Five months ago, I took a big step and transitioned from public school special education to starting my own business as a private reading tutor. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, but several challenges pushed me to seek a new path. Among them were the lack of autonomy, limited trust in teachers’ professional judgment, and the constraints of a rigid schedule. Large group sizes and heavy caseloads made it difficult to provide the individualized support students truly needed to thrive. Add to that poor union representation for special education staff, unrealistic expectations around case management tasks, and the low morale caused by broader cultural issues within the school system—it became clear that I needed something to change!
While many of my coworkers shared the same challenges, I seemed to hit burnout in a way that others didn’t. I struggled to emotionally separate myself from the obstacles we faced, leaving me feeling both ineffective and frustrated. I wanted the best for my students, and being in a position where I couldn’t give them what they truly needed felt overwhelming. One of my closest teacher friends, Laura, has an admirable ability to adopt a “do the best you can with what you’ve got” mindset. I tried to follow her lead, but I just couldn’t find contentment in my position anymore!
If you’re new here and need a recap, I did leave public schools and I’m currently working as a private reading tutor with the homeschool population. I only work daytime hours so I can devote my afternoons and evenings to my family and my own hobbies. I know this is a dream for many of the teachers I’ve connected with on social media, so I often share what’s going on as I navigate this new path.
So, here are 5 lessons I’ve learned as a new private reading tutor. I hope they offer some helpful insights and support as you navigate your own journey, should you decide to take the leap, too!
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. I may earn a small commision if you purchase through my links.
1. Have a vision but be prepared to adapt.
When I first decided to transition to being a private reading tutor, I had a clear vision in mind. I assumed I could bring it to fruition because I was the one who would decide which clients to take on. This was my vision: I would work with clients in grades two to eight who were either identified with or suspected of having dyslexia. I would use the Wilson Reading System with all of them because my ideal clients would be well-suited to Wilson instruction. I’m fresh out of my certification program, I can plan lessons like a pro, and I developed good systems to keep my Wilson materials organized.
However, as I met each new student, I quickly realized they didn’t all fit the typical Wilson profile. But I needed clients, families needed support, and I have plenty of skills and knowledge beyond delivering Wilson instruction. So, my neat and simple vision quickly evolved!
Now, I use a mix of Wilson, Just Words, UFLI, Lively Letters, and The Writing Revolution with various students. Some sessions are 1:1, others are 2:1, and some are in small groups. My students’ ages range from four to ten years old. While teaching only Wilson would be easier to organize, I really enjoy working with each student, and the variety in their needs keeps things interesting!
The key takeaway: it’s great to have a vision for your ideal clients, but be prepared for a range of families to find you. Until you’re fully booked and have a waiting list, you likely won’t be able to select only the students who perfectly fit your preferred learning profile.
2. Keep your mind open to unexpected opportunities.
I imagined myself splitting my week between 1:1 tutoring and working on my TPT store. I rent a learning space from a local homeschool co-op three days a week, so the plan was to tutor on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and reserve Mondays and Wednesdays for my TPT work. It seemed like a simple and organized vision, but, as you might guess, things didn’t go quite as planned!
Along with the 1:1 and 2:1 tutoring sessions in my rented space, I’m now running small reading groups at a nature-based homeschool co-op on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Starting in the new year, I’ll also be tutoring at my local library on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
This new schedule leaves me with less time for TPT and more driving than I expected, but it’s all part of building my business. While I plan to streamline my schedule and locations next year, I’m willing to make a few sacrifices now to grow my clientele, build my reputation, and, of course, pay the bills.
Other unexpected opportunities have come my way, also. I complete annual portfolio evaluations for homeschool families. I complete file reviews to offer advocacy support for parents who are questioning the effectiveness of their child’s IEP. I’m also exploring the possibility of completing independent educational evaluations (IEEs) for parents who disagree with the result of school district testing. These are all opportunities that I didn’t know existed when I first went into business!
