Looking for Tutorial Help for High School and Middle School Sons...

Hi M.,
I have a daughter who "wouldn't apply herself" but was very smart. After a high level of frustration and doing some research and testing we discovered that she had some had some "learning issues" caused by some underlying input (eyes & ears) processing problems. An underlying input processing issue means that the input into the brain is not interpreted correctly e.g. dyslexia. So have your children's input checked (ears and eyes). A developmental optimitrist will check if the brain is correctly processing what the eye sees. You don't want an optimitrist who will check if your child can see letters on an eye chart. You also want an "audiology" test not a "hearing" test. An audiological exam checks if the brain is processing the ear input correctly. A hearing test just checks if the child can hear a sound. Very different.

The best thing to do is to begin with an educational therapist or neuro-physcological exam (checks how the brain effects behavior) if you can afford it. Also check out "interactive metronome" (just google the term) for ADHD. also check out the "lindamood bell" site which has programs that help with "comprehension" not reading. Everything they do is based on research into how to improve comprehension. If you can't afford the interactive metronome therapy to help with the ADHD then you can buy one of those dance pads that attach to a game cube. The idea is to synchronize the brain and motor movement which helps with ADD.

We tried using tutorial services and found it very expensive and ineffective. Tutorial services in my opinion are based on the premise that "repetition" will help, but not if there is eye to brain processing issue!

Please be aware that there are some people who believe that the therapies we used are "quackery". If you are interested in persuing this further I'm willing to privately send you a list of resources/contacts that we used.

Hang in there and keep looking, and believe that your efforts will pay off.

Hi, M.-

I have been a HS teacher for several years. I know parents have used Sylvan, Tutoring Club, Kumon (for younger kids), paying private tutors $75/hour (that's what I charge), peer tutoring at school, having their kids go visit the teacher (sometimes I was at work until 5pm), Knowledge Quest, and a host of other things. I have mainly taught Algebra 1 and Geometry, so I see a ton of freshmen.

I found, in general, hiring a person or center has limited uses, if the child's attitude is negative. Since the kids are diagnosed and on medication, have you already had your 504 or IEP meetings with the school and teachers? What are your son's body language at those meetings? If you don't have plans in place, would having them be helpful?

11 and 14 are tough ages. The work gets harder, and sometimes they start to slide because they are afraid of failing you and themselves, so they don't do the work. They can't fail if they don't do it. You tell them they are smart, but when the work gets hard, they don't think they are smart because they don't get it right away. The ability to persevere through work is sometimes a learned skill, and some kids find it tougher than others.

I would have a serious talk with your sons, see what's really holding them back. Talk to their teachers. See what your sons' attitudes would be towards tutoring. Would it be helpful? Or just another chore? Tutoring is expensive, and I can't tell you how many parents have complained (in front of their kids), how much money they've spent to "no avail". The whole time the kid is sitting there with arms crossed, on the defensive. Not that I don't think you're right in wanting to seek help for your sons. I just think you need to poke around a little bit into why they are so unmotivated before you take on a huge financial investment. It may just be that they need a bit of extra time and explanation, and they crave it. Then the tutoring can be amazingly helpful. If not, then you'll be spending a lot of money for unsatisfying results. The tutoring might get them to pass, but it won't mean they enjoy school or be satisfied with themselves.

Just for your information, those tutoring centers typically run about $25-40/hour. I found 1x/week for 1 hour is about right. You can usually cover 1 or 2 subjects. Private tutors who go to your home vary in price and quality. I've seen people charge as low as $25/hour, and they will go to your home, and may specialize in 3 or 4 subjects. I also see them advertising all the time. The people I know who charge $70/hour and upwards, they don't advertise. You find them by word of mouth. If you choose the tutor center or private tutor route, make sure they do a diagnostic first to determine if there are areas that need remediation.

Hello M. C:

My name is Liz Carey, and I am a high school teacher and tutor who has recently moved back to San Jose (in November) and is taking on new tutoring students. I am credentialed in all of the sciences (biology, chemistry, earth/physical science, algebra, geometry, and English) and have 15+ years of classroom experience. In addition, over the last four years, I have tutored students from 3rd grade through middle school and high school level, particularly in math and science and English. I am not credentialed in Spanish, but I speak the language moderately well because of my life experiences and could certainly successfully tutor a freshman.

I also work at Huntington Learning Center, both at the San Jose office and the Gilroy office.

If you call me or write me directly, I can give you more information. ###-###-#### ____@____.com

E. (Liz) Carey
2205 Westmoreland Drive
San Jose CA 95124

Hi M., I hope that you have been able to make progress in these issues since you originally wrote in, but I do have something to suggest, now that the school year is starting again: online tutoring. It is available 24/7, on demand, and can help with homework or test preparation. You can have your son try a 25 minute free session using the code below. Best of luck to your and your lovely family! :o)
visit: www.tutor.com Use FREE Code MGVIP50F