June 1, 2018

Books For Success — Boost Your Child’s Grades

Books For Success. What books help your child succeed? Read below to find out! 

reading-tutor-portland

Books For Success — Reading The Following 3 Books Can Help Your Child Succeed

As a tutor, I’ve discovered that many children have low grades because of their poor mindset.

I’m a big believer in books. I give books to most of my clients. Why? Because they have the power to transform someone’s life.

This blog article is about the 3 books for success—to help boost your child’s grades.

Here are the most important books for success that your child should be reading, now:
  • Books For Success — Mindset

The “low effort syndrome” is something many parents are familiar with. Why does it happen? New research shows that it happens because during the teenager years students feel as if everyone is trying to quantify them. Grades. Papers. Tests. Students, at this age, naturally resist. “You want quantify me!” They seem to shout. “I won’t put it any effort at all— then you can’t test my ability. Ha!” (Clearly, that’s not the best, most useful, mindset in the world.)

The way to get around this, I’ve found, is to make students aware of this. I tell my clients why they are acting the way they are. And I think this insight gives me credibility. It builds trust because it shows I understand who they are and why they do what they do.

Teenagers, like anyone, want to be listened to. They want to be understood. They want to be heard and known. 

And I think it’s possible to hear them—while still encouraging them to improve.

This book teaches students that they can learn anything. It teaches them that if they try, and use different strategies, they can succeed at any subject. 

  • Books For Success — How to Win Friends and Influence People

This book is a classic. Another thing I’ve found in my research and time spent with youth, is that kids who have the “low effort syndrome” are usually lacking interpersonal skills. They might be difficult to deal with themselves—but often they don’t know how to deal with difficult people. 

They don’t understand how to make a nit-picky teacher like them. Instead of being likable and winning a teacher’s favor, youth with the “low effort syndrome” are most likely to rebel so that they can look cool in front of their peers. 

This can all change by reading a few good books. 

  • Books For Success — How Children Succeed

How do children succeed? Recent research shows that more than anything else, having grit is what makes children succeed. 

Grit is a personality trait that allows a person to pursue and accomplish their goals despite repeated and consistent setbacks and failures. 

In life and education alike, challenges are going to come. That’s why it’s imperative for a child to develop grit.

What researchers are finding matters even more than cognitive skills … are non-cognitive characteristics and qualities such as: persistence, self-confidence, grit, curiosity, and self-control. 

This book, and others, will show your child how.

— Eric Earle

P.S. — At Tutor Portland we have tutors who help in common everyday subjects. But our tutors also serve as mentors. We’re here to inspire students, to connect with them on a level deeper than simply school, academics, and grades. We’ve found that this deeper connection helps students improve both academically and personally.

May 1, 2018

Why Hire A Tutor In Portland?

Some Portland Parents Ask Me: Why Should I Hire A Tutor?

tutor portland grades

One Reason To Hire A Tutor Might Be: Better Grades!

I’ve spoken with many Portland parents who are interested in hiring a tutor for their child. They often ask me about the benefits of tutoring. What results should they expect to see for their children?

Research On The Benefits of Hiring A Tutor

In 1982, a young researcher conducted a meta-analysis of over 60 studies on tutoring. This means, he took the results of over 60 studies and analyzed them to see the outcomes of a wide-range of studies.

The Results?

  • Tutored Students Outperformed Peers On Examinations
  • Tutees Expressed More Positive Attitudes Towards School Subjects
  • Tutoring Was Especially Beneficial For Students Learning Mathematics

Here is an article from the National Education Association that further discusses the benefits of academic tutoring.

(Why was math tutoring so beneficial?) Math is a linear subject. That means that what you learned yesterday (last year or last class) effects what you are learning today. So, if you fall behind in math, you’re in trouble. That’s where tutors can make a huge difference. Tutors can help Portland students rise above their difficulties and master new skills. 

Academic And Cognitive Improvements From Working With Academic Tutors

  • Tutors Help Students Raise Their GPA, Score Higher On Tests, and Better Understand Material

Social And Behavioral Benefits From Working With Academic Tutors

But tutors also bestow another benefit upon tutees: they help them socially. 

  • Tutors Help Students Develop What Psychologists Call A Self-Concept and Social-Concept
  • (And further studies show that Self and Social Concepts are Correlated With Improved Academic Performance.)
  • Tutored Students Show A Decrease In In-Class Disruptive Behaviors
  • Tutored Students Report A Greater Degree Of Internal Responsibility For Their Own Achievement. 
  • Tutoring Has Also Been Shown To Improve Students’ Ability To Handle Constructive Feedback 

That is pretty remarkable. Most Portland parents I talk too are in it for immediate results. They want to see their child’s grades go from Cs to As. And I understand that. But what’s incredible to me is the constructive power that tutoring can have on a student both socially and behaviorally.

If you’re interested in learning more:

Here’s an article that discusses several benefits to tutoring.

And if you live in Portland, Oregon, you can also take a peek at our tutors or our subjects, if you want.

— Eric Earle

April 1, 2018

When To Hire A Math Tutor In Portland

A Math Tutor: Is it the right time to hire one?

The mere word math is frightening to many students. However, tutors can rapidly bring students to heightened math confidence. (And heightened grades!)

math tutor

It’s A Good Idea To Hire A Math Tutor When Your Child Is Either Struggling With Math (B- or C) Or Doesn’t Enjoy It.

First and Foremost: Grades.

If your child has a C or lower in math, a tutor might sound like a good idea. If you want your child to get straight As, a tutor might sound even better! Tutors can help students achieve their academic goals, no matter what they’re aiming for. Maybe there is a specific university they’re thinking about? Or a scholarship? Know where you and your child think their grades should be and call a tutor to decide how to get there.

Has Your Child Lost Interest In Math?

One sign that you might need to hire a tutor is if your child has lost interest for math. If your child used to love math, and now doesn’t—a tutor might be able to help.

If your child is losing interest in math, that’s a signal: something’s wrong. Most likely, they aren’t fully understanding the material.

Get A Math Tutor Quickly

It’s important, when it comes to any subject, to get a tutor early on. But it’s even more important with math. In math, more-so than any other subject, the content of the courses are linear (you must know the previous material in order to understand what is built on top of that material).

You always have to act especially quickly if you sense that your child is losing confidence in math. Confidence is critical to learning math. You need it. A tutor can always help restore a child’s confidence. 

Is Hiring A Tutor Worth The Money?

I think it depends on where your child is—where you want them to be—and your financial situation. Hiring a tutor can be an incredible idea if you want to see better grades, on-time graduation, and success for your child.

This article explores tutoring—and whether or not it is worth the cost.

What Qualities To Look For In A Tutor

I think, when it comes to tutoring, likability is a really important factor. It’s important than your child like his tutor. A tutor must win a child’s trust. They should be knowledgable in their field. A tutor should be a strong communicator who has a passion for tutoring and seeing academic improvements in their tutee.

I’m a bit biased, but I’ve hand-selected our tutors—and I think they’re incredible. 

— Eric Earle