In Benefits of Tutoring A Child With Special Needs (Westchester Family, 5/18/16) Emily Levy, Ed.D explains that there are a multitude of reasons to provide private tutoring for special needs children. Here are some of the reasons she lists:
- A Controlled Environment for Learning
- Individualized Attention
- Specific Skill Remediation
- Reduction of Emotional and Behavioral Struggles
- Improvement of Study Habits
- Ability of child to catch up and succeed in the classroom
In tutoring, it is much easier to control the environment for learning. Students with ADHD and/or Dyslexia may become distracted easily. The lack of distraction from other students’ talking and movement allow the special needs student to focus on the task at hand. The quiet focused environment found in tutoring fosters learning and provides an environment for the student where he or she can experience success.
As I know from my personal experience, as a classroom teacher for over 11 years, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for the classroom to provide the kind of one-on-one attention found in tutoring. As Ms. Levy writes, “Dyslexic children may struggle with reading and writing and simply need more individualized support than a classroom teacher can provide.” When Students are able to receive individual attention, emotional and behavior struggles may disappear. Further, students are able to focus on specific skill remediation. Dyslexic students need systematic research based multi-sensory methods for learning to read. At Reading Remedy Tutor we use the Wilson Reading System. This is an Orton-Gillingham based method that is specifically designed to help dyslexic students succeed at reading. One on one attention and specific skill remediation can make all the difference in helping a dyslexic student find success in the classroom.
A special needs tutor can also model and practice good study and planning habits with the student. These practiced skills can then translate into better independent study habits. Emily Levy writes, “As children move through elementary school, there typcially comes a point, often at the end of third grade and into fourth grade when the curriculum shifts from learning to read to reading to learn.” Special needs students need a safe environment where they can get the skills to study independently in the classroom. These students often need to catch up in certain areas of study and tutoring is the perfect environment to foster their success.
