OT Question for Parents

Hi Tricia, I think what you're talking about is a great idea. My sister, a certified elementary school teacher in Arizona, is currently tutoring high school students who are aiming for Ivy League colleges. She works in groups of two to six, with occasional one-on-one. She is teaching them to read and write critically and up to university standards. I don't know what she charges, but I will find out when I talk to her the next time. I do know that she is able to add a decent amount to the household monthly budget. One caveat: she ends up working a lot. She goes to the students' homes to meet with them. And because what she does is very intense and specialized, she spends hours of prep time for each group. I will talk to her about how she decides what to charge and will pass it on to you. Why don't you send me an email so I can directly communicate with you. It may be several days before I have a chance to get her on the phone for a discussion.

Good luck! Sunny snipped-for-privacy@genext.net

I think it's a great idea of limited application. Tons of kids could benefit from this kind of instruction, but how many parents in your blue collar town are going to recognize the superior value of it over somebody who will try to pound specific subjects into students? That and that alone is why I would immediately think of charging less than you are worth until you have some kids whose noticable improvement has drawn some attention. I can't even begin to give dollar amounts. The cost of living where I am is so much less expensive than most places I wouldn't have a clue what is reasonable near you. Certification, current or lapsed would be a selling point indeed. You need only mention that you have the training, I don't think most parents would care that you are certified, in fact I believe most would presume you are not if you are working in the private sector. If I could afford it, and knew one of my kids would benefit I would start up immediately regardless of the time in the school year. However, most of the people I know would wait until they saw some lousy mid-terms, or the panic of approaching finals set in.

NightMist

Wish you were out here on the other coast. I would love to have had something like this for my DS. Maybe in our next life we will live closer so I can take advantage of your services.

Debbi > Hi Hi!

On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 02:18:42 -0500, NightMist wrote (in article ):

You know with all the no child left behind stuff, you might find lots of parents interested in the service. Especially if you had a relationship, formal or informal, with a couple of teachers in town. Don't schools have to offer tutoring options for struggling kids?

Maureen

Thanks folks...I am not neglecting answers that were provided, public and private...I've had somethign come up (actually, something fairly good so no worries) and will be mostly unable to access the net for any reliable amount of time for about a week to 10 days (I've not had good access since posting thsi initially).

I appreciate the responses, I will respond in kind when my access increases again....

Tricia

Tricia wrote:

Good point. Any ideas (from anyone) on how to present the benefit to really catch the parents' interest?

Nod, but with confidentiality issues, only those that came from word of mouth referrals would know the successes, ya know?

okay -- good to know.

Again, thanks for the input on that. Thanks to a new law around here the k-16 school sector isn't allowed to start the kids back until after Labor Day so I have a bit longer to work out details than I would have in previous years. Used to be where I was at downstate, the kids would be back like Aug 20-something.

Tricia

They do and I know that our districts nearby provide tutoring in specific subjects (reading and/or math) *during* the school day to students who qualify -- a job similar to what I did at one point downstate and had applied to do up here before my certificate expired (but waas rejected without even an interview *grrr*). I know the middle school even has a variation on a study hall period for students who need it built into the schedule. I picked up a few things subbing last year in regards to that type of information. However, my best relationship with a teacher is a first grade teacher and that's not going to work for referrals....a lot of my diagnostic materials I have require reading and test experiences beyond that in the first grade curriculum. Second and Third grade would be pushing it as reading skills are still being developed. Fourth grade on the other hand, starts in my opinion an ideal time to teach the strategies that work for the individual early so they become habit by the time s/he is really needing it in Middle school and beyond.

Thanks, Tricia

Debbie,

How old is your DS? I may be able to share some materials for determining learnign style long distance and some generalized recommendations on things to do. Mail me off list if you are interested in trying to work something out.

Tricia

Debbi wrote: