I have zero merit when it comes to child development other than the fact that I've been in education for 13 years, and have taught children from the age of six to the age of 15. Other than that, I don't have children of my own, so do I
really know what I'm talking about? I believe I do! I am a firm believer that you do whatever it takes to help a child learn, however at what point do you decide that enough is enough? For me as an educator, I look for other resources that might help. What does a parent do? When does a parent decide to ask the question, "Is this working?" and stop paying for a service that isn't working for your child? To help with this decision, here are a few things I can relate it to...
*I pay a personal trainer to work out twice a week, if I wasn't seeing results I wouldn't pay her anymore.
*If I pay a housekeeper once a week, and I don't see vaccuum tracks or a clean toilet bowl and shower, I wouldn't pay her anymore.
*If I hired a lawn care service and my yard is dead and full of weeds, I wouldn't pay for the service anymore.
*If I dine out at a restaurant and the food is awful and the service is mediocre, I wouldn't dine at there again.
My case in point, when does a parent decide that enough is enough with hiring a tutor for a child that continues to make poor grades, and lacks any motivation to succeed in school? When does a parent decide that there might be something more than tutoring that a child needs? If the child hasn't been evaluated for learning disabilities, then take that road. If the child has been evaluated and nothing has been identified, then at what point does a parent consider counseling for their child?
I am not an advocate that something is wrong with a child... I just believe that if a child has been given all the tools, has the support system in place, and STILL isn't showing progress in school, then there
might be something else that merits some looking into. Or it might just be part of the growing up a person does, learning to fail and overcoming failure.
I'm relieved to report that as I was writing this post the parent sent me a text, "I've decided after we talked, I'm taking your advice and we're going to take a break from tutoring."
So maybe I'm not completely ignorant when it comes to what students need?!
