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All about after-school tutoring programs
By: Ryan | Nov 30, 2021 9:42 AM
If you and your child have never experienced a tutoring session, it’s natural to have a preconceived notion of what you think such an after-school program might look like.
In fact, unfortunately, all that you might feel about tutoring at this point is negativity—oh my gosh, my student is failing and needs a tutor. Or oh my gosh, my student just can’t test well and needs help.
In reality, though, tutoring can be an extremely positive, valuable learning experience for students who simply need one-on-one instruction for any one of a number of reasons.
What is an after-school tutoring program?
An after-school tutoring program is one that connects students who want or need to focus on a specific academic topic with individuals like teachers, advanced students, or subject matter experts.
These types of programs can take place on a one-to-one basis or in small groups; in-person or online. And, while most of them take place right after school - hence the name - they can also include experiences that take place outside of school, for instance, on the weekends.
Why do children need after-school tutoring?
Again, while the mind tends to associate tutoring with struggling students who simply can’t keep up in the everyday classroom, that’s really not the case. After-school tutoring is of course available in those instances, but it’s also an experience a child can turn to when they want to learn more about a topic that might not be touched on much in school, as is the case with coding tutoring , or even more specialized with python tutoring , etc.
What types of after-school tutoring programs are available?
As mentioned, tutoring can come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Here are a few of the most common types.
Private tutoring
This is probably the most traditional type of tutoring, and the one that most people think of when hearing the word. It’s a one-on-one learning experience where the subject matter expert meets with the student to focus on a specific topic or learning goal, ask and answer questions, go through practice problems, and more.
Group tutoring
In some cases, students can get much of what’s mentioned above but in a group setting, say, with a few other students who are all focused on the same goal. For example, think about standardized test prep and how there will be groups of kids who simply want to start at square one in learning about and preparing for the questions they’ll soon be tested on.
Learn more : Is the SAT optional?
At-school/peer tutoring
In terms of where tutoring can take place, one option in many schools is a designated tutoring center or area where students can sign up for peer-tutoring with another student who is proven to be proficient in a particular academic area.
Online tutoring
Growing in popularity is online tutoring for kids and teens , where students can experience what’s mentioned above, only online rather than in-person.
That said, there are also a number of online tutoring programs that offer one-on-one lessons in topics not traditionally associated with tutoring like Minecraft and Roblox , in addition to those everyday school subjects like math tutoring and more.
Tutoring centers
You might be one of many who actually started thinking about the idea of tutoring based on the many tutoring centers you’ve seen when driving around your local community. This includes options like Kumon, Mathnasium, and others.
The teaching and learning process will differ by center, but the idea typically remains the same, only this time the learning takes place within a brick and mortar setting that isn’t school or home.
What is the cost of after-school tutoring?
Cost of after-school tutoring will vary depending on a number of factors as outlined above—number of students, location, duration, tutor expertise, and more will all impact prices.
For instance, there are many free tutoring options available, while others will cost a certain amount per hour, or can be subscribed to through different packages. As an example, chess tutoring can cost $71/lesson (one hour) or as little as $60/lesson for a subscription pack of 12 lessons.
What are the benefits of after-school tutoring?
Many parents turn to tutoring for the overall benefit of improving their child’s understanding of a particular subject. Through that activity, though, there are a number of other benefits of after-school tutoring including:
- An outlet for kids to ask questions, ease frustration, and build confidence.
- Deeper learning beyond the surface of a particular subject.
- Wider learning outside of traditional classroom subjects.
- Personalized learning that caters to student circumstances.
All said, after-school tutoring isn’t something parents and students should fear. Beyond solving any challenges kids might be having in their everyday schooling, tutoring comes in different forms, offers positive benefits, and allows kids and teens to not only grasp general concepts, but expand their learning across new and different academic horizons.
Ryan has been in EdTech and with iD Tech for 13 years—building experience, expertise, and knowledge in all things coding, game development, college prep, STEM, and more. He earned his MBA from Santa Clara University after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State. Connect on LinkedIn
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Developing a Tutoring Program
A tutoring program that will best serve children's needs should be carefully developed with those needs in mind. Here are eight steps to developing a tutoring program, from setting goals to developing a curriculum.
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The following is an eight step process for starting a successful new tutoring program.
Step 1. Assess the need
The first task of a planning group is to assess the need for a tutoring program. The community may already have assessment information such as test scores, retention rates, and anecdotal reports from families and teachers.
The community assessment should include an inventory of current reading initiatives, with an indication of their nature and scope, in order to measure existing services against need, and to pinpoint the gaps to be filled by the new program. This will minimize duplication, build on experience, mobilize resources, and avoid the tensions that can arise when groups who may see themselves as the "real" pioneers are left out of new program initiatives.
This information will help the planners focus on the children who are most in need of tutoring. Research indicates that four out of ten children, on average, are at risk in terms of their literacy development.
