The following post is courtesy of Kim Haven, owner of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring of Northborough
The decision to hire a tutor over the summer is often a tricky one. Kids need time to be kids — to play outside, spend time with friends and enjoy family vacations without worrying about schoolwork. Never has this been more true than this year, after the added stress and mental exhaustion of the 20/21 school year. However, there are other factors to consider given this unconventional year of education. In a normal year, conversations around summer tutoring would focus on things like stopping the “summer slide” — the backwards momentum that sometimes happens when students spend two months away from the classroom. This year, the conversation is much more around “filling the gaps.” What fundamentals did students miss because of remote learning or sick days? What skills do they need a better handle on in order to be successful in the coming year?
For students in the K-8 grades, the most problematic gaps will be in the areas of reading and math. These are skills that are built upon year after year in the classroom, and a student’s mastery of them (or lack thereof) can have an impact on future performance, confidence, self-esteem and even mood. Regular summer tutoring sessions can help get your student comfortable with essential skills so that they enter the next school year feeling prepared.
High school students may also benefit from extra math attention over the summer. Concepts learned in each year of math are built upon the following year, and also come in to play in other subject areas, such as Physics and Chemistry. This means that losses or deficiencies in any one area can have a compound effect. Consistent, personalized attention over the summer can help fill in those gaps.
And finally, for rising high school Juniors and Seniors, summer can be a great time to focus attention on prepping for the SAT or ACT. Without the busy schedules and heavy workload that the school year brings, students can focus their energies on review and practice so that they are prepared for late summer and early fall test dates. With many previously-scheduled tests being cancelled across Massachusetts this spring, the opportunity for summer tutoring may provide the silver lining to an otherwise frustrating situation.
Club Z! Tutoring of Northborough offers flexible schedules and online or in-person tutoring. Students and tutors can meet one or more times per week, with breaks (or shifts to online) for vacations as needed. Our team of highly skilled, experienced tutors are available to provide one-on-one or small group support in all academic areas, organizational skills, study habits, test prep and test-taking. Please reach out with any questions or to sign up.