What happens when tutoring is not enough?
We have a good number of parents who come to us after spending years and sometimes hundreds, even thousands of dollars, only to have their child continue to struggle in school.
Parents often start considering tutoring a starting point, but what if this doesn't help? What if you're like many of the parents and students I've seen that are frustrated because they feel like they've tried everything and it isn't working? What happens when tutoring is not enough?
School Stages
As a student starts school, they begin in the sheltering, nurturing early childhood stage (generally through second grade). Starting in 3rd grade students begin the transition into the older elementary stage where our learning is quantified and ranked by more external means (standardized testing), yet still with a degree of nurturing. It’s at this point that students, parents, teachers and the system in general begin to feel more pressure.
Just as we all begin to understand the system of Elementary School, Middle School and adolescence begins to loom. School becomes more demanding and self directed. More independence, organization and self discipline are required.
This is the stage that many parents seem to dread the most and where students tend to start having difficulties. How do we help our students accomplish successful transitions in school during the busy lives we find ourselves living especially when interventions like tutoring aren't working?
Why tutoring may not be enough
Each phase of school requires a basis, a well-developed understanding of previously taught concepts as well as organization and self discipline.
In order to transition from one level to the next successfully, students must have key concepts and physical abilities in place so that the newly presented curriculum makes sense.
If a student is still in the process of making sense of a concept and the class moves on to the next step, it creates an understanding level gap that eventually can build on itself and eventually becomes too great to cross.
Frustration and even failure can set in, even in otherwise capable learners.
Tutoring a student that does not have these key concepts in place, may lead to some temporary success, but they will inevitably continue to struggle as the curriculum changes.
For example, a student might have a lack of vocabulary understanding from not reading rich and interesting literature and therefore, a vocabulary concept deficit develops not necessarily a reading difficulty.
A student may not be able to grasp the material presented because lack of vocabulary has created a comprehension pothole on their road to reading. It’s a vicious circle!
Unfortunately, vocabulary drills or writing and memorizing definitions are not always pathways to better vocabulary!
Going beyond Tutoring and Discovering the Missing Pieces
At Synap2it! Learning Center we are experts at discovering the missing pieces, training them, and setting students back on the path of success! We can understand and impact learning in ways that no amount of conventional tutoring can.
We would love to talk with you more about your child’s specific situation and help you come up with a plan to address the root causes of the struggles they’re having in school.
Whether it’s reading, math, writing, problem solving, or other academic concerns, we’re here to help! Contact us here to learn more and schedule a free consultation.
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