Private Tutoring - Where do I start?

danfur · #1 (**permalink**) 17-02-2008, 05:13 PM

Hi everyone, loo
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for some help. Joined an advertising site for Tutors ages ago, never expected to hear anything from it and now on Friday I'm going to meet a 7 year old boy who apparantly needs help with reading, writing and mathematics according to parents. When they first called I said I would go along before officially
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ting sessions and meet him, see where he needs help etc with no charge. So what I need to know is for anyone who has done this before, what would you do on a first session, what sorts of things would use as assessment tools to determine his needs etc. Any websites anyone can recommend I look at.

I know a
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of people on here have tutored before so hope you can help me out. Thanks in advance

NuttySupplier · #2 (**permalink**) 17-02-2008, 06:38 PM

At 7 yo, I'd get him to read to me his current reading book, ask him questions about what's happened before, what he's just read, generally discuss it and find his level of literacy maturity.

For writing, I'd give him a piece of crap work, just a
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of sentences, and ask him how he would improve it with vocab changes, punctuation, spelling etc. Then I may ask him to do the re-writing of it depending on the time.

Lots of chat about what he likes in school, establish confidence levels as this may be the problem rather than academics.

Numeracy, throw some random questions at him to establish how secure number bonds are,
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t with +, if ok, go onto - etc.

And make it fun! I always ask the child if they would like me to come back next week, if they don't, I don't go again, I don't care what the parents say! Half the battle is the willingness of the child, and half the problems are the parents being pushy!

I really wouldn't bother with formal assessment tools, you'll know in a few minutes tal
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with him where the problems lie.

Let us know how you get on...

Gnomoospan · #3 (**permalink**) 18-02-2008, 05:54 AM

Agree with Nutty, you'll soon know his ability, maybe you could have a look at any homework he's got at home too?

danfur · #4 (**permalink**) 23-02-2008, 10:50 AM

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your advice. I met the family and the little boy yesterday and I really enjoyed it. It seems he has had some hearing problems and the parents believe it has led to some reading/writing issues. They are really loo
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for some fun sessions that he is going to enjoy as his special time so I'm thrilled. I was really nervous before going but now I'm really excited as it seems I am going to be able to do things with him which you can't do with a whole class. He seems to really enjoy project work and finding out lots of information so I thought we would
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t with an animals project as the family have a
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(cocker spaniel same as mine) and a rabbit he adores. So I can't wait til next week.

Just another little q about payments. How did you go about paying tax etc.

NuttySupplier · #5 (**permalink**) 23-02-2008, 02:50 PM

Sounds absolutely fantastic situation Danfur!!

I suppose most people take the money as cash... but legally:

1. Register as self-employed - easiest thing in the world once you've found the phone number for your area. Loads of help here:
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but just ask if you want anything.

2. While you're on the phone, ask them to send you the exemption for for small earnings so you don't have to pay National Insurance monthly.

3. Keep a record of all your payments and mileage.

4. Register for online self-assessment tax returns

5. Shortly after April 5th, get your P60 from county, and your records of payments and mileage. Complete your SA return online by filing school pay as on P60, then additional form where you type in amount earnt, e.g. £100, and then 40p per mile petrol allowance plus any other expenses such as paper and pens, say £40, and then it'll work out for you how much the tax you have to pay on £60 is.

You may not have to pay any tax, lots of supply/temp teachers are on Basic Rate tax anyway, so should get a nice cheque every May!

danfur · #6 (**permalink**) 23-02-2008, 04:37 PM

Nutty have pm'd you

danfur · #7 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi everyone, just wanted to update this. Have been tutoring for a few months now and have been absolutely loving it. It's great to help someone learn who is interested and it's fantastic to be able to incorporate loads of fun activities into the sessions.

I am just see
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a little more advice. As I have been doing this for a few months now I was wondering if it was appropriate to give any kind of formal feedback to the parents. I mean I discuss briefly how he has done at the end of each session but nothing in detail and I wonder if it is enough.

It also appears that his major problem is with spelling strategies, he doesn't seem to really take it in, so I've been trying to find a phonic programme to follow with him. It's quite difficult at the moment though as everything is quite geared to letters and sounds and wor
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with a larger group of children. Anyone got any
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s?

NuttySupplier · #8 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 06:17 PM

I'm glad you're enjoying it, I wouldn't be tempted to do any formal feedback, the parents know the instant you leave how it went, and if they're happy, don't make any more work for yourself!

Have you tried the
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, Sam and the Tramp for instance?
I used to use them when I first
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ted teaching, and they worked for most kids, along with PAT for less able. Please buy through SupplyBag.co.uk's book store if you do!
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danfur · #9 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 08:12 AM

Nutty thanks for the advice, do these books lead on from one another. Have been loo
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at them on amazon and there are loads. He is year 2 but soon to be ks2. Would you say spelling
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e easy will be too simple or just right, he is a lower level y2 where spelling is concerned. What do they have in the books?

NuttySupplier · #10 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 11:56 PM

These are new editions from the ones I used, but it was with Y3 I used them, so the level should be ok. Lots of dictation exercises repeating the same pattern, probably using 'the fat
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sat on the mat' principle, but you know it actually works with a lot of kids, Gvt advisors seems to have forgotten that!

Might be worth ringing the seller and as
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which is the first level and what level it is. We used it alongside PAT (Phonoligical Awareness Training) for the less able (more able didn't need it) so you could do worse than loo
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around for a cheap
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y (like in a dusty cupboard at the back of the Lit Co-ord's classroom) of this £25
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Useful Books