"But We Have a Tutor": Why More Help Doesn't Always Mean Better Results

Part 1 of 3: How to Hire (and Manage) a Tutor

"But we have a tutor."

As a teacher, I hears this constantly — right after a student failed an assessment or brought home a disappointing report card. Parents were doing everything right. So why wasn't it working?

Here's the truth: if your child isn't motivated and needs extra help, once a week usually isn't enough. And not all tutoring is the same. Most families need help figuring out what kind of support their child actually needs — before they hire anyone.

Step 1: What's the Real Problem?

Your child's struggle usually falls into one of three buckets:

• A math gap — they get the current material, but a past skill was never mastered.

• A skill struggle — good foundation, but this one concept isn't clicking.

• Boredom / need for challenge — they're breezing through and need more.

Step 2: Match the Help to the Problem

Got a gap? → Go with a learning center. Kids with gaps need repetition and consistency. Good centers also help with current homework so your child isn't falling behind while catching up. Confidence goes up fast.

Struggling with one skill? → Go with an individual tutor. No need to rebuild a foundation — just focused, one-on-one help on the sticking point.

Bored and need a challenge? → Go for depth, not speed. Most families think "challenge" means skipping ahead a grade level. I'd push back on that. Try going deeper into current content instead — applying it in harder, more creative ways. Art of Problem Solving is a great fit here, self-paced or in live online classes.