the Cost of Tutoring

This fee is for one hour of one-on-one tutoring for a fifth grade student. The tutoring sessions mainly consisted of help with fifth grade math, but also some help with homework and studying for tests. In addition to the $25 per hour fee, which I pay the tutor for my niece, my niece's family has also given her a couple of gift certificates as a sort of "tip", one for a manicure and one for a local restaurant.

This is a really excellent tutor. She is a licensed elementary teacher, young and you can tell she really enjoys working with children. The tutor has always arrived on time and is not in a big hurry to rush out the second the hour is up. She has helped my niece to improve her math scores considerably over the last few months, and she has also helped her to become more organized, completing her homework much more consistently. The tutor communicates regularly with my sister (my niece's mom) about how my niece is doing, and what my sister can do to help her improve even more.

The only negative experience was a time when my niece had an after school event to attend and had to cancel her tutoring session for that day. The tutor charged $15 for the cancellation. I was a bit upset about this at first, but since my sister didn't let the tutor know until the day of the session, I can understand why she would still charge something since it was too late to arrange a session with another student.

Be sure to check with others who have used a particular tutor before hiring them. Get the terms of the tutoring sessions in writing, if possible, including fees. Be very clear about what you are hoping to gain from hiring the tutor: Does your child need general all around help, help in a particular subject, homework assistance, etc. Make sure you communicate frequently with the tutor regarding your child's progress.