The use of special education tutoring as supplemental learning for kids and teens is growing in popularity across the US. Due primarily to increased classroom sizes and decreased budgets, traditional education alone is becoming less adequate, especially for children with special needs.

Today’s classroom teachers essentially are forced to work with students who possess a wide array of special needs in the same classroom filled with up to 40 children. After-school tutoring is useful in filling the gaps created by these environments. It helps ensure children who are struggling in a traditional classroom setting reach their excellence.

How Does Supplemental Learning Benefit Kids?

1. Individual Attention

US legislation requires teaching methods to be universal in technique and substance through a standard called Common Core. But with the wide variety of learning disabilities, as well as behavioral disorders present in an increasing number of children, many need additional help.

Due to slashed federal and state budgets, many children with special needs are still not receiving the attention and learning styles they require. This makes special education tutoring a highly sought-after supplement learning avenue to the education they’re receiving from the traditional channels.

Also,  one-on-one tutoring addresses a child’s individual needs, behavior tendencies, and, most importantly, learning styles, which are all vital to their success.

Supplemental learning through special education tutoring for children with special needs takes into account the individual needs of a child to learn at their pace. It also emphasizes cognitive skills development as well as instilling proper study habits.

2. Subject Matter Reinforcement

When your child is struggling in a given subject area, an experienced tutor can offer the reinforcement required to enhance learning. Often your child can get back on their path to success quickly through repetition of the material and learning subject matter based on their learning process.

Additionally, professional special education tutors can provide tailored tutoring lessons for your child designed to enhance the subjects they’re currently learning.

However, most parents request tutors primarily teach the same information their child is being taught at their school in a way that maximizes their learning potential. This individualized learning approach, or personalized learning, will not only improve their academic performance but will also decrease behavior issues.

3. Homework Help

Children with special needs are easily frustrated when doing their homework assignments. The frustration can make them lose interest in their schoolwork. Special education tutoring helps students stay motivated through honest and continuous encouragement.

When a child begins to finish homework assignments properly without help, they tend to feel better about themselves and school as a whole.

4. Study Habits

Special education tutoring helps a child establish good study habits. It is important for your child to develop good study skills and habits as early as possible.

Older students with special needs can also learn how to improve their study habits. Strong study skills will help the children for the rest of their academic journey.

5. Confidence Building Through Special Education Tutoring

The individual attention a child with special needs receives from a tutor can do a lot to boost self-esteem and confidence. With each academic accomplishment through this supplemental learning approach, even the very small ones, the child becomes more confident.

The major goals of special education tutoring are to help children:

• Become better students
• Transform behaviors
• Ensure children continue down the path of excellence

Reaching these milestones involves helping children become more positive about life, schoolwork, and their future. Effective special education tutoring requires an understanding and compassionate tutor.

6. Tackle Insecurity

Children with special needs often face the feeling of insecurity associated with being in a large classroom. When children feel insecure, their learning suffers greatly.

Social situations, for example, being in a noisy or large group, may cause anxiety to many children with special needs. Consequently, the child may not participate fully in the classroom and therefore loses valuable instruction time.

One-on-one tutoring addresses this problem allowing your child to learn without the insecurity and vulnerability which may be part of the regular classroom experience.

It is important that the tutoring take place where the child is comfortable. With the right tutor and environment, children with special needs feel more secure, and there is no reason they should not excel in their academics.

Getting Your Child Started With Supplemental Learning

It is important to find a tutor who understands the special needs of your child. Before hiring a tutor for your child, ask for their qualifications and share necessary information regarding your child’s needs and learning style.

If possible, find a tutor that has worked with children who present similar learning needs to those of your child. The tutor should conduct an accurate initial assessment so that your child gets the best academic support.

Special education tutoring is important for the realization of the educational goals of your child. Tutoring can take different forms and varies based on their age, abilities, and challenges, as well as Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Tutoring will benefit the child in other spheres of life besides improvement in their academics.

Share Your Success With Supplement Learning

Have you tried special education tutoring or another supplemental learning program for your child or teen? How was your child’s experience? Share it in the comments below.