Tutoring: In-home or out?

Of course, I am biased for tutoring taking place outside the home. The decision is usually justified around the theme of “distraction elimination.” There is no such thing as “fewer distractions.” There will be distractions in any learning environment—the trick is how to refocus the student quickly back to the task. At home, teens, being who they are, will stay distracted longer because they think everything is about or may be about them. This possibility will keep their minds occupied. At Study Depot or any other outside venue, the distraction (car door slamming, visitor, phone ringing, etc.) the interruption is about the site--the student knows this and will return to work faster. Although in-home tutoring may be more convenient time-wise, it is not the best situation for the students' learning or the parents’ wallet.

Another issue is safety. Although many “in-home” agencies require an adult to be present during sessions, this does not always happen and, being a parent, I have concerns about that.

Any comments? Email cchristopher@studydepot.com