cyndyinohio Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I am thinking of tutoring and wondered what subjects/ages people usually need tutoring for? Where do you meet? What do you pay? Do you pay for several sessions up front, or one at a time?? What goals do you typically have from the tutoring?? How did you find your tutor? Wondering how to advertise. What did you look for in a tutor?? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I have paid $70/hour for a calculus tutor that came to my house. He was excellent. I knew this man from a connection to a private school I have paid $90/hour for a reading specialist (certified in Wilson, PhonoGraphix, and another Orton Gillingham based program, as well as trained through a program at private school specializing in LDs). We met at her office. She was excellent. I searched online for reading tutors in my area, specifically OG tutors. I spoke with several about our needs before meeting with this person. I wouldn't pay fees that high for persons who did not have the backgrounds these two had. I had very specific needs for each of these tutors. I have a background in special education, but also in higher level science, which I think makes it easier for me teach most subjects and pinpoint specifically what my dc need from a tutor when I search for a tutor. I prefer tutors come to my house, but if the best person does not do that I will go to the tutor, because it's about the service, not the convenience. Reading tutor I paid by the month at the end of the month. Math tutor I paid each session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I've never hired a tutor, so I can't help with that. But I can give you a bump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I make half my household income through tutoring (LOL we're pretty low income) so I thought I'd contribute.... Where do you meet? Most of the time I meet at the student's house. What do you pay? Do you pay for several sessions up front, or one at a time?? At the beginning I require cash payment at the time of tutoring. Generally, after a while, I will accept 1x month checks from long-term students. What goals do you typically have from the tutoring?? Depends on the family. I remediate reading and math so getting the students to grade level is generally the goal that I'm working toward. How did you find your tutor? Wondering how to advertise. Word of mouth is the best. I've tried advertising but never got anything with it. It is a very slow starting business. I'm lucky in that I tutor through a school that I work for full-time and since my mother tutors I get some through her also. What did you look for in a tutor?? I'll let others answer this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 (edited) I also tutor, so here are my $0.02, from a tutor's perspective: Where do you meet? Almost always at my (the tutor's) house. If the student wants me to come to their house, I charge them $5 per hour extra, but I really try to get them to come to me! (most of the time they prefer that as well, so there are no distractions from the student's siblings, etc.) What do you pay? Do you pay for several sessions up front, or one at a time?? I charge $20 per hour. I do ESL tutoring, and I could probably charge $25 or $30, but most of my clients are friends or friends of friends, and this amount seems reasonable based on their income. I also prefer to mainly help them with their homework, do some review (flashcards, etc.) and work our way through texts and workbooks (not a ton of planning). If I charged more I would feel like I needed to do more formal lesson planning, and I'm not interested in doing that. Most of my students pay at each lesson. I have one friend who prefers to pay every 2-3 weeks, which is OK too. I am thinking about instituting a cancellation policy, though, since it is not unusual for students to cancel only a couple of hours to 2 minutes! before a scheduled lesson, or simply forget and not show up at all. If they paid in advance, I would have the ability to enforce a penalty for late cancellations/no shows, so that is something to consider. What goals do you typically have from the tutoring?? My students want better English grades and to work toward fluency by the time they graduate from high school. The speaking, writing and grammar work I do with them helps them achieve their goals to the best of their ability (sometimes they come to me too late, so I do the best I can with the time we have). How did you find your tutor? Wondering how to advertise. Almost all of my students came to me from word of mouth. I had business cards made at Staples and handed a few to friends who were willing to recommend me. I also left some cards at local businesses that allow that. I always keep some in my wallet in case I make an acquaintance who either could use my services or might know someone who would (I use them as calling cards if someone wants my phone or email, but once they have my card, it inevitably turns into a lead of some sort). What did you look for in a tutor?? My clients are mostly looking for a teacher who is a native speaker and that they feel they can trust (same religious/cultural background). HTH, Edited June 23, 2012 by AHASRADA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 since it is not unusual for students to cancel only a couple of hours to 2 minutes! before a scheduled lesson, or simply forget and not show up at all. >>>> This is a huge problem and makes it difficult to count on any kind of consistent income. If there's a day off of school people are off of their typical schedule and forget appointments -- tutoring during summer is especially difficult (but very important for some of the kids). >>>> If they paid in advance, I would have the ability to enforce a penalty for late cancellations/no shows, so that is something to consider.>>> I haven't been brave enough to do that one :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I tutor high school math, and by that I really mean I teach it one on one to students in their home. I generally meet students twice a week, for an hour or a little more each session. I charge $20 per hour, but I'm not certified so it's a reasonable rate for my economically depressed area. I prefer to go to them because I'm not left waiting for them to show up or be picked up, and it's a small town so it's only a 5 or 10 minute drive. I get clients through word of mouth, and that's working well for me. So I know you wanted to hear from folks who hired tutors but thought I'd chime in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyndyinohio Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thanks to everyone for replying! Still thinking about all of this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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