Teachers who are ready to work with children after class and during school holidays may be able to earn some extra cash through tutoring. Tutoring has its difficulties, just as any employment. Avoid these blunders when starting a teaching business to ensure it is successful and drama-free.
- Believing a website is necessary
Although you might think a website is important to give your company some reputation, it would be an unnecessary price and time commitment. The families and teachers of other children familiar with you and your work are the most inclined to recommend you. Get some straightforward business cards and put your efforts into nurturing those referrals from word-of-mouth.
- Tutoring pupils from your institution or former pupils
Families will ask you about rumors circulating about your school, regardless of how wonderful the parent is or how long ago you educated their child. Do you truly want to explain why Ms. Smith left the third grade? Additionally, you want to prevent any impression of bias. Avoid putting yourself in embarrassing situations or jeopardizing your professionalism.
- Undervaluing your experience and charging too little
Here’s the reality, educators and tutors: By not charging what you are worth, you are preventing yourself from earning more. Although tutoring costs vary by region, what you pay should be in line with your level of training and experience. Charge an extra $20 more per hour than the college student down the street because you will complete the task faster. If you have specialized training, more. You are wholly deserving of it.
- Being hesitant to market yourself
You’ll get the best referrals from other parents and instructors, don’t you remember when I mentioned that? If they are unaware that you are seeking tutoring work, that won’t happen. Make a promise to email or phone a teacher buddy who works at a different school to let them know you are searching for tutoring in what grade levels and subjects. They’ll handle your advertising for you!
- Accepting every pupil
I understand that you have a large heart and want to help every student. However, you should use the same caution in selecting the pupils (and parents) you work with as parents do in selecting you. You are well aware that not all parents are amenable to cooperation. Some people have unreasonably high expectations, no boundaries, or are just plain unstable. To ensure you select the families you can best assist, make an initial phone call and schedule a follow-up in-person visit with expectant parents and pupils.
- Purchasing resources you don’t require
Lined paper and pens are unquestionably necessary. You might want to have some highlighters and markers on hand. However, you don’t yet need to spend money on a costly program or all the necessary supplies. When you first start, keep your overhead minimal to retain that money in your pockets.
- Being reluctant to pursue unpaid bills
You don’t have to approach it forcefully. Simply send an email outlining how much they owe and your deadline. Alternatively, if the thought makes you itch, ask your partner or a close acquaintance to act as your “bookkeeper” and send the email. Most likely, the parent simply overlooked sending you the money and will do so immediately. You then receive money!
- Believing it’s improper to seek assistance from other experts
When a student seeks tutoring, it’s frequently because they have some academic difficulty. Most of the time, you will be able to deal with the issue head-on, but occasionally the student can present difficulties that you don’t know how to tackle. Never be reluctant to seek a coworker’s opinion or suggest that the family consult an allied specialist like a speech therapist. Acting in the student’s best interests is acceptable if you keep personal information private.
- Exaggerating or being untruthful about what parents can anticipate
Tutoring is not a temporary solution. You spend one or two hours a day working with pupils to make up for deficiencies that may have been there for years. The students must practice at home. Support from a tutor won’t “fix” a student who struggles with a learning disability like dyslexia. To avoid promising quick outcomes, be straightforward and honest with them about the learning process.
- Not establishing borders
Congrats! You have learned everything involving tutoring, and you have earned the respect of the student’s parents as well. That doesn’t mean that you are now open to lengthy phone conversations or interminable post-tutoring discussions regarding Ashley’s most recent math exam. You can take a couple of minutes out of a parent’s child’s session if they want to chat with you directly about their child. Similarly, lengthy email correspondence. Early and frequently, establish boundaries for your time. The same is true for late payments and cancellations.
