How to Know if Your Fourth Grader Needs a Tutor

There may be a time, when your fourth grader needs more help with their education. If you are a parent who works full time, have very little extra free time, and see that your fourth grader's grades are dropping dramatically, your child may need a tutor. Fourth grades, in most schools today involve more than one teacher, to prepare children for the Middle School years, which now start much earlier.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• patience
• income to hire a tutor
• computer
• Internet access
• library card
• telephone
• e-mail

1. 

   Does your child have a difficult time getting work completed on time, homework completed and handed in on time, and does he/she complete all the answers on tests and quizzes? If they are not able to keep up with their classmates they may need additional help.

2. 

   Does your child forget, or tell you they forget, to bring home homework, permission slips, or other important papers and notes? This may be a sign that they are falling behind and losing interest to their work.

3. 

   Does your child constantly berate themselves with negative comments? This could be a sign they are having difficultly with their work and frustrated, therefore their grades may be dropping.

4. 

   Does your child's teacher communicate with you on a regular basis, telling you that your child is disruppting the class? Or is your teacher not communicating at all with you, and when you inquire about dropping grades, they reply with generic answers? This could be a sign your child has fallen so far behind that even the teacher doesn't care or is frustrated with the lack of ability your child has.

5. 

   Does your child appear to lack self motivation to get their work finished (if they are bringing it home)? Do they appear to overly dread going to school?

6. 

   Is your child's grade below average in under one certain teacher's subject, and about average or above average with every other teacher he/she has? This could be a sign they are struggling in a class where a teacher is not willing to assist or help your child.

7. 

   Do you, as the parent feel there is something not quite right with your child's grade, and the teacher reflects there is nothing wrong? This could indicate that you are correct, and the teacher simply cannot and has not identified a problem and needs assistance, due to the number of students in the class. A dropping grade is a problem that parents should approach, and indicate to the teacher(s).

8. 

   Does your child show lack of confidence in school, or in one or more particular subjects? Did they lack this in the past grades?

Tips & Warnings

• Search the yellow pages in your local phone book for area tutoring companies such as Sylvan.
• If a large University is in your area, call the administrative offices to inquire about students who are available to tutor.

Resources

• Tips on how to find a Tutor

[langleycornwell]

on 7/6/2009 This is an excellent and detailed article. Good information that I'm going to share. Thanks.

[jenng]

on 6/23/2009 Great article on How to Know if Your Fourth Grader Needs a Tutor 5*