teachers have to divide their attention among many students. In contrast, tutoring offers one-on-one interaction, allowing for focused guidance and support.
Multiple online tutoring services allow your child the same attention as offline tutoring. Some of the platforms are Wiingy, Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, and more.
Tutors prepare children for a solid academic future by serving their academic needs. Tutors at Wiingy offer students a way to accomplish their learning objectives. Every tutor is vetted individually and undergoes an extensive assessment that includes interviews, and several tests to qualify.
10. Emotional benefits
After-school tutoring focuses on academic progress as well as mental well-being. Tutors provide additional emotional support, helping students to cope with academic pressures and build resilience towards any distractions.
Having a tutor to guide and support your child can eliminate the stress associated with schoolwork and homework. It leads to a more positive attitude towards learning. Students often experience stress and anxiety during examination seasons. Regular tutoring sessions can help prevent this as they provide personalized guidance, effective study tips and habits, and a conducive learning environment. All these provisions pull students to help them deal with exam stress and anxiety in a better way.
How to find a perfect tutor for your child
With so many tutors out there, how to find a tutor for your child who delivers exactly what they need?
Begin by understanding their specific educational needs to narrow down your search.
Seek recommendations from trusted sources like educators and other parents. Refer to some online resources for online tutoring as well.
Prioritize tutors with strong qualifications, experience, and teaching styles that align with your child. Additionally, consider the tutor’s flexibility and availability to match their schedule.
It is good that the advancements in technology provide opportunities for efficient and adaptable online tutoring.
As per research by the University of Potomac, 70% of students believe online classes are better than traditional classrooms. You may search for quality tutors on online tutoring platforms like Wiingy, Wyzant, Superprof, and more.
Trial sessions can help assess the tutor’s compatibility with students. A feedback approach will ensure ongoing evaluation of the tutoring arrangement.
You can book a free lesson at Wiingy. It will help your child match with the perfect tutor per their needs. If they for some reason do not want to continue, Wiingy replaces the tutor free of cost for further lessons. The lessons start at just $28/hr.
Looking for private tutors? Book a Free Trial Lesson and match with top tutors for concepts, homework help and grade improvement on Wiingy today!
Conclusion
After-school tutoring offers numerous benefits, from improving academic performance and study habits to boosting confidence and social skills.
It provides personalized attention, reinforces learning, and prepares students for future challenges. For parents, it ensures their child is supported and progressing well. Considering all these advantages, after-school offline or online tutoring is a valuable investment in a child’s education.
Other useful resources
How to Deal with Exam Stress [Guide for students and parents]
Benefits of Summer School [For Working Moms and Parents]
Transition from Middle School to High school
Transition from High School to College
How to Create a Study Space at Home [Parent’s Guide]
FAQs on Benefits of Afterschool Tutoring
How often should my child attend tutoring sessions?
The frequency of tutoring sessions depends on the child’s needs and the goals set by the tutor and parents. Some may benefit from weekly sessions, while others might need more frequent support.
Typically, 1-2 sessions per week are common.
Can tutoring help with learning disabilities?
Yes, specialized tutors can provide targeted support for children with learning disabilities, helping them overcome challenges and succeed academically.
How do I know if my child needs a tutor?
Observing your child’s behavior can provide significant insight into their academic needs. Signs such as reluctance to attend school, difficulty with homework, and consistently poor test grades indicate they may be struggling.
Additional signals include missing key concepts, hiding test scores, and reports of incomplete assignments from teachers. If students frequently experience frustration, tears, or a noticeable drop in self-confidence, these are strong indicators that they require extra academic support.
What should I look for in a tutoring program?
When choosing a tutoring program, look for qualified and experienced tutors, personalized learning plans tailored to children’s needs, flexible scheduling, and regular progress tracking with feedback.
Ensure the sessions are engaging and interactive to keep your child motivated. Research the program’s reputation through reviews and testimonials, and consider the cost to ensure it offers good value for the services provided.
By focusing on these key factors, you can find a program that effectively supports your children’s academic growth.
Is online tutoring as effective as in-person tutoring?
Online tutoring can be as effective as in-person tutoring, offering personalized learning, flexible scheduling, and access to a wide range of resources and expert tutors.
The effectiveness depends on the quality of the tutoring program, the tutor’s ability to engage and connect with the student, and the student’s comfort with the online format.
With the right setup and approach, online tutoring can provide the same benefits as traditional in-person sessions.
References
“Supporting Student Success Through Afterschool Programs“, a research article by NCSL, updated on September 11, 2023.
“Online Learning vs Traditional Learning” an article published by the University of Potomac.
A research article by PeDOCS titled “Why do parents employ private tutors for their children?”, was written by Judith Ireson & Katie Rushforth. Volume 6 (2014)