How to Provide Tutoring Services
You don't have to be a teacher or a parent to advocate on behalf of an improved educational system. If you believe that deeds speak louder than words, put your energy where your commitment lies: Turn your passion into a business devoted to tutoring kids who need extra help outside of the classroom.
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Instructions
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Make a list of public and private schools, family-focused social service agencies, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and churches in your community to decide if there are enough feeder institutions in your area to support one more tutoring business---yours.
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Make certain you enjoy working with kids and have the patience to coach them on a regular basis. Choose a field other than tutoring if this venture is strictly a way to make money until something better comes along.
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Determine the extent to which you're qualified to tutor students. Evaluate your educational background; your talent for math, social studies, science, and English; your experience working with kids in social settings (Scouts, sporting events, and clubs); and the personality traits that qualify you to work with children.
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Establish a business structure after you determine the ages of students you'll serve---grades one through six, junior high, high school, or all grades. Draft goals and objectives for your tutoring enterprise. Decide whether you'll operate solo or hire others to share tutoring duties. Open a business checking account to accept fees and make disbursements for supplies, texts, and other expenses.
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Investigate the tutoring rates set by agencies in your region. Average those rates, and price your services competitively. Compare apples to apples. For example, don't compare your operation to one that employs educators with Master's degrees if you can't offer the same level of experience.
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Contact your local school board or superintendent of education to find out what textbooks are currently being used by students in your target grade level range. Buy the books you'll need.
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Choose a tutoring venue. If you don't want to tutor in students' homes or your own home, investigate schools, libraries, local government facilities, churches, and park districts. One of these places may volunteer space for you to use, and many of them already have classrooms set up.
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Set specific policies and procedures that address contingencies such as these: kids who have behavioral problems, who are habitually late, or who simply refuse to learn; fee payment disputes; and fees for no-shows. Follow your ethical compass: If a student refuses to work despite your best efforts, don't take money from his parents.
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Promote your services. Stress the benefits of using your tutoring agency, providing potential clients with plenty of reasons to choose your service over others. Solicit feedback from parents. Use positive testimonials (ask permission first) and success stories in brochures, flyers, and ads. Keep in mind that word-of-mouth referrals remain the most effective advertising tool.
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Stay abreast of current tutoring trends, and adopt new practices and teaching methods, tailoring your approach to each individual student.
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References
- Photo Credit school image by Jerome Dancette from Fotolia.com
