6 Common Types Of Students To Enrol In Tutoring
When many parents consider tutoring programs, it’s usually because their child is struggling in a certain area or has recently gotten a poor report card. But the reality is that tutoring has many more benefits than simply improving grades in a certain subject.
While poor grades on a test or a report card can tell you that tutoring is a good option, tutoring can also help students who aren’t struggling improve their learning skills. This even applies to students who generally get good grades, and don’t actively have negative feedback about school.
There are different types of tutoring students, and each has their own requirements to help them get the most out of tutoring. The first step is to determine what type of tutoring student your child is.
To help, we’ve put together this guide to different types of students who can benefit from tutoring. Explore the common characteristics of each, and learn more about the recommended types of tutoring.
The Struggling Reader
Reading issues can show up at any age. Even if your child is at grade level, reading can still become an issue in later grades. The Struggling Reader usually displays some obvious signs that he or she is struggling, but there are also more subtle issues to look for.
Common signs of The Struggling Reader:
- Poor spelling
- Difficulty recalling facts
- Struggles to comprehend new written information
- Has trouble with reading aloud
- Shows a smaller vocabulary than peers
- Commonly reverses letters when writing
How tutoring can help The Struggling Reader:
- Identify the core cause of the reading issues
- Focus on base phonological processing skills
- Teach student basic and advanced methods of comprehension
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: English Tutoring
The Unmotivated Learner
Motivation can come and go in waves for many students. Even if your child seems dedicated in school for one grade or subject, that mindset can be fleeting. Issues like confidence and understanding new materials can also affect a student’s motivation.
Common signs of The Unmotivated Learner:
- Procrastinates on homework and assignments
- Avoids problem solving and gives up on challenges
- Struggles to comprehend new written information
- Questions the purpose of certain work or subjects
- Avoids class participation
How tutoring can help The Unmotivated Learner:
- Provide context for subjects and topics
- Teach effective problem solving skills and processes
- Incorporate the student’s interests into the subject matter
- Attach attainable goals to school work
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: Study Skills & Learning Difficulties
The Underperformer
The Underperformer can be one of the most difficult types of tutoring students to identify. He or she can be anywhere on the grades spectrum, and generally looks like a high-functioning student. It’s all about noticing whether the student is living up to his or her potential, or is just coasting by.
Common signs of The Underperformer:
- Puts bare minimum into work, doesn’t look for additional opportunities
- Tries to blend in and avoids leading others
- Avoids class participation
- Asks very few questions
- Doesn’t actively set goals, or sets very easy goals for self
- Shows better memorization skills than analytical skills
How tutoring can help the Underperformer:
- Set more challenging but attainable goals
- Incorporate the student’s interests into subject matter
- Encourage the student to engage further with the subject matter—not just memorize facts
- Address distractions leading to underachievement
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: Study Skills & Enrichment
The Struggling Math/Science/English Student
This is the type of tutoring student that most parents are familiar with—he or she struggles in a certain subject, causing stress for the student and the parent. Whether the problems are in English, Math, Science, or another subject, there are some common signs to look for.
Common signs of The Struggling Math/Science/English Student:
- Poor or declining grades on report cards, assignments, and tests
- High anxiety before tests in a specific subject
- Procrastinates on work in a specific subject
- Refuses to talk about the subject inside or outside of school
- Spends excessive amounts of time on average scope of school work
How tutoring can help The Struggling Math/Science/English Student:
- Identify core cause of the problem
- Explain subject matter in understandable terms and use relatable examples
- Incorporate analysis and critical thinking skills
- Use different teaching methods based on student needs—eg. verbal, written, or visual
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: English, Math, or Science
The High Achiever
This type of tutoring student probably sounds like he or she doesn’t need tutoring in the first place. However, tutoring can help a high achieving student learn even more than is taught in-class, and prevent subject boredom. This type of tutoring student is pushed to reach his or her full potential.
Common signs of The High Achiever:
- High grades across most subject areas
- Takes on leadership role in group projects
- Regularly complains about boredom in class
- Seeks out more material than is given in class
How tutoring can help the The High Achiever:
- Teach new material at a pace more suited to the student
- Incorporate greater analysis and critical thinking skills into work
- Prepare students for future grades and college
- Promote more self-directed learning skills
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: Enrichment
The College Prepper
Getting ready for college or university admissions is a topic that starts as early as Grade 9. This type of student is thinking about the right courses to take throughout high school, how to make his or her application stand out with extracurriculars, and mastering study skills to perform well on tests like the SAT or ACT.
Common signs of The College Prepper:
- Regularly thinks about and discusses future college possibilities
- Concerned about subject and grade averages
- Marks milestones such as applications and/or standardized tests
How tutoring can help The College Prepper
- Identify possible college or university programs best suited for the student
- Set goals based on admissions requirements
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Review and strengthen admissions applications
- Preparation for the SAT and ACT’s
Recommended Oxford Learning tutoring: SAT & ACT Tutoring
What Type Of Tutoring Student Is Your Child?
As you can see, almost any student can benefit from tutoring. Finding the right tutoring program will help him or her address any problem areas, and enhance existing strengths.
No matter where your child fits, we develop a customized tutoring roadmap that addresses his or her strengths, weaknesses, goals, and needs.
Contact your closest location today to book your Dynamic Assessment and start your child in an Oxford Learning tutoring program.
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