The needs assessment should identify target groups of children and areas of the community at greatest risk. Special attention should be given to Title I public schools and to neighborhoods served by Head Start and Even Start. Planners can use the assessment results to design a program that builds on children's skills and interests and provides activities of direct benefit to children.
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Step 2. Define the mission
The next step is to define the tutoring program's overall mission. In developing the mission statement, planners should consider the important contributions to supporting children's literacy development made by families and community institutions such as Head Start, child care, and other preschool programs; the public schools; and libraries, museums, and out-of-school time community programs.
This brief statement should describe what the program intends to do to address the identified needs. The mission statement guides planners as they design, implement, and evaluate the program. For example:
The mission of the Kaleidoscope Tutoring Program is to motivate children to want to read for pleasure and to learn, to help children become engaged readers and writers, and to make sure children have access to high quality books and reading and writing materials.
With a mission statement such as this, planners can proceed with setting goals and objectives that the program expects to achieve.
Step 3. Set goals and objectives
The goals for the program will be written in general terms. The America Reads Challenge – all children will read well and independently by the end of third grade – is an example of a goal.
Objectives are clear and measurable descriptions of specific outcomes related to the reading and literacy achievements of children. They might address the ages or grade levels to be served, how reading specialists will be involved, how many children will be enrolled, how many volunteer tutors will be recruited, how schools and community groups will be involved, where tutoring will take place, and how success will be measured. For example:
The Kaleidoscope Tutoring program will enroll and offer tutoring services to 25 children in grades 1 through 3 at each of five sites.
All of the program's services, polices, and practices will be based on the mission statement and the proposed goals and objectives.
Step 4. Create tutoring program partnerships
The tutoring program partnerships should include two or more organizations with extensive experience in encouraging children's literacy. One partner should be a school or school district. Other partners might include:
- A Head Start agency or child care center
- An Even Start program
- An AmeriCorps project
- An after-school program
- A Senior Corps project (e.g., a Foster Grandparents Program or a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)
- Parents' associations
- The local library
- A community college, college, or university (through academic departments and the work study office)
- A literacy group
- A youth-serving agency
- A Tribal Government
An existing program could add tutoring to the array of services they already provide to children and families. Tutoring activities could operate at the same site or at satellite sites such as a housing complex, library, or religious organization.
Step 5. Design the program
The program design describes how the tutoring program will carry out its mission and achieve its goals and objectives.
In designing the program, planners will need to discuss and answer questions such as the following:
- How will children in need of tutoring be identified? Teachers will refer children to the program whose reading skills are below those of their peers (the lowest 50 percent or the lowest 25 percent).
- How and when will the program conduct pre- and post-testing? The program will use the _________ reading skills assessment to measure children's skills at entry and at one-month intervals.
- How will the program ensure that children who need special education or other services, in addition to or in place of tutoring, will receive such help? Children suspected of having special needs will be referred (with written parental permission) for screening and/or evaluation through the local education agency. The tutoring program will participate in planning and implementing follow-up strategies and services.
- Where and when will tutoring take place? Tutoring will take place at school, two afternoons per week.
- How will the program ensure that tutoring services delivered to school-age children during the regular school day are beneficial and outweigh missing regular classroom activities? Tutors will communicate regularly with families and teachers to track children's reading progress and net educational gains. In general, tutoring sessions will not be scheduled at times when the child would otherwise be participating in reading activities in the regular classroom.
- How will the program track children's progress? Tutors, families, and children will work together to create and maintain portfolios that document children's progress.
- How will the program recruit and screen volunteer tutors? The program will work with __________ University to recruit work-study students who are majoring in education or a related field. The school system will handle screening through its existing agreement with state authorities.
- How will the program support the tutors? All tutors will take part in a three-day initial orientation and attend biweekly workshops conducted by the program's reading specialist. Tutors will participate in a minimum of 36 hours of training on reading and literacy development. The reading specialist will observe tutoring sessions at least monthly and provide feedback and technical assistance.
Family involvement is another key area to be addressed in the program design. Planners can build in strategies for involving families, establishing partnerships with families, and encouraging family literacy. Other parts of the program design include:
- A communication system for reading specialists, teachers, tutors, families, and program staff
- Initial and ongoing training and supervision for tutors (see Step 7 below)
- Policies and procedures
- Record keeping requirements
- A plan for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the program's effectiveness in meeting specified goals and objectives
Useful resources for program developers are Help America Read: A Handbook for Volunteers and the companion Coordinators Guide by Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas. The authors are experts in reading development and knowledgeable about how national service programs can partner with community-based literacy programs.
Having designed an overall framework for the program, planners can review the appropriateness of different reading models.
A few questions to ask during an interview with volunteer tutors
- What is there about this position that appeals to you the most?
