Research: Parents - Would you be interested in this kind of service?

Question

I am doing a little research for a way to bring in extra cash. I was wondering if parents would be interested in this:

A 1 hour reading tutoring session during the day for preschool/Kinder. One-on-one and at a public location like a library.

This would be tutored by a Paraeducator (meaning I have an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Assistant Teaching).

What other features would you be looking for?

What would you pay?

How many days a week would you use this service?

Would there be a better location?

Thanks a lot for your input!

To clarify, Pre-School indicates children between three and four years of age. This is typically the time when children are introduced to basic reading concepts in a variety of ways.

The sessions would include multi-disciplinary learning experiences including story reading (to the student), sound and name recognition practice (Learning alphabet sounds, use of pictorial flash cards and sounds), conversational practice, and many differedifferent types of activities that focus on language development including physical activities that address words in the world around them.

An hour log session, when considering transition time (the time when the student is beginning to focus on the task), story time, and activity time, is a practiced and reasonable length.

Answer 1

The local library would be a great place to tutor!  My daughter is 10, going into the fifth grade and has to have a tutor every summer.  She works with the tutor at the library.  I wish we would have had her tutored as a preschooler.

I currently pay $35 per hour, one hour per week.  I personally think an hour is long for a preschool child.  Possibly 45 minutes, and charge around $25-$35 per session.

I would include alphabet sounds, site words, reading, and some writing and/or coloring.

You have a great idea!  Good luck!

Answer 2

Me personally, not.  I am a teacher.  I am sending my daughter to preschool two mornings a week next year so she can learn the things I cannot teach her like playing nicely with kids her age,t aking direction from an authority figure that is not her parent, etc.  I can read with her!

Answer 3

Personally, I might have used this (if it were a group setting) when my youngest was in pre-school. Only because she went to pre-school for 4 hours and big sis was still in school. So she would want to still hang around other kids for an hour or so.. and I had to make massive play dates for library trips at that time.

I think if you presented this to pre-schools (give them your flyer's) and have a meet up about an hour that most preschools let out for the day, a lot of mom's might like it.

another option is do reading camps. Offer it for like 1 week a month with limited availability. say Week 1 could be 3 year olds. Week 2 could be 4 to 5 year olds.

They could do reading time in the park one day for an hour. Nature books.

Reading at the library 2 days- books of choice.

Reading at a science museum 1 day - science book.

Include extra reading skills and teaching with each session.

Or whatever.

It could be an hour to 2 per day and maybe $50. per child per week.

You could bake sugar cookies and bring along apple juice with the visits.

I have been doing hooked on phonics with both my children from ages 2 to 6. They could both read well by the age of 4. Even so... being out there with other kids for an hour and being exposed to new books- never hurt anyone!

I should specify. If you made this a one on one tutoring - I don't think it will sell. If this was a daily reading week camp or something- that the parents could come, too. it would be best. I think, anyway.

Answer 4

If you're looking for honest answers:  no, I wouldn't.  Preschoolers and kindergarteners are certainly ready to be doing pre-reading/ reading activities, but I believe in those age groups it should be in a playful context, not drill, which is what I would assume of something that advertised itself as tutoring.  

Also, while people can be naturally good teachers or naturally good with kids (you may well be both), a degree in assistant teaching isn't a sell for me.  If I was really looking at educational background, I'd be more interested in someone with an early childhood education background for that age group.  If I was looking for someone besides myself to teach my kid, I'd want someone with a special focus on and understanding of the developmental needs of very young kids.

Answer 5

I myself would be interested with my 5 year old son.He did great in kindergarden but he was not going to read and whatnot for me.sometimes it takes someone else to get thru to a child.