Is my child's tutoring working, or is it time to change tutors?
By the GlowGrades team ·
The short answer
Check about six weeks after regular classes start. Look for small signs: your child can do last week's work without help, starts homework more easily or repeats fewer old mistakes. The tutor should say what is still hard. If you see little change, talk to the tutor first. If a month later nothing has changed, change tutors. Change sooner if your child dreads every class, and stop at once if safety worries you.
When to check, and what "working" means
One class tells you about fit: did your child understand the tutor, and do they want to go back? Learning takes longer, and how long depends on the child and the goal. There is no magic number of classes. Six weeks is a rule of thumb, not a research finding: about six weeks of regular classes, around one a week, gives you a first look at direction, not a verdict. If classes are less often, give it longer. Pick your check date and write it down.
Before you judge, write down one or two goals in plain words. Starting homework without tears, or explaining how to add fractions, is easier to check than being "better at math." Keep one piece of your child's work from the first week, so you can put it next to something new later.
Grades can take longer to move. A school test can cover weeks of older work, so look for smaller signs first.
Is my child behind in math? →Signs tutoring is working
You won't see all of these at once. By your check date, hope to see a change in at least one of the first four, since they are about the work itself. Going to class without a fight is a good sign too, but a friendly tutor alone doesn't show your child is learning.
- Your child can show you how to do a problem from last week's class, without help.
- Homework that used to stall now gets started without a battle.
- The mistakes are changing. Old ones fade, and new ones come from harder work.
- They ask questions about the work, not just whether an answer is right, in class or at home.
- They go to class without a fight, even if they don't love it.
- Later, you may see a change in quiz scores, schoolwork or a note from your child's teacher.
What you should hear and see from the tutor
A good tutor keeps you in the loop without you having to chase. After each class, or at least each week, you should be able to answer three questions: what was taught, what clicked, and what is still hard.
Listen for specifics. Hearing "doing great" every week tells you very little. Hearing that your child can now line up the numbers, but still loses track when there's a zero in the middle, tells you the tutor is really watching.
Each class should also build on the last one. Ask what the tutor planned for today, based on last time. A tutor with a plan answers easily. Help with tonight's homework is useful, but on its own it may not fix the gap underneath.
At some point, sit in the room with your child for ten minutes of one class, and tell your child first. Watch who does the talking, and whether your child tries problems on their own before the tutor steps in.
How to choose an online tutor →Warning signs to take seriously
Safety never waits for a pattern. Stop classes the same day if the tutor asks your child for a phone number or a social media account. Do the same if the tutor wants to talk outside the times or app you agreed on, or asks your child to keep a secret from you. And do the same if your child seems uneasy or afraid around them, not just bored or frustrated by the work.
Keep any messages, and tell the tutoring company and your child's school. If you think your child is in danger, call 911. If you suspect a child is being groomed or exploited online, you can also report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline.
Everything else is about patterns. One bad week is normal. The signs below matter when they keep happening for several weeks.
- Every class looks the same, with no plan that builds on last time.
- The tutor does most of the talking, or solves problems while your child watches.
- Feedback stays vague, or you only hear from the tutor when you ask.
- Your child seems more lost or more worried than when you started.
- The tutor often cancels or moves classes, or a different tutor keeps showing up.
- You feel pushed to buy more classes or a bigger package before you've seen any change.
Talk to the tutor before you change
Unless safety is the worry, start with one honest conversation. Some problems ease after one, and how the tutor responds tells you a lot. Pick a calm moment, not the end of a hard class. Say what you see, then ask what they see. For example, say you're a few weeks in and not sure it's sticking, then ask what they're noticing and what their plan is for the next month.
Agree on one clear goal and a date to check again, about four weeks away. Ask your child too, on their own, whether the tutor explains things in a way that makes sense. Some children are more open about fit when the tutor isn't there.
It also helps to ask your child's teacher what they see in class.
When your child says they hate math →When it's time to change, and how
Change tutors if you've talked, waited about a month, and still see none of the signs of progress listed earlier. Change sooner if your child dreads every class or the tutor brushes off your concerns. Stop right away if anything worries you about your child's safety. Sometimes it's nobody's fault. The goal may have changed, from catching up to getting ahead, or the two of them may simply not click.
To change without losing ground:
- Before you stop, read the terms of anything you've prepaid or signed, so you know what ending early involves.
- Ask the current tutor for a short note on what your child can do now and what's still shaky.
- Share that note, and a recent piece of work, with the new tutor.
- Try not to run the old and new tutor side by side on the same topic for long. Two different methods at once can confuse a child, though a trial class with the new tutor first is fine.
- Give the new tutor the same six weeks before you judge the learning, though you can tell sooner whether the fit feels right.
What GlowGrades offers
Every class is live, 1-on-1, with the teacher you pick. Our team reviews every teacher before families can see them.
- Notes are written for you in plain words: what was taught, what clicked, what to try at home.
- Practice is built from today's class, not a generic worksheet.
- Weak spots are named, not hidden inside a score.
- Notes, practice results and every message with the teacher sit in your family account.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take for tutoring to work?
That depends on the child and the goal, so nobody can promise a number of classes. As a rule of thumb, check about six weeks into regular classes, around one a week, and look for small signs first: easier homework, clearer explanations and fewer repeat mistakes. Grades can take longer to move, so don't judge by grades alone.
Should my child have two tutors for the same subject?
Usually not, unless both know about each other and agree who covers what. A reading or math group at school plus one private tutor can work well if they share notes. Two private tutors teaching the same topic in different ways can confuse a child. If one isn't working, change rather than add.
What should I say to the tutor, and to my child, when we change?
Keep both short and kind. Give the tutor any notice your agreement asks for, thank them, and ask for a short note on what your child can do now. You don't owe a long explanation. Tell your child you're trying someone new to see if it clicks better, without blaming anyone. Ask what they liked and didn't like, and pass that on to the new tutor. If safety is the reason, don't ask the tutor for anything. Keep any messages and tell the tutoring company and your child's school.
Can we change teachers on GlowGrades?
Any time. There's no contract and no lock-in. Choose another teacher and book with them.
What if the tutor isn't the problem?
Sometimes it isn't, and that's nobody's fault. Look at the plain things first: classes that are often missed or moved, no practice between classes, or long gaps between classes can slow down even a good tutor. A child who is tired, overloaded or worried can also learn less. If you see ongoing trouble with attention or reading, worry that won't lift, or a struggle bigger than one subject, talk to your child's teacher or doctor. In the US, you can also ask your school district, in writing, to evaluate your child for a possible disability. If it says no, it must explain why in writing. An evaluation it agrees to costs you nothing. The rules for private and home-schooled children vary by state.
Want to see if a teacher clicks with your child?
Every class is live, 1-on-1, with the teacher you pick. The first class is free, so you can judge the fit yourself.
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