- What is there about working with children that makes you enjoy it?
- How do you imagine your relationship with your students?
- Tell me about your understanding of the challenges these children face?
- Are there any types of children you feel you may have a hard time working with?
- Can you tell me about any experiences you may have had working with members of ethnic groups?
Chattanooga Family Service Corps in Chattanooga, Tennessee, shared the above interview questions through the America Reads listserv, July 23, 1997.
Step 6. Select or adapt a reading curriculum
Planners might develop their own curriculum or, more feasibly, select a specific research-based reading curriculum that has been proven successful with children whose reading skills and needs are similar to those of the children to be targeted through the tutoring program.
A research-based curriculum is one that is consistent with existing knowledge about how children learn to read. Reading One-One, Reading Recovery, and Success for All are widely-used curricula.
Tutoring programs can involve their reading specialists in adapting the chosen reading curriculum to address local needs and circumstances. In the adaptation, it will be essential to ensure that the curriculum is suitable for use by tutors with the level of skills and amount of training that are likely to be characteristic of those participating in the program.
The most effective reading curricula have built-in opportunities for children to:
- Experience incremental successes (e.g., reread a familiar passage independently)
- Reinforce a few skills and concepts (e.g., review sight words)
- Move to the next step (e.g., master new sight words or read a more complex passage)
Since school administrators and reading specialists are among the key stake-holders to be included in the planning team, they can ensure that the reading curriculum supports the school's reading approach and the program design.
Regardless of the specific model the program will use, it should include a structured, yet flexible, format for tutoring sessions.
A consistent structure helps both children and tutors to stay organized and focused on meeting individual goals. Children feel a sense of competence from being able to predict what comes next in each tutoring session.
A flexible format allows tutors to use strategies that are tailored to address each child's learning style, skills, interests, and needs. The flexibility ensures that each child will receive individualized and developmentally appropriate support.
The length of each tutoring session should be appropriate for the ages of the children involved and reflect a variety of planned activities. Evaluations of tutoring programs have shown positive results from sessions lasting up to 60 minutes. Longer sessions do not necessarily increase a child's literacy and reading development.
The READ*WRITE*NOW Reading Partners Tutoring Program suggests 35-minute tutoring sessions that follow this agenda:
- Quick review of last session (3 minutes)
- Rereading of a story (5 minutes)
- Paired Reading of a new story (10 minutes)
- Vocabulary and comprehension exercises (5 minutes)
- Writing activity plus feedback (12 minutes)
A 40-minute tutoring session might include these segments:
- Opening activity and review (7 minutes>
- Instructional Goal 1 (10 minutes)
- Instructional Goal 2 (10 minutes)
- Reading activity (5 minutes)
- Closing activity (5 minutes)
- Follow-up assignment (3 minutes)
The opening activity and review gets the lesson started. It is an opportunity to reinforce the tutoring relationship, help the child focus attention and get ready for the session, review what took place during the previous session, and discuss the follow-up activity.
Instructional goals focus on the child's needs. Usually one is related to reading and one to writing. Goals might come from the child's teacher. Completing several short activities helps a child feel a sense of accomplishment and success, which increases the child's motivation for learning.
A reading activity allows the child to practice reading something of his or her own choice or something the tutor selected. The reading material should be at an appropriate level so the child can read it with ease. Tutors might select a book on a topic of interest to the child or introduce a new book they think the child will enjoy. Many children like to read the same book or passage again and again because it helps them feel a sense of mastery. Tutors can read aloud to non-readers. During the reading activity a child might read alone, take turns reading with the tutor, or engage in paired reading.
The closing activity encourages the child to think about what he or she has learned in this session and previous ones. The activity could involve talking, writing in a journal, or making comments that the tutor writes down.
Follow-up activities are a way to reinforce and build on what took place in the tutoring session. Many tutoring programs ask children to do independent reading or read with their families every day.
Step 7. Provide support for tutors
Qualified tutors are a critical element in the success of any tutoring program. The stakeholders will need a plan that specifies how the program will ensure that tutors have the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their roles effectively.
Support begins with a comprehensive orientation prior to a tutor's first meeting with a child. Continued support is provided by a reading specialist through ongoing training and supervision using methods such as workshops, group meetings, and on-site visits.
