Online Tutoring 5 of 5: The Role of Parents in Online Tutoring

What role do parents play when it comes to online tutoring? Find out how online tutoring keeps parents in the loop with this fifth and final article from the informational Online Tutoring series.

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When it comes to online tutoring, which is known for its convenience and high level of effectiveness, one might assume that parents play a very small role once their student has been introduced to their tutor. Since online tutoring takes place from home during after school hours, it's easy to assume that a child could in fact complete an entire online tutoring program without any parental assistance. And while it's true that the internet program itself would allow students to do this, the tutors who are in constant, real time contact with their students have designed their programs with parents in mind.

Becoming Involved

Parents play a larger role in online tutoring than one might assume. With online tutoring, parents are given the opportunity to participate in their child's tutoring experience as much, or as little, as they please. And since all work is completed from a home computer, parents have the option to play quite a large role. Your child's program can take place in the living room while you prepare things for dinner in the nearby kitchen, which allows you to see the progress that your child is making and develop an idea of the methods used and the plans created for him or her by their online teacher.

Be Proactive

Understanding your child's program and study regimen is helpful because it allows you to keep them on track and adhering to a schedule. While the program is developed to encourage children to develop a sense of responsibility and discipline, which is required to keep up with an at-home program, parents are also encouraged to help their child create a block of time for tutoring. Live tutors work on a schedule, so when it actually comes down to getting help, the online tutoring program schedule should be followed as rigidly as if the student were not able to complete the program from home. Parents are the perfect people to instill organizational and time management values in their children.

Participating

The largest role given to parents by online tutoring programs is the role of participant. Although parents are able to participate by being present while their student is completing the program and by encouraging their children to stick to convenient schedules, parents are also included through detailed, scheduled parent conferences. More than a progress check, which most private tutoring services offer, theses conferences aim to provide you with a detailed idea of exactly what progress has been made and what to expect in the future. Parents are told what their child is experiencing problems with, how their child is responding to each program and learning style, and where their child is headed in the program. This feature not only keeps parents connected to their child's progress, but it also allows them to develop a relationship with the tutors their child is working with.

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