How Social Class and Education Affect You

A short video explanation on how social class, race and access to college impact our lives. (Click on the picture)

Tutors are Coaches

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Many parents have their children involved in sports or learning how to play the piano, dancing. These activities are important for a child to grow up healthy and happy.  But many parents don't consider getting their child a tutor.  Parents have many reasons why not to get a tutor. But there a lot of advantages for getting a tutor.  Just like baseball players have pitching coaches to teach them and help them practice to be better pitchers, tutors are coaches that can help your child become better students. 

The best reason to get a tutor for your child is to help your child do better in school.  A tutor can help your child really understand the core subjects like reading, math and writing.  Tutors can help your child catch up if they are falling behind. And when your child has a good understanding of the basics, a tutor can help your child get ahead in school by reviewing subjects ahead of the class.  

Students can easily lose their self confidence if they fall behind in school.  Tutors can reduce the stress of school by patiently explaining the subject matter.  Seeing a tutor regularly even after your child catches up will improve your child's confidence when they are ahead of the rest of the class.  Your child gets one on one attention. This is one of the best reasons to get a tutor. Children who are falling behind or who are quiet can get lost in today's large classrooms. In a tutoring session, with just the tutor and maybe only a handful of other students your child can more easily asks questions. 

How much do tutors cost?

You need to consider a tutor an investment.  Consider how much a private high school or universities cost these days.  In Chicago private high schools can cost between $6,000 to $15,000 or more. Chicago has some very good enrollment and IB high schools that are free.  Those schools do a great job of preparing your kids for college with scholarship opportunities. but to get in those schools your child needs to do really well in school and on the enrollment tests. A tutor can give your son or daughter the extra help to do well on those tests and on their grades.  So what you spend on a tutor can be considered a cheap investment. So how much?  You can pay as little as $10 an hour, if the tutor is a licensed teacher you can expect to pay $15 to $35.60 per hour as a tutor

Where can I find a tutor?

Finding a tutor can be as easy as asking other parents for the name of the tutor they might be using.  You can ask a teacher or principle for ideas.  Another way is to advertise at your local university.  College students make good tutors and mentors.  You might even qualify for a free tutor.  Check the article about No Child Left Behind.

Try:

Wyzeant.com

Conclusion

Tutors are for everyone not just for students that struggle.  Get a tutor that is patient, will help your child not only catch up but race ahead.  

Read Every Day!

Probably the single most important skill you can teach your child is reading.  Children who read everyday will do better in school, score higher on the SATs, and do better in high school and college.  Children who grow up enjoying reading have greater opportunities in life.  The trick is read every day! Children should be read to from birth (some say before birth) until they can read on their own well. Then read with them.   

Unfortunately, there are too many things competing for kid's attention.  Movies, video games, television and instant messaging take away time from reading. The volume of outside activities can also reduce time for reading.  And there are children who live in families where there are no books or parents who do not like to read.   

Everyone knows that to be good at anything in life you have to do it repeatedly, over and over until it becomes a habit.  Athletes practice everyday and the real good athletes enjoy what they do and get even better.  The same thing is true with reading.  Parents need to set aside time every day, the same time everyday for reading.  The best time is before bedtime.  Set aside a half hour or hour every night before bed time to read.  Shut off the television, put away the game controllers, turn off the cellphone, get ready for bed and have you and your child read.  Parents should read aloud to their children for as long as you can.  And after your child reads on their own, parents need to read with their children.  They need to see you read, it shows children that reading is important.  

Find books they like to read.  Don't force them to read something they hate.  Reading should be fun (remember the great athletes enjoy what they are doing - your child will become a great reader if they love what they are reading).  Limit TV and Video game time to allow more time for reading.  Reading is the most important thing you can do as a family that will help your child succeed in life - so make it a fun priority in your every day life.

Why Education Real Simple?

As a parent,  understanding how education works can be confusing and stressful. There is no guidebook for parents that explains education in plain English. Education professionals use technical words and the choices make it hard for new parents, immigrant parents or even seasoned parents know what is the right thing to do. 

Education Real Simple is a place where complex education issues are explained in plain English and provide a place for parents and teachers to share ideas.