The orientation gives tutors background information and opportunities to practice using the reading curriculum. The agenda should include plenty of time for discussion and questions. Ideally, orientation takes place at the tutoring site. If this is not possible, tutors can visit the site before their first session with a child. The orientation can address topics such as these:
What children are like:
- An overview of child development
- How most children learn to read
- Strategies for guiding children's behavior
- Building a trusting relationship with a child
- Learning disabilities that may affect a child's reading skills
Getting to know families:
- Creating partnerships with families
- Sharing information about children's progress
- Respecting diversity
The tutoring approach:
- The reading curriculum used by the tutoring program
- The reading approach used by the school system
- Tailoring the curriculum to address individual needs, planning the first session
- Assessing the child's reading abilities and tracking the child's progress
Support for tutors:
- Ongoing training and supervision
- Resources (materials, books, workshops, web sites, listservs), the role of the reading specialist
- Strategies for handling problem situations
Working as a team:
- Coordinating with tutoring program partners (e.g., the school; child care or Head Start program; Even Start, HIPPY or other family literacy program; library; community groups)
- Following the tutoring program's policies and procedures
- Handling problem situations
- Making referrals, as appropriate
Ongoing training and supervision for tutors should acknowledge and build on past experiences, provide information that can be used immediately, and allow for practice and skill development.
The training might address a range of topics; however, all will be tied to effective implementation of the reading curriculum. Training content should cover the reading or emerging literacy approach used by the school, Head Start, or child care program and how to ensure that the tutoring curriculum and format builds on what children are learning in these educational settings. Including the orientation and pre-service training, a minimum of 36 hours of training in literacy and reading development is recommended.
Tutors will need continuing support in addressing children's unique needs. If the program serves children with severe reading difficulties, training should address the multiple factors that contribute to such reading difficulties and the tutoring strategies and other special services known to be effective in helping children gain the skills needed to learn to read.
With the reading specialist's assistance, the tutoring program can establish a resource library of professional journals, books, videotapes, and other materials about the teaching of reading. Tutors should be invited to use the resource library to increase their understanding of literacy development.
One of the most effective ways to support tutors is through on-site observation and feedback focused on skill development. The reading specialist can schedule regular visits to the program to observe tutors interacting with children and to give feedback on what he or she saw and heard. As an alternative, tutors can support each other by conducting peer observations or by videotaping each other's tutoring sessions then meeting to view and discuss the tapes.
Here is how one tutoring program plans to provide ongoing training and supervision for tutors.
Kaleidoscope Tutoring Program – Ongoing training and supervision
Tutor meetings.
Every other Wednesday, 7 to 9 p.m., pizza provided.
- Updates – from last meeting
- Sharing – tutoring successes and challenges
- Special topic – presented by guest speaker, a tutor, or the reading specialist
- New resources – now available in the resource library
- Skill building – e.g., motivating young readers
Reflection journals
- Kept by each tutor
- Discussed with reading specialist, at tutor's request
Individual support
- Biweekly observation and feedback by reading specialist
- Biweekly observation and feedback with peer (tutor)
- Monthly "catch up" meeting with program director
- Individual meetings, at tutor's request
In addition to orientation and ongoing training and supervision, programs should provide a handbook that can serve as a ready reference.
Step 8. Implement the plans
As the development process moves from planning to implementation, the key stakeholders can continue to play a role in operating and evaluating the program. They might become program staff or volunteers, serve as members of an advisory group, and continue to provide input related to their areas of expertise.
Click the "Endnotes" link above to hide these endnotes.
Based in part on Beth Herrmann. editor, The Volunteer Tutor's Toolbox (Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 1994) 6'10 and Marcia Klenbort, Tutoring Questions: Checklist for Planners Intent on Success (Center for School Success, Southern Regional Council, 1996).
Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas, Help America Read: A Handbook for Volunteers, and Help America Read: Coordinator's Guide (Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH, 1997).
Excerpted from: Developing a Tutoring Program. (December, 1997 ). On the Road to Reading: A Guide for Community Partners. America Reads Challenge. A Joint Project of the Corporation for National Service, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Excellent reference information to start a tutoring program in the community. I am a retired education, this information will definitely be useful. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the information, especially the part on assessments. I think having students periodically assessed will ensure that teaching and learning take place, even if its just tutoring.
I found this information to be very insightful and an excellent guide to begin planning a tutoring program. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing tips on starting a tutoring porogram. My friend and I have just completed our grad courses in busuness and education administration. She works for the school system and I am retiring from Headstart. This information will surely help us to get started.. Thank you.
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After-School Tutoring Programs: Choosing the One That’s Right for Your Student
The term “after-school tutoring program” likely conjures different definitions for different people.
Some may think more childcare-focused with a little homework mixed in, while others picture one-on-one tutoring in a quiet library.
But how do you know which is the right for your child/family?
In this guide, we’ll review five common types of after-school tutoring programs and what each may entail so you can find the one that will work best for your schedule and your child’s learning goals.
Table of Contents
What are after-school tutoring programs.
- Who Needs After-School Tutoring?
5 Types of After-School Tutoring Programs Typically Available
Choosing an after-school tutoring program depends on your goals, 4 distinctions that set emergent education apart from other after-school tutoring programs, choose emergent education in portland to help meet your student’s educational needs.
When parents think of after-school tutoring, they often think of a school gymnasium with a teacher or supervisor walking around answering any homework questions.
