Elementary school tutoring: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What elementary school tutoring is

Elementary school tutoring helps younger children with reading, math and study habits in a patient, playful setting, often tailored to what the class is learning that week. Parents book it when a child is falling behind the class, when homework is a daily battle, or when a child needs extra confidence before a new unit.

Signs you need it

  • Your child cannot count on from a number or add across ten without fingers or pictures
  • Your child sounds out words slowly and forgets the sound by the end of the word
  • Homework takes hours, and your child gets upset when the answer is not clear
  • Your child does not want to read aloud at school and avoids it
  • The teacher has mentioned a gap in a specific skill for several weeks

What the pro does

  • Checks your child's reading, number sense and any skill the teacher has flagged
  • Works on math facts and number sense with games, blocks and drawings
  • Practices phonics and reading with short passages that match the child's level
  • Builds study habits, such as a short routine and a clear place to start homework
  • Shares a short note with the parent at the end of each session about what was practiced

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • The child's age and the subjects the tutor covers
  • Whether sessions are in person, at home or online
  • One-on-one tutoring versus a small group
  • Whether the tutor works from the school's lessons or from their own materials
  • How much homework help versus skill building each session needs

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and start date
  • Where sessions happen and whether travel is included
  • Whether materials, games and progress notes are included
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress with the parent or the child's teacher

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you find out what my child knows before you plan the sessions?
  • How do you make practice fun without losing the skill?
  • Do you work from the school's lessons, and how do you keep up with the class?
  • How do you handle a child who gets upset when work is hard?
  • How will you tell me what we worked on and what my child should practice at home?
  • Have all of your tutors passed a background check before they work with children?
  • What progress should I expect over the first two months?

Red flags

  • Will not say whether tutors have background checks
  • Works in a private room with a child with no parent or program supervision and no clear rules
  • Promises your child will be at the top of the class after a few sessions
  • Does the child's homework for them and does not check whether the child understands it

What you can do yourself

Read aloud together every day, count objects in the kitchen, play board games with dice and cards, and ask your child to explain one thing they learned at school. Ask the teacher which skills to practice. Hire a tutor when your child is clearly behind on a skill the class uses every day, when homework routines break down, or when your child needs a patient adult to practice with them one on one.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor elementary students privately. If the tutor works in a school or a child care program, that program may have its own rules. Ask whether the tutor has teaching experience or training with young children, and check with your state or local licensing agency for any rules that apply to child care or the program.

Elementary school tutoring questions

How do I know my child needs a tutor?

Ask the teacher which skills your child is still building. If the gap lasts across several weeks, a tutor can practice that skill with more time and repetition than a classroom can give.

Should I stay in the room during the session?

For younger children, a parent nearby can help the tutor share progress. Ask the tutor what they prefer and what they will report back to you.

Does my child's tutor need a background check?

Many parents and programs expect one. Ask for proof of a background check before the first session, and ask about the program's rules for drop-off, pickup and supervision.

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