Is 1-on-1 Math tutoring much more effective than a group class?

For young children in Elementary and Middle School years, 1-on-1 tutoring is more effective. Here’s the reason why.

Effective math instruction requires 3 essential rules of engagement that can only be done in an individualized setting. There are of course, other rules of engagement such as an encouraging instructor, consistent practice, visual math models to help students see the math. Those can be practiced in a classroom setting. The 3 that can happen best in an individualized setting are:

• Just-right material
• Socratic questioning
• Observing how the child thinks

It is not possible to provide that kind of environment for a child in a classroom setting. There’s no inherent value in 1-on-1 tutoring, except that it’s the only way you can observe the child’s thinking and understanding of the concept, ask leading questions to steer her in the right direction, and make sure the material is just right for her – not too hard that it demoralizes her , not too easy that it bores her .

Most parents think there are only two possibilities: 1 Instructor – 1student set up or 1 instructor – 1 classroom set up. There is a third alternative which has been tested and proven by an international math tutoring organization with over 1,400 centers in the US at the time of this writing.

And that is 1-on-1 individualized math instruction in a small pod setting of up to 3 students that are not necessarily the same grade. This still allows the instructor to observe, interject, explain or clarify concept with individual students, while keeping the cost a lot lower than strictly one-on-one tutoring.

Does this mean each child gets only 20 minutes of instruction in an hour session? No. Think about a personal trainer working with 3 persons. While Person A is working on her bicep curls, and Person B is pulling the sled across the room, the trainer could show Person C a new routine. The trainer would keep an eye out on Persons A and B to make sure their form are tip top. If needed, he will walk over and correct Person A or B’s form while Person C is practicing her new routine. This happens in gyms every where. Did each person only get 20 minutes of workout? Did each person only get 20 minutes of the instructor’s attention? On the contrary, each person gets the attention and direction she needs the entire session. In an L-shaped math pod, where the three students are sitting within arm range of the instructor, it is even easier to intervene when needed.

Parents who home school their children also follow this model. Many parents are skeptical about its effectiveness until their children try it. They are happy to be around other kids, they don’t have an instructor breathing down their necks every second, help is right across the table when they need it, the atmosphere is friendly, casual, and anxiety-free.