And while an after-school tutoring program can look like that, there are also many other variations of programs to be aware of.
The goal of after-school tutoring programs is specifically geared toward helping students meet academic needs or assist them with a certain subject matter or to help build strong academic practices.
Generally speaking, after-school tutoring programs connect students with individuals like teachers, excelling students, or subject matter experts in either a:
- One-to-one basis
- Small group setting
- In-person; or
- Online
After-school tutoring programs usually take place right after the school day, but it’s not uncommon for them to take place on the weekends.
Who Needs After-School Tutoring?
While after-school tutoring can benefit students who need additional assistance with classroom curriculum or test prep, it can also be of great value for those interested in learning about topics that aren’t as readily available in school — for example, coding or videography.
Tutoring after school can also help to positively reinforce learned skills in the classroom, as well as promote:
- Strong self-esteem
- Critical thinking
- Solid study habits and time management skills
It’s important to remember that after-school programs can look different. For example, your children’s school may offer:
- After school daycare with some type of enrichment
- A program with different tutors each time (no consistency)
- A place to bring homework where students can get help with particular assignments
There are several options of after-school tutoring programs available depending on your child’s needs, the offerings at their school, and the price you’re looking to pay.
Read on to learn about five common types of after-school tutoring programs and what each may entail to help you decide which type of tutoring may benefit your child.
#1: Group Tutoring
Group tutoring refers to an after-school tutoring program where there is typically one tutor or teacher assigned to a group of students.
The tutor-to-student ratio will often depend on the subject matter, age, and location the after-school tutoring program is taking place.
Common locations for group tutoring may include:
- School classrooms
- Libraries
- Coffee shops
- A student’s home
It’s a good practice to try and understand your child’s learning style to see if group tutoring may be a useful, or distracting, format of after-school tutoring.
#2: On-Campus/Peer Tutoring
Peer tutoring refers to students helping students — sometimes taking place in the classroom or on campus, but peer tutoring can also take place online.
This format of after-school tutoring provides a unique approach to learning that puts students together to practice or review concepts that have been taught.
A few common peer tutoring pairings include:
- An entire class, divided into groups of the same or varied ability levels
- Older students tutoring younger students
- Classmates at the same ability level taking turns as tutor and tutee
- Same age students of differing ability levels with one acting as tutor
Peer-to-peer tutoring may be helpful for students of all ages and abilities. Different tools and strategies can be used to get the most out of these valuable sessions.
Repetition, review, and practice can be less intimidating or frustrating when it is being delivered by a peer rather than a tutor.
#3: Tutoring Centers
Tutoring centers often offer both group and one-on-one tutoring sessions.
Depending on the specific branch or location of the center, a student may be paired, and meet consistently, with a specific tutor, or may work with whoever is available that meets their needs for each session.
Tutoring centers often offer a wide variety of subject matter tutoring and specific test prep assistance as well.
If you’re looking into a tutoring center as an option for an after-school tutoring program, be sure you’re aware of the type of tutoring your child will get to ensure it aligns with their unique academic needs.
#4: Online Tutoring
With modern teleconference technology, virtual or online tutoring has become a highly effective alternative to tutoring in person.
At Emergent Education, we utilize…
- Video calls
- Online whiteboards; and
- Document sharing
… to go over assignments much in the same way we would in-person , but with the added convenience and cost benefits of meeting online.
That being said, there is no virtual substitute for the quality of connection that comes with meeting face-to-face.
With that in mind, in-person tutoring is typically still preferred for:
- Younger students
- Students struggling with executive functions such as physical organization and focus; or
- Students that just don’t do as well connecting online
#5: Private Tutoring
Emergent Education focuses primarily on private tutoring.
During a student’s first session, we talk about:
- Where you are
- Where you want to be; and
- What it will take to get there.
From there, we’ll design a plan for learning, setting goals and timeline targets.
At each meeting, the student and tutor will begin by evaluating understanding, reviewing goals, and making adjustments as needed.
Then we work on what you have prepared for our session, usually the most challenging problems or assignments that you could not complete alone.
With the different types of tutoring available, choosing the right one really depends on the specific goals of the student and their parents.
For example:
- Higher SAT/ACT scores
- Help with Algebra
- Assistance with essay writing
- Stronger time management skills or executive functions
Moreover, a group setting may work well for some students, while others may benefit from one-on-one private tutoring.
If your goals are to help your student develop study skills and become more self-sufficient, keep reading to learn more about Emergent Education’s approach to tutoring.
Signing your child up for an after-school tutoring program can require almost as much vetting as the school you choose to send them to.
You want to make sure they’re given the tools to succeed and are in an environment that cultivates continued learning.
At Emergent Education , students don’t just focus on content. Our ultimate goal is to teach the whole student, giving them tools and skills they can use inside and outside of the classroom.
