“Grammar” can be an intimidating word for both children and adults alike. No matter the age, most people cringe at the thought of subject-verb agreement, correct comma placement, and misplaced modifiers. Why does English grammar inflict such fear upon people of all ages?

English language development begins at an early age; English grammar lessons should also begin at an early age. As a child’s brain develops, his or her understanding of language develops as well.

Why Your Child May Need an After-school Tutor for English Grammar

 Children hear, read, and study language in order to fully grasp the rules of written and oral speech. In school, teachers spend an extensive amount of time emphasizing the importance of writing correctly and effectively. After all, the knowledge of formal language will follow children into adulthood. Children will become adults, and adults must express their ideas in clear, formal language in their careers, no matter the career that they choose.

Equipping children with English grammar lessons will give them the freedom to express themselves eloquently and correctly as they grow into adults.

Why is English grammar so intimidating?

 English grammar is closely related to a person’s ability to write and speak, so why do so many people struggle with it? Children sometimes have difficulty understanding grammar because it is a subject that needs close attention and practice in the classroom. If a teacher has a classroom full of students, who all have varying degrees of ability, she may not focus on the details of English grammar. She may have a small unit dedicated to English grammar lessons, but she may not spend more than that on the subject. She does not have enough the time, eyes, or ears to ensure that every student fully grasps the English grammar topics.

 English grammar is a part of English education in schools. On top of grammar, teachers must teach comprehension and writing as well, so grammar topics may not get the attention it deserves because teachers have other subjects to teach. Students will continue to practice grammar when they have writing assignments, but when they write, are their teachers looking closely at grammar usage? Because of time constraints, it is unlikely that teachers focus on editing every grammar mistake a child makes. Teachers would like to give individual attention to students, especially for more difficult subjects like English grammar, but it sometimes is not possible.

After-School Tutors Can Provide Individualized Attention

 This is where an after-school tutor will benefit your child. After-school tutoring is an advantageous supplement to the classroom because it emphasizes classroom concepts on a smaller scale. Instead of 25 to 40 students in a classroom, an after-school classroom may have only a handful of students. An after-school tutor has fewer students to teach during class time, and therefore, she can give your child more individual attention. The small classroom may even put your child at ease when a difficult subject, like grammar, is taught; this level of comfort fosters an environment that encourages questions and answers. The small, intimate classroom setting will allow for quality instruction that cannot be achieved in larger classes.

  After-school tutoring will give your child more confidence in the regular classroom. When your child runs into a difficult English grammar lesson in his or her regular classroom, he or she will be able to utilize the lessons learned from an after-school tutoring center. Your child will feel more at ease when the teacher asks grammar questions in class because he or she has already learned the basics from the after-school tutor. In writing, your child will gain the skills necessary to develop a strong essay from his or her after-school tutor. When other students find it difficult to convey a point clearly, your child will have the skill set to write clearly and correctly. Going to an after-school tutor will give your child the opportunity to learn difficult subjects before other students in a regular classroom. This will give your child a competitive advantage in school.

 When it comes to English grammar lessons, consider an after-school tutor. While other students cringe at the word “grammar,” your child will remember what his or her after-school tutor explained and feel confident about the subject. You will start to notice a difference in your child’s writing and behavior. Language Arts homework will no longer be a daunting task for your child, but an opportunity to show off the skill set that he or she gained from the after-school tutor. As your child grows into an adult, he or she will have the grammar skills necessary to effectively communicate ideas and will impress those around him or her. Grammar is not just a set of rules to be memorized and forgotten; it is a tool set that effective communication requires.

 Author: Becky Adams, English Program Coordinator at MathWizard, Inc.