Tutor vs. Teacher: Understanding the Difference and Embracing Extra Support for Your Child

As someone who wears both hats—working as both a tutor and a teacher—I've gained unique insight into the distinct roles these positions play in a child's education. The question of whether parents should feel "guilty" about hiring a tutor is one I encounter frequently, and the answer is a resounding no.

The Teacher's Role: Breadth Across Many

When I step into my teaching role, I operate within a structured framework. I follow curriculum guidelines, stick to lesson plans, and ensure that key learning objectives are met within strict time constraints. My primary goal is to equip students with enough foundational knowledge to tackle their homework and assignments independently after class.

Of course, teaching isn't entirely rigid. When an anecdote or connection sparks inspiration, I might venture off-script to bring a concept to life. These spontaneous moments often create the most memorable learning experiences.

However, the reality of teaching is that I'm addressing multiple students simultaneously—sometimes as many as 17 in my current online classes. While I give my absolute best effort to engage every student, I cannot guarantee that each individual is fully tuned in at every moment. It's simply the nature of group instruction.

The Tutor's Advantage: Depth for One

Tutoring, by contrast, offers something that classroom teaching cannot: personalised, focused attention. As a tutor, I can:

• Adapt my pace to match a student's learning speed
• Identify and address specific knowledge gaps
• Tailor explanations to suit individual learning styles
• Provide immediate feedback and clarification
• Build confidence through one-on-one encouragement

Currently, I'm working with a student who, like many others, simply doesn't enjoy English. However, knowing their passion for dystopian fiction—particularly The Hunger Games—I've been weaving elements and themes from that genre into our lessons whenever possible to spark their engagement and make the material more relatable.

Why Seeking Additional Support Makes Perfect Sense

Hiring a tutor doesn't reflect poorly on your child's abilities, your parenting, or their teacher's effectiveness. Instead, it demonstrates your commitment to your child's success and recognition that different students thrive with different types of support.

Think of it this way: you wouldn't hesitate to provide your child with glasses if they needed clearer vision, or seek medical attention if they were unwell. Academic support through tutoring is simply another tool to help your child reach their full potential.

The goal isn't to replace classroom learning but to complement it—filling gaps, reinforcing concepts, and providing the individualized attention that can make all the difference in a child's educational journey.

Moving into a new week with high hopes, inspired by the wonderful energy and connections that made the previous week so fulfilling 😁😍