Keep reading to learn what sets Emergent Education apart and if our approach may benefit you and your child.
#1: Personalized One-on-One Tutoring
Our personalized In-person tutoring is typically conducted in the student’s home.
Our tutors live and work across the city of Portland, and when matching you with a tutor, we try to choose one that is already close by, making it easy for them to fit you into their schedule and/or commute.
Ideally, nobody has to drive across town at rush hour , and you especially enjoy the convenience of meeting out of your own home.
In-person tutoring can also happen in a public space such as a library or cafe. If your home isn’t an ideal option (if you work long hours or have other children’s schedules to accommodate), we would choose a mutually convenient location.
We don’t maintain a physical tutoring office because frankly, offices are expensive. Plus, most of our students prefer meeting in-home, so we’ve ditched the office and passed those savings along to you.
Our goal is to partner with each student to give them the real-world and academic skills to learn how to study.
Our personalized approach fosters an environment where the tutor and student can get to know each other, allowing the tutor to help share tools and resources so the student can succeed on their own
#2: Study Routines
One of our main goals is to help students figure out their study routine.
Emergent Education prides itself on:
- Helping students know how to carry a plan from school to home
- Coming up with a format and structure that students can use to create an individualized study routine that works for them
This may involve checking the student’s school planner, checking tasks off in the planner, and scheduling future assignments and work sessions.
We accomplish this by having students:
- Bring questions from the day
- Plan out the week
- Build consistency for the week
- Review their week
By collaborating with the student — instead of hand-holding — we can help the student learn what to do to plan and implement a solid study routine independently.
#3: Progress Measurement
Emergent Education focuses on the whole-child education approach, meaning we’re after sustained, incremental growth.
It’s essential to know what the student’s and parent’s goals are when it comes to after-school tutoring programs as well as the student’s overall academic goals.
We can help you find the right strategy to suit your child’s learning needs and your goals for their education.
#4: Developing Self-Sufficiency and Academic Skills
- More focused on self-sufficiency and academic skills rather than just completing academic content
- Getting more accomplished within the time allotted (compared to other programs)
- Math subjects
- Science subjects
- English Literature & Writing
- World Language
- The Humanities — History, Philosophy, or Social Studies
- Executive Functions
- Summer Programs
- Homeschool Support; or
- Academic Coaching
- Developing a growth mindset
- Individualized education for each student, and
- Monitoring progress and helping students learn from mistakes
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- One-on-One and Small Group Tutoring
The goal of one-on-one and small group literacy tutoring is to assess and work with students' individual strengths, weaknesses, and interests through fun after school activities.
Practice in Action
Planning your lesson, sample lessons, what is it.
One-on-One and Small-Group Tutoring entails working with students on a particular reading or writing skill. It can take the form of one-on-one or small groups, with attention focused on building students' strengths, or helping them improve their skills in areas that challenge them.
What Do I Do?
Connect with school-day teachers to identify tutoring needs. Try to make sure that students meet with the same tutors at the same time, day, and place from week to week. Encourage tutors to incorporate a wide range of literacy activities into the tutoring sessions. For example, discuss with students what they are currently reading, use drawing and writing activities, act out stories, or play literacy games. Recruit a school reading specialist, teacher, or retired teacher to provide tutors with the support they need to reflect on their work with students.
The following PDFs may be helpful in organizing and managing your tutoring program:
- Tutoring Receipt (PDF) records a student's participation in a tutoring activity.
- Tutoring Log (PDF) can be used to record information about a student's work over time.
Why Does It Work?
Tutoring is most effective when it is tied to the school day. This allows students to practice and reinforce what they are learning in the classroom. Students who are behind grade level in reading or other subjects benefit from the focused attention of regular tutoring. Research indicates that one-on-one tutoring may be the most effective afterschool activity for improving academic achievement.
ELL Enhancements
To best support ELL students, tutors should have a general understanding of the factors that influence second language development and make every effort to identify individual students' varying levels of background knowledge and English language proficiency. Because ELLs draw on competencies and experiences in their primary language as they learn English, tutors should also determine whether the primary language has a Roman alphabet and written form, and if the student can fluently speak, read, and write in his or her native language.
Tutors should learn as much about the student's cultural background as possible, and use instructional approaches that actively value students' cultures and home languages. This will help to forge meaningful connections between literacy practices at school, home, and in the community.
Great afterschool lessons start with having a clear intention about who your students are, what they are learning or need to work on, and crafting activities that engage students while supporting their academic growth. Great afterschool lessons also require planning and preparation, as there is a lot of work involved in successfully managing kids, materials, and time.
Below are suggested questions to consider while preparing your afterschool lessons. The questions are grouped into topics that correspond to the Lesson Planning Template. You can print out the template and use it as a worksheet to plan and refine your afterschool lessons, to share lesson ideas with colleagues, or to help in professional development sessions with staff.
