The student is a 12-year-old rising 7th grader, the middle child of an Upper East Side family. While he may be in 7th grade, he is routinely assigned work far above that level. Furthermore, he is expected by the school to complete his work at a far higher level than one would anticipate normally from an average 7th grader.

He is kind, sweet, and usually joyful, although he can be moody. He loves animals and some aspects of pop culture. He has some form of attention deficit, and sometimes has a self-esteem issue. His curriculum requires extensive test preparation. He routinely has at least five hours of homework a night. He learns best when he studies in multiple ways; for example, being held accountable both orally and on paper is often important to his progress. He is a capable young man when focused and motivated. He can be dreamy and disconnected at times though, and is often isolated in social situations. He would benefit from an energetic tutor who could ignite an academic passion, someone who can maintain lightness with the rigour required.

He has received the support of full time tutors from Tutors International in the past and is well used to working with this support.

The role of the Tutor begins when the student returns home from school, and ends when he is finished with his homework; typically this is between two and five hours per night depending on whether there is a test or a major assignment due the next day. The Tutor must be flexible and sensitive to the time needs that the student requires, and rarely should the work drag on late into the night. The Tutor needs to be sympathetic to the struggles of the student, but also able to direct progress firmly with a minimum of drama. The Tutor must be able to establish and maintain the appropriate tempo of doing homework in balance with the needs of the family and his extracurricular activities.

The Tutor will ensure that the boy completes his homework correctly and by the due date. The Tutor should also ensure that all quizzes and tests are thoroughly prepared and the Tutor is confident that the student knows the relevant material, as well as extending him to draw links between the subject areas he studies. He learns best through a combination of military drill, mnemonics, and creative, fun, almost game-like devices. It will be up to the Tutor to devise and prepare these learning aids.

The Tutor will need to comfortable supporting all subjects in his grade, and be especially strong in French, Latin, and Maths. At the moment, the boy receives math instruction once a week in addition to the time he spends with his full time tutor, and it is hoped that this extra support will not be required should the new tutor be a strong mathematician. The boy will also benefit from someone who can help him to become more adept at writing essays based on reading materials and on reading comprehension. The young man will soon be taking ISEE and SSAT standardized tests, and it is important that he be prepared thoroughly for these assessments. A Tutor with prior experience preparing students for standardized tests will be valued.

His mother will liaise with his school to try to prevent him from misrepresenting his homework assignments to the Tutor, or to get any missing work from the parents of other children in his class. There will be no direct contact between the Tutor, the parents of other students, and the school.

Organization is a key component to this job. The Tutor is responsible for making sure that desks and papers are kept tidy and filed so that they materials can readily be accessed at any time.

Should the need arise, the Tutor may also be asked to work with the older brother of the student, who is 15 and attending a prestigious New York private high school.

Normal hours are Sunday through Thursday, 3pm-8pm. It is expected that some Saturday work may also be necessary from time to time, to be agreed upon in advance with the parents.

There will be at least 9 weeks paid vacation during the 12-month contract term at times convenient to the Client. These will normally follow the school vacations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, and Summer.

If the Client wishes to take the Tutor with them when they travel, the Client will be responsible for all expenses relating to the Tutor.

The Tutor will be housed in his own private residence provided by the client. The Client will cover all bills, with the exception of food and personal telephone charges. The Client will provide meals that occur during the tutoring time.

This assignment is for 12 months starting September 7, 2009. It may be extended by mutual agreement of all parties.

The same family is looking for a Tutor to join them for July and August and August in Aspen. If you are interested in this position as well as the ongoing assignment in New York please make this clear in your application letter.