Interviewing Tutors 101

How to interview tutors to find the best fit

Inside this article...

Philosophy
Experience
Qualifications
References
Measuring progress
Supplies
Identifying my child's special needs

Once you have a few prospective tutors lined up, ask each one for a face-to-face interview. After meeting them in person, you'll have a better feel for whether or not they'll be able to work with your child.

Ask the following questions in any tutoring interview:

What is your teaching philosophy?
How will we communicate?
How much experience do you have?
What are your qualifications?
Can you provide references?
How will you asses progress?
What supplies and materials will you provide?
How will you identify my child's specific needs?
Do you have certification?

Certification

There are a lot of tutor certification programs. Certification indicates a tutor has studied and passed an exam. While certification is a good indication of a commitment to quality, whether or not a tutor is certified should not be your only concern.

Educational Background Checks

With the Internet, performing an educational background check is easy and relatively affordable. Some sites to consider:

The bottom line

Pick a tutor based on her qualifications and your gut instincts. And always sign a contract.