- Lesson Planning Template (PDF)
- Lesson Planning Template (Word document)
Lesson Planning Template Questions
Grade level.
What grade level(s) is this lesson geared to?
How long will it take to complete the lesson? One hour? One and a half hours? Will it be divided into two or more parts, over a week, or over several weeks?
Learning Goals
What do you want students to learn or be able to do after completing this activity? What skills do you want students to develop or hone? What tasks do they need to accomplish?
Materials Needed
List all of the materials needed that will be needed to complete the activity. Include materials that each student will need, as well as materials that students may need to share (such as books or a computer). Also include any materials that students or instructors will need for record keeping or evaluation. Will you need to store materials for future sessions? If so, how will you do this?
Preparation
What do you need to do to prepare for this activity? Will you need to gather materials? Will the materials need to be sorted for students or will you assign students to be "materials managers"? Are there any books or instructions that you need to read in order to prepare? Do you need a refresher in a content area? Are there questions you need to develop to help students explore or discuss the activity? Are there props that you need to have assembled in advance of the activity? Do you need to enlist another adult to help run the activity?
Think about how you might divide up groups?who works well together? Which students could assist other peers? What roles will you assign to different members of the group so that each student participates?
Now, think about the Practice that you are basing your lesson on. Reread the Practice. Are there ways in which you need to amend your lesson plan to better address the key goal(s) of the Practice? If this is your first time doing the activity, consider doing a "run through" with friends or colleagues to see what works and what you may need to change. Alternatively, you could ask a colleague to read over your lesson plan and give you feedback and suggestions for revisions.
Think about the progression of the activity from start to finish. One model that might be useful—and which was originally developed for science education—is the 5E's instructional model. Each phrase of the learning sequence can be described using five words that begin with "E": engage, explore, explain, extend, and evaluate. For more information, see the 5E's Instructional Model .
Outcomes to Look For
How will you know that students learned what you intended them to learn through this activity? What will be your signs or benchmarks of learning? What questions might you ask to assess their understanding? What, if any, product will they produce?
Self-Evaluation
After you conduct the activity, take a few minutes to reflect on what took place. How do you think the lesson went? Are there things that you wish you had done differently? What will you change next time? Would you do this activity again?
Analyzing Textbook Formats (9-12)
Students learn how to recognize different structures and formats for nonfiction; use common features to find information; read graphs, charts, and illustrations; and navigate through several texts to locate information on one focused topic.
Duration: One to three 15- to 30-minute sessions
- Learn strategies for comprehending textbooks and other nonfiction texts
- Analyze characteristics of various nonfiction formats
- Understand the functions of headings, subheadings, graphs, illustrations, etc.
- Learn how to locate and use specific features (index, glossary, table of contents)
- Formulate questions and develop strategies for seeking specific information in nonfiction texts
- Sample school textbooks and related nonfiction books, ideally on a topic the student selects
- Description of how to use a K-W-L chart and modifications Using KWL to Introduce Inquiry
- K-W-H-L chart (look under Graphic Organizers) Teacher Tools and Templates
- Information about how to use graphic organizers and various models (PDF) Graphic Organizers (PDF)
- Ask your tutee about upcoming themes or topics in science, social studies, or math in his or her school classes.
- Work together to identify one topic, and establish a question or focus that captures the tutee's interest (for example, Why did it take so long for the U.S. to allow women to vote?).
- Assemble the school textbook and three or four additional nonfiction books on this topic (look for exciting formats with pictures, graphs, and illustrations).
- Conduct a "guided tour" of each book, pointing out different features and asking the student to describe their purposes.
- Review each table of contents to determine how ideas are organized (compare/contrast, sequence of events, problem/solution, process, cause/effect, random).
- Identify and practice using other features that locate information (index, headings and subheadings, pictures and graphs, glossaries).
- Coach the student in ways to interpret illustrations, graphs, and other visual displays, working with an appropriate graphic organizer to track important information.
- Fill out three categories of the K-W-H-L chart with the student—what the studernt knows about the topic, what he or she wants to know, and how he or she will learn it (using many texts).
- Carry out the K-W-H plan and complete the "L" column with the information the student learned.
- Student identifies organizing principles of nonfiction
- Student uses organizing features of nonfiction to find information
- Student reads and interprets visual displays
- Student designs and carries out a research plan using a range of nonfiction texts
One-on-One Tutoring (K-2)
Students receive one-on-one tutoring that targets areas of reading and writing where they need support, or enrichment activities to enhance their strengths.
Duration: 15- to 20-minute sessions
Learning goals (may include any of the following).
- Practice decoding specific letters and their sounds
- Practice reading aloud, either sight words or guided reading
- Practice reading for comprehension
- Practice making letters and writing words
- Checklist/form for school-day teachers to identify specific texts, skills, and activities
- Books or other text materials as needed
- Letter tiles
- Literacy games
- Blank paper for writing and drawing
- Pens, pencils, crayons, or markers
- Meet with school-day teachers to find out which students can benefit from tutoring during the afterschool hours, the specific support students need, and how tutoring can support school-day learning.
