Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if my child needs tutoring?
2. Why should I hire New York Academics rather than some other agency or an independent tutor?
3. How do I know that your tutoring is effective?
4. What academic subjects do you tutor?
5. What standardized tests do you help students prepare for?
6. What age groups do you provide tutoring for?
7. Where do you offer tutoring?
8. How much does New York Academics cost?
9. Is there any way to reduce the cost of tutoring?
10. How do I become a tutor with New York Academics?

A. There are several situations in which tutoring can be very helpful. First of all, if you find your child saying, "I hate math!" (or the equivalent for another subject), tutoring may be right for your family. Often, when a child dislikes a subject, it's because he or she doesn't fully understand the material. One-on-one tutoring efficiently cuts through a student's confusion, which improves confidence, self-esteem, and grades. At New York Academics, we pride ourselves on the fact that many of our students who started out hating the subject we tutor them in now enjoy that subject!

Preparing for a high stakes standardized test is another situation in which tutoring makes a lot of sense. Studying and practicing for these tests can significantly improve a student's score. Being prepared and learning specific-test taking strategies is also one of the most effective ways to reduce test-taking anxiety. Even students who are disciplined enough to study on their own benefit from having expert help and guidance when getting ready for these tests; tutoring helps these students tackle the most difficult parts of the test and use their time more efficiently.

Finally, many families choose tutoring for gifted students who are routinely under-challenged in school and who are hungry for intellectual stimulation.

A. New York Academics has very high standards for tutors. All of our tutors are successful, experienced educators with excellent professional references. During the interview process, potential tutors undergo an extensive knowledge check and teach a sample lesson. We will be happy to provide you with references upon request. And please read what some of our clients have said about us.

In addition, all of our tutors submit to New York State and FBI background checks.

A. In most cases, it's obvious when tutoring is working- our parents often comment on how their child's demeanor changes- they become more confident and engaged in the subject. On a more objective level, many parents get positive feedback from their child's teacher about improved performance in class and on tests.

If you are seeking tutoring to prepare your child for a standardized test, the best way to determine if tutoring is effective is to look at the scores he or she gets on practice exams. Of course, we are always happy to share your child's practice test scores with you.

We are also happy to provide references upon request. And please have a look at our testimonials (link).

A. We provide one-on-one instruction in math, science, English, and Spanish. To find out if we have the right tutor for your needs, please contact us at (347) 526-1842 or tutor@tutornewyorkcity.com .

Q. Do you teach courses for homeschoolers?

A. Yes, we do- quite often. Every homeschooling family has different needs, and we will work with your family to design the right program. Some services we have offered include:

• One-on-one instruction in a single subject
• Small group classes in a single subject
• A full curriculum, meeting a student's complete academic needs

A. We tutor students preparing for most standardized tests given in New York State . Below is a partial list of the exams we work with.

A. We tutor elementary, middle school, and high school age students as well as adults. We do not tutor children less than 8 years of age, except in Spanish and English as a second language.

A. We offer tutoring in Manhattan and portions of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx . Most of our tutoring is done in the student's home although if your home is off the beaten track we can often arrange tutoring in a central Manhattan location.

A.

• 1 hour one-on-one tutoring with our founder, Jessie Mathisen: $120
• 1 hour one-on-one tutoring with NY Academics staff member: $110
• Package of ten 1 hour sessions with staff member: $1000 (Note: Package sessions with Jessie are not available.)
• Fees for homeschooling and semi-private sessions will be determined on an individual basis.

A. Yes. There are two ways to reduce the cost of tutoring.

Although we specialize in one-on-one tutoring, we are happy to tutor small groups of students, at a significantly reduced cost to each family. Students must be studying the same material and should be at a roughly similar level. For more details contact us at (347) 526-1842 or tutor@tutornewyorkcity.com.

The second way to get the same, high-quality instruction at a reduced rate is to refer someone to New York Academics. If a person you refer takes one lesson with us, we will give you a credit of $20, to be used towards your lessons. And if your friend takes three or more lessons with us, we will give you a free lesson!

A. At New York Academics, we work exclusively with highly qualified educators who love learning and teaching. If that sounds like you, check out our tutor contracting guidelines page.