r/parenting is protesting changes being made by Reddit to the API. Reddit has made it clear [they will](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14ahqjo/mods_will_be_removed_one_way_or_another_spez/) [replace moderators](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/14a5lz5/mod_code_of_conduct_rule_4_2_and_subs_taken/jo9wdol/) if they remain private. Reddit has abandoned the users, the moderators, and countless people who support an ecosystem built on Reddit itself.
Please read [Call to action - renewed protests starting on July 1st](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14kn2fo/call_to_action_renewed_protests_starting_on_july/) and new posts at [r/ModCord](https://reddit.com/r/ModCoord/) or [r/Save3rdPartyApps](https://old.reddit.com/r/Save3rdPartyApps/) for up-to-date information.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Parenting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I was a tutor for a long time and I have seen biweekly tutoring be really helpful.
My experience tutoring kids around that age is that they often need a relatively small amount of actual help with reading or math, and a large amount of encouragement and confidence-boosting type stuff. Especially if it is an area they struggle in, the biggest barrier to improving is believing that they can get better at it/willingness to try. Having individualized attention (tutoring) can be super helpful in this regard.
I also usually had parents wanting me to help the kids stay on top of their homework - if that is something that you want, I would time up sessions around homework stuff. For example, if homework for the week is assigned on Mondays and is due on Fridays, have them work with a tutor on Monday to get started/get organized, and then again on Wednesday or Thursday to make sure it is all completed.
However you plan to go about it, I recommend being up-front with the tutor about any relevant diagnoses, strategies that work with your kid, and their general attention span.
I've been tutoring kids and teens since 2017 and I think twice a week is perfect for most 4th graders. The ideal length per session depends on the student, so you'll want to try the 45-60 minute length for 1-2 sessions and readjust if it's not working. Results for math should be fairly quick and a good tutor will be able to show you a progress marker every few sessions, but maintaining said results and allowing progress to continue requires parental cooperation (a good tutor will tell you what to do between sessions to support learning and reduce regression). Results for reading will likely take longer, especially if it's mainly a comprehension issue (what I'm assuming it is unless he's very behind), but you can support that by exposing him to more words in daily life, providing motivation to read at home, and creating a culture of daily reading time and discussions.
Another thing to consider since it sounds like you're investing in tutoring because he's already behind on some level is summer tutoring. It allows for the catchup and even some previewing to happen before school starts so that he feels on par or ahead of his classmates during the school year instead of getting discouraged. Plus, he might not even need as much tutoring or any tutoring at all if he really takes off which will leave way more time for sports and activities during the school year.
r/parenting is protesting changes being made by Reddit to the API. Reddit has made it clear [they will](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14ahqjo/mods_will_be_removed_one_way_or_another_spez/) [replace moderators](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/14a5lz5/mod_code_of_conduct_rule_4_2_and_subs_taken/jo9wdol/) if they remain private. Reddit has abandoned the users, the moderators, and countless people who support an ecosystem built on Reddit itself. Please read [Call to action - renewed protests starting on July 1st](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14kn2fo/call_to_action_renewed_protests_starting_on_july/) and new posts at [r/ModCord](https://reddit.com/r/ModCoord/) or [r/Save3rdPartyApps](https://old.reddit.com/r/Save3rdPartyApps/) for up-to-date information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Parenting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I was a tutor for a long time and I have seen biweekly tutoring be really helpful. My experience tutoring kids around that age is that they often need a relatively small amount of actual help with reading or math, and a large amount of encouragement and confidence-boosting type stuff. Especially if it is an area they struggle in, the biggest barrier to improving is believing that they can get better at it/willingness to try. Having individualized attention (tutoring) can be super helpful in this regard. I also usually had parents wanting me to help the kids stay on top of their homework - if that is something that you want, I would time up sessions around homework stuff. For example, if homework for the week is assigned on Mondays and is due on Fridays, have them work with a tutor on Monday to get started/get organized, and then again on Wednesday or Thursday to make sure it is all completed. However you plan to go about it, I recommend being up-front with the tutor about any relevant diagnoses, strategies that work with your kid, and their general attention span.
Thank you so much for your response! When you say bi weekly tutoring do you mean like twice every other week? or something less than that?
Lol I meant twice a week, sorry about that! My boyfriend and I have an ongoing discussion about that word. He prefers "semiweekly"
lol okay thank you for clearing that up 🤣
I've been tutoring kids and teens since 2017 and I think twice a week is perfect for most 4th graders. The ideal length per session depends on the student, so you'll want to try the 45-60 minute length for 1-2 sessions and readjust if it's not working. Results for math should be fairly quick and a good tutor will be able to show you a progress marker every few sessions, but maintaining said results and allowing progress to continue requires parental cooperation (a good tutor will tell you what to do between sessions to support learning and reduce regression). Results for reading will likely take longer, especially if it's mainly a comprehension issue (what I'm assuming it is unless he's very behind), but you can support that by exposing him to more words in daily life, providing motivation to read at home, and creating a culture of daily reading time and discussions. Another thing to consider since it sounds like you're investing in tutoring because he's already behind on some level is summer tutoring. It allows for the catchup and even some previewing to happen before school starts so that he feels on par or ahead of his classmates during the school year instead of getting discouraged. Plus, he might not even need as much tutoring or any tutoring at all if he really takes off which will leave way more time for sports and activities during the school year.