Ancient Greeks praised tutoring. How can we describe the process right now?

Private tutoring is a very ancient practice. Every aspiring philosopher knows that Socrates was the mentor of Plato. Plato, in turn, taught Aristotle. And Aristotle was the mentor and teacher of the young Alexander the Great. From a quote by the emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius, it is clear that the Romans also valued private instruction, as did the Greeks. For centuries, tutors were involved into providing the most effective way to support a child's learning. They are treated not only as academic professionals, but also as mentors and role models.

Obviously, tutoring is as approved these days as it used to be two millennia ago. Around 1/4 of UK children are tutored at some stage of their education, in accordance with various sources. Most children visit tutors while preparing for important tests or entrance exams to private schools and universities.

Despite such statistics, there is still enough criticism of tutoring. Usually parents wonder why they should invest extra money in individual education when they are already spending enough on expensive closed schools. The tutor's lessons need is also doubtful taking into account the current workload of children, who in addition to lessons, also need to go in for sports, music or drama courses.

Lack of interest and disorganization. 5 obvious signs to tell that your child needs tutoring

Among the key situations when tutoring seems unavoidable is the case when an individual approach to a child at school is a practically unthinkable task. Therefore, if educational methods do not match the speed with which the child assimilates the material, if his or her reading and writing skills develop too slowly, the school is unlikely to cope with such problems.

Sometimes, when a program is particularly complex, even the brightest children might start to lag behind. One gap in skills and knowledge leads to another gap. And this is a continuous process. It can become really catastrophic at some point, especially if it happens in elementary school. Lagging behind also leads to a whole galaxy of psychological problems in the form of apathy, indifference, bad behavior and resentment.

One of the main reasons for inviting a tutor is preparation for entrance tests, exams and interviews in top schools and universities. The process might collect dozens of candidates at one place. To get this cherished place, unfortunately, it is not enough to be just a smart and successful student, an important share of success is the knowledge of the so-called “examination technique”. For example, while working with texts, you will need to conduct a competent analysis, draw parallels, and correctly structure your answers. All this is to be done in a limited amount of time and in a stressful atmosphere.

Personal mentor for a child. A good idea when it is time to make career choices

As it was mentioned before - a tutor is not just an educator who sets the rules or mechanically solves problems with your child, this is a person who knows firsthand about all the problems your child faces. A good tutor graduated from a prestigious university and knows about time management, discipline and the importance of a positive attitude. Classes are also a personal relationship. A friendly tutor who sincerely cares about your child's success, will always support him or her with advice. With such a mentor, the child will have a role model who will understand and stimulate your child.

An important advantage is also the fact that having such an experienced assistant, you will be sure that all homework will be done by the child on time and without unnecessary stress. Plus, the tutor is able to take your child's academic interests to the next level when it is time to make career choices. In some situations, the mentor can provide the child with information that he or she will not receive from the school teacher as the tutor is not limited by the scope of the school curriculum.

If your child tends to closely learn the subject, a tutor is the perfect person to help guide the child in the right manner. As your child is keen on physics and astronomy - why not think of hiring an astrophysics educator who does his or her own research in this sphere?

A crave for refreshment time. Several cases when you should not invite a tutor

First of all, there is no need to work with a tutor if your child lacks a basic regimen for effective studying. Having good sleep hygiene means turning off the TV at a certain time, maintaining the correct temperature in the bedroom, and using the bedroom strictly for its intended purpose, not making it a home office, for example. Educational hygiene is not less important. The parents should carefully monitor numerous factors that may influence the child's performance at school. Regular meals are essential for a child's good academic performance.

Your child should get enough rest. Never forget to encourage your pupil. And one more strict rule: do not overload children. You can always surround a child with textbooks and teachers, but his tired brain simply does not perceive such volumes of information. Various studies show how crucial free time and play are for proper mental development of a child. Sometimes the best way to help children is to ask them to do a little less, and not vice versa. Having rested, your child will be happy to start conquering new heights.

Many young families may be tempted to start preparing with tutors for entrance tests from an early age, even at the age of 3. Nevertheless, from a pedagogical point of view, the idea of pushing a child to academic development too early is like an attempt to make your car go faster by adding 11 extra wheels. Play is essential for the development of cognitive and motor skills in children, as they are just not able to cope with a large amount of information at such an early age. Their future years at school and in university will be full of ups and downs, so it is wise to let the children play while it is still realizable.