Home Tuition Preparation Guide for Parents in Singapore

A private home tuition in Singapore is a great way for your child to get personalised attention, guidance, and support with their studies. However, this can be quite overwhelming if it's your child's first session!

Some children might feel excited, others nervous, and as a parent, you need to ensure that they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Understanding the Role of Home Tuition

Home tuition differs from traditional classroom learning in several ways. For starters, home tuition offers a more personalised and tailored form of instruction. With only one or a few students, the tutor can focus entirely on the specific needs and learning styles of each child. The tutor can adjust the pace of learning and the level of instruction to suit each student.

This kind of personalised attention and tailored instruction is difficult to achieve in a regular classroom setting with many students and a fixed curriculum. The smaller setting of home tuition also allows for a closer student-teacher relationship that some children benefit from.

Preparing for the First Session

The first session can be overwhelming for both you and your child, so it's important to prepare ahead of time. Here are some things you can do:

Setting Clear Expectations

Communicating clear expectations and goals for the home tuition experience will help set your child up for success. Sit down with your child and the tutor to discuss:

• The subject areas and topics that will be covered
• The goals and objectives for each subject or topic
• The learning approach and teaching style the tutor will use
• How progress will be monitored and evaluated

Having a shared understanding of what your child needs to work on and achieve will help motivate and focus them during lessons.

Organising Learning Materials

Ensuring that all relevant stationery, textbooks, workbooks, notes, and other materials required for the first home tuition session are gathered and organised ahead of time will help make the session run smoothly.

Pencils, paper, notebooks, workbooks, and textbooks should all be placed in an accessible area so your child can easily retrieve them during the lesson. This will help them get started promptly and avoid any interruptions during the first session.

Removing Distractions

Distractions can cause your child to lose focus and disrupt the flow of the lesson. Before the first home tuition session, switch off all televisions, radios and gaming consoles. You should also silence or turn off all phones and devices and keep pets out of the room where the lesson will take place. With these distractions removed, your child will be able to give their full attention to the tutor and the lesson.

Being Supportive But Not Overbearing

While your involvement and support is important, it's key to avoid being overbearing during home tuition sessions. Let your child work independently as much as possible and only step in to assist when asked. This will help your child build confidence and a sense of autonomy over their learning.

Remember that the tutor is there to teach your child, so try not to interrupt the lesson with questions or instructions. Instead, speak to the tutor after the session to get an update on your child's progress and how you can best provide support at home.

Communicating with the Tutor

Proper communication with the tutor is key when it comes to ensuring your child gets the most out of home tuition. Let the tutor know they can contact you anytime with questions or concerns about your child's progress. Be available via phone or email to discuss how lessons are going and how you can support your child at home.

In addition, regularly ask the tutor for feedback on your child's performance, behaviour during lessons, areas where they excel and areas where they need improvement. The tutor can also suggest activities for you to do at home to reinforce what your child is learning.

With good communication, you and the tutor can work together to provide the best learning environment and support system for your child.

Creating a Conducive Learning Environment

A conducive learning environment is essential for helping your child benefit fully from home tuition. Before the first lesson, make sure to:

• Clear any clutter from the study area and remove potential distractions like TVs and devices.
• Ensure the study area has good lighting, is at a comfortable temperature and has a comfortable chair for your child to sit on.
• Provide any materials the tutor has requested to make the lesson plans, like a whiteboard or projector

During the lesson, minimise interruptions and distractions. Put phones on silent, avoid bringing up unrelated topics with the tutor, and keep pets out of the study area.

With a well-prepared and distraction-free environment, your child will be able to focus fully on the lesson and absorb the material effectively.

Making the Most of the Session

• Encourage a positive attitude by discussing the benefits of home tuition with your child.
• Remind your child to actively participate and ask questions during the session.
• Avoid interrupting the session; instead, observe quietly to gauge your child's engagement.
• After the session, have a conversation with your child about what they learned and enjoyed.
• Maintain open communication with the tutor to discuss progress and any areas that need further attention.

The Takeaways

It's never easy preparing for your child's first home tuition session. But by communicating well with the tutor, establishing a good study environment and supporting your child, you can help make the most of the session and set them up for success going forward.

With these bases covered and a willingness to work together, you and the tutor can provide effective home tuition that helps your child meet their learning goals.