Moms Talk: To Tutor or Not to Tutor?

Each week in "Moms Talk," our Mom's Council of experts and smart moms and dads take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

When it comes to getting our children ready for college prep, many of us have heard, "It's better to get a 'B' in an honors class than an 'A' in a standard class." The stated rationale is that honors and AP classes on the transcript demonstrate that kids are willing to tackle challenging material--a growth experience that will make them better able to succeed in college.

Which brings us to our question this week: When is it too much to "push" the honors and AP (Advanced Placement--college level) classes to build our child's resume for college applications?

Parents often turn to private companies that provide instruction like , and (Educational Tutoring & Consulting) to help their kids make it through tougher curriculum. Services at these private schools range from tutoring support to complete accredited classes. These "extra help" alternatives are so popular that some provide transportation to and from . If you accept the rumor and buzz about this private extra help, math would be the subject where most seek a complete instructional alternative.

Let us know what you think--should we place our kids in honors classes and AP classes when they need extra tutoring support, or even private instruction, to succeed in those classes?

Is Senioritis at our school worse because the kids can't handle anymore by the time they reach that last semester?