All About Market Rates of Private Tutors

[Rejoin]

professional to me as a parent means:
1) teach with quality using own notes and not students' notes from their schools (if avail).
2) be punctual
3) don't make parents feel intimidated
4) don't make empty promises
5) maintain open communication with parents.

Agreed with (2)-(4).
Tutors should also have their own sets of notes as supplements. Would be nice to teach from their own set of notes. However, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. In addition, most students prefer to refer to their own set of notes/textbooks than tutors'. They get confused if they have extra.

Professionalism to me, means, always putting the interest of the student ahead of your own.


I have seen students' files, and how things are arranged. Typically not very orderly. To give them extra notes would really just add another level of papers (unused).

[janet88]

professional to me as a parent means:
1) teach with quality using own notes and not students' notes from their schools (if avail).
2) be punctual
3) don't make parents feel intimidated
4) don't make empty promises
5) maintain open communication with parents.

Agreed with (2)-(4).
Tutors should also have their own sets of notes as supplements. Would be nice to teach from their own set of notes. However, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. In addition, most students prefer to refer to their own set of notes/textbooks than tutors'. They get confused if they have extra.

Professionalism to me, means, always putting the interest of the student ahead of your own.

if the tutor has been a professional, won't he/she have created their own complete set of notes? my kids' tutors have their own set of notes...and they are adequate.

[mathtuition88]

For Maths, short and concise notes are the best, for students to read and recap quickly in case they forget any formulas.

Notes that are too long may be counter-productive for math, as once a student grasp a concept, only short notes / helpsheets would be needed for quick memory recall.

For other subjects, more detailed notes may be better, for example those heavy on memorization like history, geography or literature.

[janet88]

For other subjects, more detailed notes may be better, for example those heavy on memorization like history, geography or literature.

for history/geography, if tutor has questions & answers on what will be tested, it will give students an idea what to expect for exams, esp lower sec.

[Rejoin]

if the tutor has been a professional, won't he/she have created their own complete set of notes? my kids' tutors have their own set of notes...and they are adequate.

You don't need 100 people writing out:
(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

I agree with summarized notes, for the purpose of recapping, but do not agree with rewriting notes. This is in response to mathtuition88.

In general, my style is to get a student not to rely on any summary at all, for math. I also understand that is not for everyone. So for the general populace of students, summary is still important.

[janet88]

for math, a tutor doesn't need to give a copy of formulas...students will know that by heart. how students can improve in math is tutors' methods of coaching and how to handle different types of questions.

[iwork]

How come we are discussing these in this forum thread?

[Rejoin]

for math, a tutor doesn't need to give a copy of formulas...students will know that by heart. how students can improve in math is tutors' methods of coaching and how to handle different types of questions.

Oh, sorry. Then you are right. I've always been "reading" your posts from a perspective of a math tutor.

Think we both agree that math don't need a "re-writing of notes", but perhaps other tuition needs.

[janet88]

Rejoin,
I have nothing against you.

Merry Christmas

[karenmok]

hello Kiasu Parents,

Can you please offer your insights into the following? This will benefit DD who is starting with S1 soon.

1. Should I seek a single tutor for all sciences or different tutor for physics, chemistry, biology? Having 1 tutor is of course better (less headache) but given so much complexity in subjects, is it reasonable to find a single tutor?

2. Are small group tutions really comparable to private lessons? Cost is much less, but what about quality and responsiveness?

Karen