TutorMatch Launches New Tutor Referral Website

A new way for students to find and connect with tutors online

TutorMatch today announced the launch of their newly re-designed website, http://www.TutorMatch.com, an online service which connects students with tutors in specific areas of study.

This new design will help students and tutors more easily navigate the website and offer more resources as well as links to other educational portals.

Since 1996 both tutors and students have recognized TutorMatch as the internet leader in tutor referral services. Their website was perhaps the first to ever offer any kind of online tutoring services, and today they still rank as one of the web's most popular tutor destinations.

"We have always offered students a free and easy way to find tutors," says Chaim Lazar, one of the founding partners of TutorMatch. "But in the past we focused on local services, helping students find tutors located near them geographically. Now we have expanded our service to allow students to connect with online tutors located anywhere in the world."

TutorMatch does not require any signup or membership for parents or students to search for tutors, it is an entirely free service.

TutorMatch has a very strong base of locally advertised tutors - over 4,000 at press time. These are tutors which operate by either visiting students or having students meet with them in a public library or school to provide tutoring in person. According to Lazar, he plans to use this base as a launching pad to attract online tutors.

"For many people seeking help in a very specific academic subject, there simply may not be any tutors located nearby, " says Lazar. "We hope to give them the same level of service by allowing them to find tutors anywhere in the country which can meet their needs."

TutorMatch has focused mainly on providing services in the United States since its inception in 1996. Lazar says over 90% of their database is comprised of tutors located in the U.S. "We hope that will change as we expand, and we can begin reaching into new markets to provide our services on an international level."

TutorMatch makes the privacy and safety of all involved a primarcy concern. The TutorMatch.com website protects the identity of tutors by only providing students and parents the tutor's first name. It is up to the parent or student to supply a tutor with any contact information, at which time the tutor then has the option to disclose their contact information and begin a tutoring contract.

TutorMatch (formerly Tutor2000) was established in 1996 to help students easily connect with qualified tutors nationwide. Today, Tutor Match offers a directory of thousands of tutors waiting to assist students. TutorMatch is dedicated not only to matching the right student with the right tutor, but also protecting the privacy and safety of all tutors and students.

How to Choose a Tutor for Your Child

Here are some tips and ideas to consider when selecting a tutor for your child.

• Explain to your child why you think a tutor is needed and what a tutor does. Talk about what you hope will be accomplished with a tutor.
• Ask your child's teacher or other parents for recommendations. Consider interviewing several tutors with your child. (If your child is a part of the process, he/she will be more open to accepting help.)
• Check the tutor's credentials. Ask about training, experience, and references. It is important that the tutor is a certified teacher or has expertise in the subject being taught. Find out whether the person has experience working with students at your child's grade level.
• Set clear goals for the tutoring and request a description of the tutoring plan. Whenever possible, ask your child's teacher to participate in the design of this plan so that it links to school work. Try to create a partnership between you, your child's teacher, and the tutor.
• If possible, schedule tutoring for the times of the day when your child is ready to learn. After-school hours are the most common time for tutoring but this is also when students are tired or distracted by other activities. Allow for much-needed breaks from the school routine.
• For students with a learning disability, consider scheduling more than one lesson a week. Students with learning disabilities often need practice and repetition to master skills. Also, remember that it takes time to see improvement, so do not expect a quick fix.
• Observe your child working with the tutor. The session should include hands-on learning and be very interactive. The tutor should be guiding your child through direct teaching and guided practice.
• Request periodic reports from both the tutor and your child's teacher. There should be noticeable academic improvement within a few months.

Students can always find tutor assistance for free at http://www.tutormatch.com/