Online Tutors Help Ensure Back-to-Class Success

It's back to class and back to helping our children do their best in school. So, parents don't forget the pencils, three-ring binders, dictionaries, and…the online tutors.

Because we all want our children to succeed at each new grade level, more and more parents are heading for the Internet to find educational advantages for their children. In fact, 79 percent of parents will go online for homework help and academic resources, according to a recent study conducted by Opinion Research Corp.

"With the Internet, there is no more shuffling to the library, to the tutor's house, and then back home in time for dinner. Many of the tools necessary to complete homework assignments and review critical skills are available online," states Pat Hoge, director of education and curriculum development for eSylvan, the leading online tutoring service.

Given that today's students are as comfortable with computers as they are with textbooks, online educational resources often work to the students' advantage. However, to obtain the most benefit from what the Internet has to offer, parents should seek out educational Web sites that most closely meet their child's individual learning needs.

For example, eSylvan offers personalized reading and math tutoring for students in grades 3-9 provided by state-certified teachers. eSylvan teachers and students use Web technology that allows continuous two-way audio dialogue, which is much like talking on the telephone. Student and teacher also write questions and answers displayed on both the student's and teacher's computer screens using a digital pencil and digital writing pad (similar to a mousepad).

Each eSylvan program begins with a comprehensive online skills assessment to pinpoint a child's skill gaps. Using these results, eSylvan is able to create a program that is targeted to each child's individual needs, and includes a variety of "prescribed" lessons that help a child meet specific learning objectives.

"This assessment tool, combined with personalized instruction by state-certified teachers, allows eSylvan to guarantee that every student will improve at least one full grade level in reading or math after only 36 hours of instruction," explains Hoge.

Using a Web-based tutoring service allows parents to fit instructional sessions into busy schedules in the comfort, convenience and privacy of the home. It's a win-win situation for everyone as students head back to class.