Does the start of the school year mean nightly hair-pulling over quadratic equations? Frustration and tears over chemistry homework? An online tutor can help; just choose one wisely. Of the dozens of sites I checked out, some simply gave the answers to problems. Others had dubious credentials. But with a trustworthy service, online tutoring can be quite helpful. For younger ones, tutoring over the Internet makes homework seem more like a game (and less like homework).
At Tutor.com, more than 30,000 tutors are on call 24 hours a day for one-on-one cyber sessions. Covering hundreds of subjects in grades K-12 and beyond, the site provides a simple way to communicate via computer. Once you download the necessary plug-ins (available free at the site), you can chat via voice or text, and an interactive "whiteboard" lets student and tutor write or draw diagrams, just as you would on a chalkboard. When I asked for help with an algebra problem, the tutor worked it out with me onscreen.
The best part: Tutor.com performs background checks and gives extensive information on tutors' qualifications. The tutors set their own rates, so be prepared to pay $20 an hour or more for the service.
www.Quikktutor.com Instant online math help for a monthly membership fee of $39.99 for 30 hours. eSylvan.com Online instruction in math and reading for grades 3-9, from Sylvan Learning Centers. TutorCafe.com Connects you with a tutor in your area. Pluses: wide selection of tutors, background checks and info on them. Tutorium.com Matches students from elementary school through college with at-home tutors.
By Contributing Editor Rula Razek
