One-on-One Summer Tutoring Near Me: What to Look For
If your child is struggling academically or has poor self-esteem related to their reading, writing, or math skills, you may want to consider summer tutoring. When parents search for “one-on-one summer tutoring near me,” they are often seeking individualized support for their child that is evidence-based and effective.
Summer is an opportune time to take advantage of, where the demands of school are reduced and more time can be spent on skills building. Some students need help with foundational skills; others have learning gaps that need to be filled; and students with learning disabilities or ADHD often struggle when the new school year starts if they don’t receive consistent instruction during the summer.
How can you select the best one-on-one summer tutoring program for your child? This summer tutoring guide will help you through the process.
Why one-on-one summer tutoring is important
Most students, especially those with academic challenges, need continued tutoring during the summer that is individualized to their needs. This type of tutoring has the following advantages:
- Individualized instruction that meets your child’s needs and levels
- Tutoring can be tailored to reading, writing, math, or executive functioning skills – or whichever skills your child needs help with
- Faster progress can be seen during the summer due to individualized learning and fewer school constraints
- Flexibility in tweaking the instruction along the way based on how the student responds to the tutoring
Students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities tend to respond best to one-on-one, multi-sensory tutoring using evidence-based techniques.
Which qualities should I look for in a one-on-one summer tutor for my child?
When looking for a summer tutor for your child, try to find a tutoring program that provides the following:
1. An individualized tutoring plan
The best summer tutoring programs should begin with an initial assessment to gauge your child’s specific needs and levels. From there, an individual tutoring plan should be created to help your child develop their core academic skills.
Look for a tutoring program that:
- Conducts an initial evaluation before the tutoring begins
- Identifies specific skills that need to be developed, and, within that, which aspects of those skills need work. For example, a child who struggles with reading may need help with decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension, or a combination of those skills
- Adjusts the tutoring plan based on how your child responds and the pace of their response
In general, try to avoid one-size-fits-all tutoring programs that provide the same instruction to all students.
2. Specialized expertise
If your child has a learning disability, ADHD, or academic skills challenges such as reading, writing, math, or executive functioning skills, it’s important that you find a tutor with expertise in these areas.
Effective summer tutoring programs typically include:
- Research-based reading instruction, including the Orton Gillingham approach
- Expertise in working with students who have learning and attentional challenges
- Structured, systematic methods where concepts build upon one another
This approach is especially important for students with:
- Dyslexia
- ADHD
- Autism
- Executive functioning challenges
- Language difficulties
- Other learning disabilities
Learn more about specialized dyslexia tutoring at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching
3. Consistency and structure
Summer is often filled with unstructured days, including playing outside, riding bikes, and swimming, but learning over the summer should be structured and consistent. This structure and regularity will help your child maximize their gains.
4. Progress and feedback
An effective tutoring program should provide feedback to parents so they can reinforce what is covered during tutoring lessons in between sessions. When looking for a summer tutor for your child, ask about the type of feedback you will receive and how you can reinforce the concepts being taught at home.
5. Confidence building
Many students who struggle academically often have poor self-esteem. Summer tutoring can help students not only build their reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills, but can also enhance their self-esteem.
Students who struggle academically during the school year will often:
- Avoid work they perceive as challenging
- Lose confidence in their abilities
- Feel discouraged
- Become easily frustrated
However, summer tutoring can turn all of this around! The right summer tutor can help students rebuild their:
- Self-confidence
- Motivation to excel in school
- Willingness to challenge themselves academically
- Excitement about learning
Building these skills now can help your child feel confident, motivated, and ready to take on the demands of the new school year.
6. In-person and virtual summer tutoring options
Some students prefer in-person tutoring, while others like the flexibility of virtual tutoring. When searching for “summer tutoring near me,” there are various factors to consider.
Many summer tutoring programs offer:
- In-person tutoring sessions
- Virtual tutoring sessions
- Hybrid tutoring options
The best modality for summer tutoring depends on your child’s needs, preferences, and availability.
7. Plan for the fall
A great summer tutor will help your child build academic skills over the summer and prepare them for the new school year in the fall. An executive functioning coach may help your child set up organizational systems and study spaces. A tutor focusing on academic remediation may work on filling in learning gaps over the summer and even previewing new material that will be introduced in the fall.
When searching for a summer tutor, look for a tutoring program that:
- Starts with an initial assessment to determine any learning gaps
- Previews important academic skills that will be introduced in the fall
- Provides recommendations for continued tutoring if needed, once the school year begins
Learn more about what to look for in a specialized reading tutor at What to Look for in a Reading Specialist in NYC- EBL Coaching
Final thoughts
Choosing the right summer tutoring program for your child can make an indelible impact on their learning and help set them up for success down the road.
The best summer tutoring programs offer:
- An initial assessment
- Individualized instruction
- Specialized tutoring based on your child’s needs, such as Orton Gillingham tutoring for students with dyslexia or reading challenges, or executive functioning coaching for students with ADHD
- Consistent sessions
- Parent feedback on methods and progress
At EBL Coaching, our one-on-one summer tutoring programs use research-based, multi-sensory techniques to help students with learning and attentional challenges start the new school year on a positive note.
If you’re searching for “one-on-one summer tutoring near me,” now is the time to plan your child’s summer. Contact us today to learn how we can help your child this summer with highly effective one-on-one tutoring.
Frequently Asked Questions About One-On-One Summer Tutoring
How many hours of summer tutoring does my child need?
The frequency and duration of summer tutoring varies based on your child’s needs and availability. Students with more profound academic challenges should receive a more intensive summer tutoring schedule, while those with less severe difficulties may not need as much tutoring. The key is providing consistent tutoring throughout the summer.
Which skills should my child focus on over the summer?
The skills covered during your child’s summer tutoring sessions should vary based on their specific needs. The tutoring program you select should begin with an initial assessment to gauge your child’s needs and then come up with an individualized tutoring plan using research-based, multi-sensory techniques. Some common focus areas are:
- Reading (including decoding, fluency, and comprehension)
- Writing (sentence structure, organization, grammar, and other aspects of writing)
- Math (computation and word problem solving)
- Executive functioning skills, including planning, time management, and organization
If your child struggles with reading, writing, math, or executive functioning skills, targeted intervention can help them excel.
Should my child receive tutoring in-person or online?
Both in-person and online tutoring can be effective options for your child. With in-person tutoring, students can receive face-to-face instruction and hands-on, multi-sensory techniques. However, online tutoring usually offers more flexibility with scheduling and access to specialized tutors who may not be available in your local area. Some families also choose a hybrid option, consisting of a mix of in-person and online tutoring,
When should I start looking for summer tutoring?
The sooner you can start looking for a summer tutor for your child, the better. Many tutors fill up their summer schedules quickly, especially those who specialize in working with students who have attentional and learning challenges.
Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has been helping students, including those with specialized learning needs, through summer tutoring for over twenty years. Dr. Levy is also the author of the Strategies for Study Success student workbook program, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook series, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook program.