What Makes Personalized One-to-One Tutoring So Effective?

Parents often ask us what makes personalized tutoring different from other methods. What separates one-to-one tutoring apart from learning centers, and why is individualized instruction so effective? Read on to find out!

Learning gaps. Group centers often focus on specific curriculum or subjects based on a student’s age or grade level. And while this may work to help a student pass a test or complete an assignment, it doesn’t solve the root of the problem: learning gaps. During the school year, teachers have a large amount of content they need to cover – and at a certain point, the class has to move on to the next topic. If a student didn’t fully understand the lesson, any future concepts that are based on this knowledge will be even more confusing. This is how learning gaps form, and unfortunately they compound over time as new concepts are added. Since one-to-one tutors support individual students, there are no constraints on how much time is devoted to a particular subject or lesson. Since tutors have the unique ability to go back and revisit previous topics, the process of closing gaps in a student’s learning can begin immediately. To learn more about learning gaps and how they form, check out our blog on the topic!

Learning needs and style. The first step in personalized tutoring is to identify the specific areas students need more practice with. Oftentimes, students themselves are not aware of the reasons a subject or concept isn’t making sense to them – only that it is difficult. Unlike the more rigid curriculum of a group learning center, tutors give special attention to a student’s individual needs and will create a customized approach that will work best for them. This tailored design also includes the frequency and flexibility of tutoring as well, as one-to-one tutors are able to work around a family’s schedule and tutoring needs (not the other way around). Finally, personalized tutors will also take into account the student’s learning style – not everyone learns best through traditional instruction, and a good tutor will customize the teaching style to suit the student’s strengths and address their areas of weakness. To learn more about the different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic), click here.

Executive functioning. In many cases, a student’s struggles are not due to their academic ability. Executive functioning skills play an integral role in organization, time management, goal setting, future planning, , and more. These skills are not always taught in school, and learning centers tend to focus more on academic curriculum rather than life skills. Tutors can act as executive functioning coaches by teaching students how to implement strategies that will enhance their abilities and make them more productive. Many families are surprised by how introducing a few “organization hacks” can make such a huge difference in a student’s academic experience and success!

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