Hi you’all,
Victoria suggested running an ad in a locall weekly, so I found one that I have read, is all over the place, etc. The response has been REALLY fantastic! I’ve gotten maybe 7-8 calls or so. (This is in the space of about two weeks). Only one was really not a good call, wanted help in algebra, but I referred him to someone I had contacted in my research/market stage. And he gave me another referral! The ad will be running every other week for about a year, and one client in one month pays it. So I have two official clients now and more in the works! This is great. I am hoping I will be encouraging to Janis and anyone else out there who wants to do this!
Funny thing a LOT of the calls are for kids who are NOT at all in special ed. The parents have just given up on special ed. Yet they may be reading years under grade level.
—des
Re: Tutoring practice progress comments
Congrats, des
I know how much you have helped everyone here (including me!) and know it will be great for those kids to have you as a tutor! It shows in all your posts, which I follow with great interest (I even looked for you on that link you posted to a photo one time - couldn’t decide who was you! <g>)
Good for you!
Lil
Re: Tutoring practice progress comments
That is great to hear, des! I do think it depends on the town and the paper. I think I’d get responses from our local paper, too. But I have no idea at all how much ads are. One of these days I’ll check!
Janis
Re: Tutoring practice progress comments
Good to hear things are progressing. Yes, officially labelled special ed kids are usually the minority — you get the ones whose parents are going outside the system to look for help right now.
I was just thinking about this and you, and another thing to note is that demand for tutoring is highly seasonal. Right now is a good time — for schools on the system of four report cards per year, the first set of grades is just coming out and you get *lots* of calls! You’ll get another batch in January and a few for exam cramming at the end of the year. Be sure with exam crammers to make a point that you cannot guarantee any results at the last minute. Also save some money and pay your bills up in June, since demand is very low in summer. Lots of people have good intentions but when it comes down to it, they want a holiday and the kids get sulky.
Re: Tutoring practice progress comments
I’m so glad that the ads are working for you. You’re right about your caseload based upon my experience. Most of my students are not identified as having special needs, and the parents, in general, want to word to avoid that distinction.
I’m hoping for your continued success!
keb
Re: Tutoring practice progress comments
BTW, I am advertising in a local weekly and not the city newspaper. I think the response there would not be so good. This is a pretty good size ad and is on the second to the last page. I’m sure some people get this paper just to see the ads. It is also free (too bad advertising is not free!). Just got my 3rd client today, not ld though, but I am not going to be too picky at this stage of the game. Also got another call yesterday. If everyone signs up who has called so far, I’ll have half my caseload.
Hmm, funny Victoria, I expected summer to be better. Oh well I guess the intention is there. Hopefully by then I can get myself certified in Barton and get some referrals through her.
—des
I’m glad it is going so well! I just got a comment in my 5th grade son’s agenda last night that he reads out loud ‘VERY WELL’! This was the same boy who experienced total ‘reading failure’ in Grade 1!
I had tears in my eyes…this represents 4 years of HARD work for both of us. When my son is a bit older, I am going to begin making my long term dream of being a reading tutor a reality, so I have been watching your progress with great interest. Good luck!