How hard is it to create a clientele in being a home schooling tutor?

Question

I'm pushing 60, and the various things I am able to do narrow down a bit, but I can still love kids and seeing them light up when they learn something that matters to them. I am, to be blunt, itching to tutor home-schooled kids. How hard is that to set up? How do I establish my credentials? Maybe do some book reading or volunteering at the local library? Come on, home schooling parents, give me your best here. I'll be in St. Louis, Missouri, if that's relevant.

Cris, I'm not either a mother or a grandmother, which is much of why I want to work with other people's kids. There are a lot of good ideas here. I think I'll extend the deadline.

Answer 1

tough one.
That is awesome that you have a heart to help children, but working with homeschool families may prove to be too narrow to be successful. If you are, or have been a homeschool parent, that should help you establish a connection, but it sounds like your moving? If you're new, it will be difficult.
If you are not a homeschool parent, are you a certified teacher? That would give you an opportunity to work with the local school district. I know the schools are always needing a list of names of people that are willing to tutor, but again, you would have to be certified (even retired is ok) and you would have to basically be an employee, submitting to background checks and so forth.
If neither of those describe you, then connect with a library or rec center. You can register as a volunteer, submit yourself to their reference checks and background checks then establish yourself as a homework helps person. Our rec center offers homework help, but most of the time they don't have anyone willing to work with the kids. After school, our particular library is full of students waiting for their parents to get off work (free babysitting.) They may be willing to set something up with you to use one of their rooms to tutor. Any of those options would require more than just printing up flyers and such. you would need to establish a good relationship with your librarian or rec center director. They can be your best friend in directing potential clients your way.

Answer 2

The people that would call themselves homeschool tutors seem to have homeschoolers to work with if they align themselves with places that provide classes for homeschoolers.

I have been tutoring privately for 3 years on my own. Virtually all my clients come from public and private schools, not from the HSing community. If anything, the homeschoolers tend to want to find some way to swap services or co-operatively teach more difficult subjects. I have almost half of my students referred to me by the principal at a private school.

It was not hard to set up, but the clientèle builds slowly. Word of mouth, reputation, and results are what build a client base. When I started I worked with a few students for free or discount (an effort to give away- what I wanted to receive- a philosophy I try to live.)

The broader background you have, and the more skills you can call on to teach the better. Some schools have volunteer tutors for their poor readers. You might be able to learn some skills and get some practice in a school as well as a library.

I would not count on homeschoolers to provide a livelihood, but it might work as supplemental. If that was my target market I would post notice at local homeschool curriculum stores. The notice would include my qualifications, my specialties, and my rates.

Good Luck

Answer 3

To be honest, out of some hundred to two hundred homeschooling families that I know, only a couple have ever used tutors. This may be how things are here, though.

I think what you need to do is flesh out first what you are willing and able to do. Would you be interested in conducting a weekly class of some sort? If so, this will probably generate more interest than just general tutoring. What sort of classes could you offer? What do you know about? Do you want to run your classes indepedently, or would you be willing to hook up with what is called a co-op?

Once you've figure out a little more what you are wanting to do, seek out homeschool support groups in St. Louis or even country or state-based. Let them know you're there--they will probably be willing to spread the word or even give you information on connecting with co-ops and what their particular needs are.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You need to contact the local hs group there. YOu can find it by clicking on hslda.org, then clicking on groups in your area, then clicking on MO. I know there are groups there.

One other poster pointed out that you might do better to offer group classes, and I'd agree with that. Put an ad in the local hs group's newsletter that includes your qualifications [mother of 3, grandmother of 6, former _____________,] and what classes you can teach and when. Suggestions are math facts, science projects, writing, art, etiquette, chess, etc. Or talk to the locals there and see what they'd want you to do. After you've done a class or two, you can then add tutoring and see if you have any takers.

Answer 5

There's a math tutor at my local Family Resource Center, maybe a center near you can help you orient yourself. It's the schools that'll help you with getting credentialed and available for the connections with which to build a client base. Contact your area's District Office (of schools).

Answer 6

There are agencies that you can become involved with that will verify your suitability to work with children. Most places let people who are going to volunteer have criminal references done for free.
I tutor older people, young adults and mature learners. I went back to community college and upgraded my skills so that they would be current, and relevant...No one cares about how we useed to do Math...the math is all new again.