3. Enjoy the new pace.
I used to lament that my public school special education position put too much responsibility on my plate. So, it was a bit of a surprise to discover that my new boss (um, me) also tries to convince me to take on too much responsibility. As the one who sets deadlines and productivity expectations, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking there’s always more I could be doing. This was especially true in the early months when I needed more clients. If I wasn’t hitting my personal income goal, I felt like I couldn’t relax after work. Shouldn’t I be making social media posts, checking Facebook groups for potential clients, and creating new products for my TPT store? But, honestly, that’s not always necessary.
I’ve adopted a new mantra: “You have done enough.” I put in the work every day. Some days are more productive than others, and that’s okay. Whenever I feel like I haven’t done enough or my business isn’t as successful as it should be, I remind myself how long I’ve been in business (not that long) and review the successes I’ve already achieved.
P.S.: If you relate to that feeling that you’ve never done enough, I’d love for you to join me in reading Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price! I’m only halfway through and I’ve taken so many notes on how to be kinder to myself and to reframe my sometimes obsessive need to always work harder.
4. Build the “Know, Like, Trust” factor and be patient.
The “Know, Like, Trust” factor applies to any business, including tutoring. It suggests that people need to know who you are, like you, and trust you before they choose to become your customer. This is especially important when parents are trusting you with their children’s education!
When you start out as a private reading tutor, you may not yet know your community. One effective way to build the “Know, Like, Trust” factor is by getting out and meeting people. However, for me as an introvert with a touch of social anxiety, meeting people in the homeschool community felt overwhelming. Even after eighteen years of running special education meetings and parent conferences, attending networking events was different. I felt pressure to prove myself, and there was more at stake. In a school meeting, if I made a mistake, my team would back me up, and I could move on. But if I blundered while meeting a potential tutoring client, I risked losing that income! Despite how it may seem to anyone I meet while networking, it is a bit stressful for me.
Social media is another way to build momentum. While it’s not as personal as live interactions, it helps when parents see your name or business repeatedly, such as in Facebook groups. Social media also gives past clients the chance to recommend you to others who are looking for help. These actions contribute to building the “Know, Like, Trust” factor, which will eventually lead to more clients.
There are many ways to build your reputation, but the key takeaway is that it takes time—it doesn’t happen overnight!
5. Have a financial plan.
It takes time to fill your schedule when you first start out on your own. Until you build a reputation and gain word-of-mouth referrals, you might find yourself with more free time than you expected. While I’m fortunate that my TPT earnings have helped me bridge the gap toward my personal income goal, I also recognize that TPT income can be unpredictable. Because of this, I planned ahead for years before leaving public schools. Yes, years.
I had been unhappy at work for some time, especially since the pandemic. One day, my principal publicly berated me in front of students and coworkers, and that was the turning point for me. I immediately asked for letters of recommendation and began seriously searching for new opportunities. I explored other school systems, but none of the interviews felt right. In the back of my mind, I wondered if I could turn my passion for structured literacy into a career that gave me the autonomy and freedom I craved.
In late 2022, I took a stepping stone job as a contracted school employee through a wonderfully supportive family-owned staffing agency. This job allowed me to set reasonable limits on my workload, which was a welcome change. But I knew that being a contracted worker wasn’t the long-term solution, as it didn’t offer the stability I needed. So, I continued planning my exit. Over the next two years, I saved as much money as I could, earned new credentials, and stayed focused on my goal.
By the time I made my first connection in the homeschool community, I was ready to take the leap. I had an emergency fund to fall back on, my husband was fully on board, my TPT store was doing well, and I had the credentials I needed to charge my desired hourly rate. Without the financial cushion of my emergency fund and TPT income, leaving public schools would have been a much riskier move—both financially and mentally.
Final Thoughts
If you’re dreaming of becoming a full-time private reading tutor, I recommend checking out my previous blog post about important considerations before making the transition. While I’m not an expert, I’ve learned a lot over the past two years and I’m happy to share what’s worked for me. There’s no shortage of glamorous social media posts that paint a picture of wealth and freedom once you start tutoring privately—some even suggest you can travel the world while doing it. While being your own boss can be incredibly rewarding, I want to offer a more realistic perspective, helping you navigate the challenges (and reminding you that tutoring abroad often requires a work visa).
Start planning now, stay open to new opportunities, and make sure to save your money. The road to success may not be easy, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can certainly be worth it!
Comment