What is the Difference Between Tutoring and Enrichment Programs?
These days there are several educational programs being offered for students, and they are increasing with the country’s growing education gap. Many students are struggling to keep up, while others need more challenge. Parents are burned out after the last year of education disruptions due to COVID-19, and teachers are doing their best each and every day. You may know your child needs additional support, but you feel confused with the options available and understanding the level of support your child needs. Knowing the differences between tutoring and enrichment can help you navigate which solution best matches your child’s needs. Here are some things to think about when selecting your child’s program:
What are your learning goals for your student?
Think about your education goals for your child. Reflect on conversations with your child’s teacher. Is he struggling in one small topic? Does she need comprehensive support related to the changes in education over this past year? Is your student one who needs to be continuously challenged to stay engaged in learning?
Tutoring typically addresses short-term support needed for an issue that a child is having in a particular subject like understanding division problems or using descriptors in sentences. Tutoring goals may focus on homework help and practicing isolated tasks to mastery in very specific areas identified for support to “catch up” a skill.
Enrichment programs, however, can benefit every student with offerings to meet them where they are on their academic path. The focus of enrichment is on foundational skills to address how to approach multiple concepts of a subject. Your student’s learning can be supported if your child is catching up in a subject, and then the program can evolve with their needs as they master concepts. By teaching children how to learn, enrichment helps your student reach their full potential, even if that is multiple grades ahead.
What is the best learning environment for your student?
Environment is a very important element for students to feel connected to their learning. Many students have been left behind feeling overwhelmed with distance learning or blended classes, where teachers have had the tough act of balancing online and on-campus students. Consider what type of environment your child needs for their supplemental learning.
Enrichment programs, like those offered at Best in Class Education, are designed with small groups based on learning levels. This allows for individual attention, as well as collaborative learning, which is known to provide a deeper understanding of concepts through different perspectives, as well as the social benefits of self-esteem, leadership and communication skills. Students often find more motivation in a small community of learners.
Tutoring comes in many forms, typically self-paced repetition work and/or 1:1 student and instructor learning. If your child needs concentrated help on one learning concept, homework help, or preparation for a test, private tutoring may be a better option.
What experience does the learning program have?
Ensure that you understand both the instructor and the center’s experience with learning. Is this an individual, freelance tutor or are you working with a center that has years of experience in the educational field? If your instructor is sick, will there be a substitute to teach the class? Also, ask questions about the curriculum or methods used. If it’s a tutoring center you are exploring, is there a proprietary curriculum developed by the center and based on core learning standards, or is the center using online printables or another purchased curriculum? Best in Class Education Centers has developed a tried, tested, and true curriculum that has helped students achieve higher for over two decades.
What are the program costs?
At a high level, program costs are either monthly or hourly. Typically, tutors charge by the hour of instruction, often running anywhere from $60-150/hour. In addition, you may have to purchase materials that align to the tutor’s program.
At Best in Class Education Centers, we like to keep it simple for our parents. Our pricing for enrichment and tutoring includes everything your child will need to successfully engage in our programs.
Contact us today, and we’d be happy to help you choose the option to best help your learner.
