Special ed tutoring: Your questions answered
What is special ed tutoring?
Special ed tutoring is just a short way of describing special education tutoring. In place of special education or special ed, sometimes people also say “sped”. That short word can describe many different needs!
Students who have been diagnosed with diverse learning needs or disabilities often qualify for special ed. Common examples are students who have been diagnosed with:
Autism
Emotional challenges
Intellectual disabilities
If you’d like a deeper dive on special ed, how students qualify and what supports may be available, read further here.
Who are special ed tutors?
Special ed tutors are highly trained in supporting students who qualify for special education. In some places they’re called learning specialists, learning behavior specialists, or exceptional needs teachers. The name of the license can vary, but all special ed teachers have extensive training and backgrounds in supporting the academic and social-emotional needs of students
What kind of special ed tutor is a good match for my student?
Some teachers are special ed generalists and can teach many different grade levels and needs. They may be a great fit for a student with a mild learning disability or mild ADHD. If a student is struggling with a more significant learning disability or more severe ADHD, it may be important to be matched with a special ed teacher who further specializes even within the field of special ed. Some teachers specialize in teaching reading to students with learning disabilities using Orton-Gillingham or Wilson. Others specialize in teaching specific subjects or grade levels. For many students, having a very specialized match is important, so they have a whole set of tips and tricks and can find what works best for your student.
“For many students, having a very specialized match is important, so they have a whole set of tips and tricks and can find what works best for your student.”
My student has individualized instruction at school. What’s the benefit of seeking special ed tutoring?
This is a great question! We wish every student got exactly what they needed at school, and no one needed to hire us. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. You don’t have to look very far to find people who are unhappy with the special ed services their kids are receiving at school. Some families are so unhappy, they even end up going to due process or pursue legal action. Common complaints we hear from parents about special ed services at school are that their student is grouped in with other students who have very different needs, that their student doesn’t get individualized attention, or that their school is refusing to acknowledge that their student even has a specific need or disability. In these cases, parents don’t want to wait for the school to respond. They want to go ahead and provide their students with specialized academic service, knowing that it’s important to address their student’s needs as soon as possible.
In other cases, parents are happy with the special ed services at school and feel their student is mostly getting what they need. Even when schools are fulfilling their obligations fully, they are required to provide only to provide what’s called a free and appropriate education (FAPE) which has been likened to a Chevy, not a Cadillac. With that in mind, many parents who really prioritize education choose to supplement their child’s education with some outside tutoring. They are often very surprised to see how much more progress is made with the 1:1 attention of a perfectly matched specialist with Progress Parade.
Other parents find it’s too hard to do everything themselves! They know their diverse learner needs to complete homework and practice academics after school. Other obligations (sometimes other kids) make that very difficult to manage. They prefer to fire themselves from the job of teacher and hire outside help to take over this responsibility.
“They are often very surprised to see how much more progress is made with the 1:1 attention of a perfectly matched specialist with Progress Parade.”
When should I consider sped tutoring for my child?
The sooner, the better! There is a lot of research that suggests that early intervention pays dividends later on. If you’re seeing your child start to experience frustration and struggle with picking up an academic skill or concept, it could be a great time to consider bringing on a special ed tutor.
If you’re already experiencing a lot of resistance from your child, don’t worry. It’s not too late. Read more tips on resistant students here.
Where does special ed tutoring take place?
Anywhere you’ve got internet! Read more about the benefits of special ed tutoring online.
How can I get started with special ed tutoring?
At Progress Parade, we’d love to take care of choosing the perfect specialized match for your student! Book a free consultation with us if you’d like to learn more.
The who, what, when, where, why, and how of special ed tutoring.
