There is a myriad of tutoring options. In some cases many schools have an after school program. Todays economy have presented serious challenges to some schools, not only in terms of budget and classes but in supplies and substitute teacher availability. What can you do if your child needs help? Did you child just change schools or teacher and is finding it hard to keep up with the class? The best intervention in your support. See how far you can help him/her. Lower grades should be easier but if you find the material hard yourself, see if you have a relative that can help.

Understand your child's learning modality. Is he a visual learner? or a kinesthetic or auditory learner? Does he have good study skills and need these lifeskills to manage his/her workload? The last thing you want to do is get him just homework help or a temporary fix. Also keep in mind that if it is in the middle of a school year the student might not be able to cope with another curriculum that a center will pescribe for 6-8 months.

Find ways to get the student some instant confidence. If you can help with the concepts that is the best way to go. There are a lot of tutoring centers in the San Jose Area. In cupertino there are a myriad of offerings too. Palo alto tutoring centers are a little less crowded. But the key thing to see if they all have a one-on one attention for the hour you are paying.

If it is in a group environment, the progress may be slow to come. Pre-packaged curriculums does help for sure, but a child need human assessment on a day to day basis - including his/her mood, emotion, fear of failure or success to perform a specific task. The other key thing is make sure that the student gets the same tutor everyday. There is a very vital need for a bond, trust and a rapport. Yes all of those and these factors each play a different role. In San Jose Area there are a few centers such as Gavilan College: Tutoring Center and Tutoring club on white Rd. These are centers where you have to drop off your child.

The last thing to look at is whether you want to try out the program for lets say two months and see if you can step in and help. Don't sign up for long term programs. You also need to be involved in a way that makes sure you are using the tutoring time effectively. Don't make it a homework help only session. Make sure you are getting the most of the sessions. A new national tutoring service that does strictly in home is Clubz in home tutoring (month to month). They might not cover your home area so make sure you check. They do cover Palo alto and Cupertino. Sylvan Tutoring is another center with ratios of 3 students to 1 tutor- Score and Sylvan (3 -6 months contracts generally required) are both great for homework specific help. EliteK Home Tutoring (month to month) is another one on one in home service that covers Kindergarten and elementary very well.  If your child has special needs make sure you check with the service providers what specific help they can offer. 

Reviews in the next post.