For many children, schoolwork can become a little difficult at some point during their education. Maths in particular can be a tricky subject for young minds to understand, especially the more abstract topics like algebra. English, spelling and comprehension can also become confusing as aspects of grammar become more complex. In addition almost everyone has problems with spelling, which for many people persist all the way into adulthood.
Unfortunately it is too easy to give up and loose interest in maths and English. When this happens both children and parents can become discouraged which makes the situation worse. If this happens to your child it is vital to do something soon before they fall too far behind. Acting early on is preferable to leaving things too late, as problems are easier fix when treated sooner rather than later. Maths and English are the 2 most important subject to master. If you lack basic literacy and numeracy skills finding decent employment will be hard. Entrance into university, college and selective schools will be impossible.
It is important to try and get help from school, but this is not always possible. At this stage employing a professional is usually the best solution. This can be a difficult decision for parents, as there are several aspects to take into account. There is the choice between a private tutor that comes to your home, online tutoring or using a learning centre where the tutors work. See our website for more information on maths and English tutors in Cambridge.
Tutoring in the home has its advantages, but there are also several downsides. The domestic setting often has distractions that can interfere with a student’s focus. These can seem like trivial things like the smell of dinner cooking to things like the lure of TV and computer games. Taken together over time, these distractions will hinder progress significantly.
On the other hand, using a tutor in a purpose built learning centre has distinct advantages. The tutor has control over the educational environment. Noise and other distractions are eliminated easily and focus is maintained. The presence of other learners has proven benefits: research has shown that children develop a sense of purpose when working towards common goals, even if they are studying completely different topics.
In our opinion, online tutoring is nowhere near as effective as “real life”, and can actually do more harm then good. The physical presence of a tutor is essential if the nuances of the individual student are to be recognized. Can a person on the other end of an internet connection really spot how your child is holding their pen? Can they pick up on the small facial expressions and body language that conveys what the student if feeling about a particular topic? No. The internet is a marvellous invention. It had radically altered the way we live, work and play. However, it is not the solution for everything. It cannot replace a live human being who is qualified and experienced in the ways of educating young people.
As well as location, the other factor to consider of course are the qualities of the tutor. Follow this link to read more about choosing a good tutor for English and maths in the Cambridge area.
