Tutoring Service Help kids excel academically with niche tutoring.

The national debate about whether students have too muchhomework shadows the critical importance being placed on academicsuccess. Surveys indicate that parents of school-age children saytheir number-one concern is their children's education.Accordingly, there's a growing demand for academic tutors byparents at all socioeconomic levels.

Tutors offer students individual attention-something inshort supply in crowded classrooms. Tutors can customize what theyteach to the level and needs of each student, allowing students tolearn at their own pace without the pressure of peers orauthorities. While national chains are providing tutoring servicesin many communities, self-employed tutors are charging-andfinding work for-as much as $150 an hour.

While math is the most popular subject students and theirparents seek professional tutoring for, there's almost no limitto the subjects that someone can offer tutoring for. Tutors aresought by everyone from struggling history pupils to students slowto grasp computer skills. Other parents just want their kids tokeep up, knowing they'll fall behind if they haven'tmastered basic skills or are struggling to pass requiredcoursework. Another tutoring specialty is working with students whohave learning disabilities.

A key market for tutors these days is coaching students to passentrance examinations. Standardized admissions tests-such asthe ACT, CSEE, ERB, ISEE, PSAT, SSAT, SAT I & II, andTOEFL-strike fear into the hearts of parents and studentsalike, driving some students to begin preparing months before theexams.

What kind of qualities should a tutor have, besides strongknowledge of a particular subject? Good communication skills areessential in order to listen to and interpret students' needsand to impart directions and information in simple, clear andconcise language. "[Students] may not know how to ask aquestion in a way to get the information they want," says JanBerinstein, a computer skills tutor. "If you don't listencarefully to their questions and don't take time to givethoughtful answers, they'll become frustrated."

Enduring patience is also required. Students who need tutoringmay lack confidence and don't instinctively understand what atutor presumably knows well. Students may need frequent repetition,repeated rephrasing of explanations, continual reinforcement, andlots of encouragement and reassurance.

Although a degree in education isn't necessary, abachelor's degree or, in some specialized subjects, anadditional advanced degree is needed for credibility in marketingyourself as a tutor. While most states have yet to requireexaminations or licenses to be a tutor, there are exceptions suchas Pennsylvania, so this needs to be checked. Regardless oflicensing, if you're going to tutor in a complex subject likemicrobiology, you must be well-versed in it. Thus, most tutors tendto offer more basic subjects to grade school and high schoolstudents.

Most self-employed tutors have students come to their homes, butsome go to their students' homes and charge a higher fee. Whiletutoring is usually done on a one-to-one basis, some tutors willwork with as many as three students at a time, reducing thestandard fee per student. While some elite tutors do command feesof as much as $150 per hour, most tutors charge between $15 and $50per hour. The rate varies with experience, location and whether thetutor goes to the student's home.

Ways to get started include contacting teachers in yourspecialized subject areas, posting fliers, participating incommunity organizations, and having your own Web site with its owndomain name and testimonial letters.

Paul and Sarah Edwards are the award-winning co-authors ofthirteen books, including Working From Home, The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Centuryand their latest book, The Practical Dreamer's Handbook. Moreinformation is available on their Web sites, www.workingfromhome.com and www.simplegoodlife.com.