Have you ever wondered if tutoring could help your child excel in school? Understanding four basic types of tutors and evaluating your child's needs and personality is an important first step.

Teacher Tutors

It may seem like the best tutor for your child is his or her teacher, and in some cases, that may well be the case. However, sometimes part of the reason for the child's difficulties is that the teacher's communication style doesn't match up with your child's learning style. In that case, receiving help from another educational professional may be just what your child needs. If you do ask your child's teacher about providing after-hours help, be prepared for the teacher to offer alternative tutors or to charge for the extra effort and time.

Peer Tutors

Especially if you think the issue is minor, peer tutoring may be a good route to take. If there's another child in your child's class who understands the subject at hand well enough to discuss it and explain it to your child, that kind of peer interaction can be quite positive. The best way to discover which students might be the best prospective peer tutors would be to ask your child's teacher. However, depending on your child's relationship with the recommended child and that student's attitude toward your child, peer tutoring may provide social issues that aren't potential pitfalls of other types of tutors. You may have to provide some snacks, but you probably won't have to pay cash for this kind of tutor.

Professional Tutors

Of course, your child's classroom teacher is an educational professional, but there are other educators who specialize in individual or small-group tutoring. These people may be even more equipped to discover your child's learning style and ways to help alleviate the problems at hand. What's more, some tutors can focus on ways to help your child learn to make accommodations for learning styles or "disabilities" in a way that bolsters self-esteem and promotes long-term academic success. Depending on the age and subject matter, this kind of tutor typically has regular rates.

Parental Tutor

This kind of tutor requires you, the parent, to invest your time and energy-rather than your financial resources-in helping your child succeed in school. Depending on the level of education that you have and the age of your child, you may not feel fully equipped to give your child the help required. However, asking your child's teacher for suggestions or resources can help put you on the right track. Sometimes, this kind of interaction can strengthen the parent-child bond as you struggle and learn together. Other times, it can prompt conflicts and add tension to the home.

As you endeavor to discern the type of tutoring that would best meet your child's needs, considering these four types of tutors can help you narrow your options so you can help your child to succeed.