- Develop a diagnostic checklist or needs assessment form to highlight students' specific needs and skills (decoding, word fluency, sight words, comprehension, language experience, etc.).
- Plan activities for each student based on his or her needs.
- Ask the school-day teacher to fill out the needs assessment form to help you identify each student's needs and relevant activities.
- Schedule 15- to 20-minute tutoring sessions for each student.
- Use games and fun activities to engage students and maintain a sense of play during the afterschool hours.
- Encourage students in each activity, and praise them for their accomplishments.
- Communicate students' progress with the school-day teacher, regularly updating the diagnostic checklist.
- Student engagement and interest in reading and writing activities
- Gradual improvement in specific skill areas such as sight word recognition, decoding letters, reading fluency, and comprehension
- General improvement in reading and writing activities
Small-Group Tutoring (K-2)
Students receive tutoring that targets areas of reading and writing where students need support, or enrichment activities to enhance their strengths.
- Develop a grouping plan based on reading levels and needs.
- Plan activities for each small group based on students' needs.
- Student engagement and participation
- Increased interest in reading and writing activities
- General improvement in language-related activities
Technology Tip for this practice
If your afterschool program has access to a computer lab, remember that the Internet offers a variety of free, interactive games and activities that help students practice specific reading and writing skills. See the activities and resources at the site below. Add a projector and an interactive whiteboard so that a small group of students can work on their spelling, phonics, and other literacy skills with their tutor. Online Literacy Activities
Web Resources
- LEARNS Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the LEARNS project provides a wealth of resources related to tutoring and out-of-school time.
- Tutoring Our Youngest Readers: Focusing on Five Major Reading Strategies Defines each skill identified by the National Reading Panel, outlines learning behaviors to look for and support, and provides fun, developmentally appropriate activities to enhance literacy development.
Text Resources
- Abt Associates Inc. (2001). AmeriCorps tutoring outcomes study. Washington, DC: Corporation for National Service.
- Elbaum, B., Vaughn, S., Hughes, M.T., & Moody, S.M. (2000). How effective are one-to-one tutoring programs in reading for elementary students at risk for reading failure? A meta-analysis of the intervention research. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92(4), 605-619.
- Fashola, O.S. (1998). Review of extended-day and after-school programs and their effectiveness. Report 24. Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk, Johns Hopkins University.
- Lauer, P.A., Akiba, M., Wilkerson, S.B., Apthorp, H.A., Snow, D., and Martin-Glenn, M. (2003). The effectiveness of out-of-school-time strategies in assisting low-achieving students in reading and mathematics.Aurora, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.
General Literacy Web Resources
- SEDL Reading Resources
- Bank Street College of Education Guide to Literacy for Volunteers & Tutors
- International Reading Association
- Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS)
- Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement
- RAND Reading Study Group
- Institute for the Development of Educational Achievement
- Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
- Reading Rockets
- The Children's Literature Web Guide
- Teaching Reading, K-2, A Library of Classroom Practices
General Literacy Text Resources
- Fountas, I. & Pinnell, G. (1996). Guided reading. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. A comprehensive resource for implementation of guided reading activities
- National Research Council. (2000). Starting out right: A guide to promoting reading success.Washington DC: National Academy Press.
- Braunger, J. & Lewis, J.P. (1997). Building a knowledge base in reading. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. This synthesis of research on how children learn how to read provides a baseline for educators and policymakers to consider in helping all children to meet higher standards.
- Novick, R. (2002). Many paths to literacy: Language learning and literacy in the primary classroom.Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. This resource provides guidance on selecting children's books, and specific strategies to build comprehension from emergent literacy to independent reading.
- Curtis, M. & Longo, A. (1990). When adolescents can't read: Methods and materials that work.Cambridge, MA, Brookline Books.
- RMC Research Corp. (2001). Put reading first: Helping your child learn to read. A parent guide. Preschool through grade 3. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy. Describes the kinds of early literacy activities that should take place at school and at home to help children learn to read successfully. Designed for parents, based on the findings of the National Reading Panel.
- Armbruster, B.B., Lehr, F., & Osborn, J. (2001). Put reading first: The research building blocks for teaching children to read, kindergarten through grade 3. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy. Summarizes what researchers have discovered about how to teach children to read successfully. It describes the findings of the National Reading Panel Report and provides analysis and discussion in five areas of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension.
- Book Discussion Groups and Literacy Circles
- Story and Literature Dramatizations
- Family Literacy Events
Related Practices
- Thinking and Talking About Works of Art (Arts)
- Learning in Virtual Spaces (Technology)
Support Materials
- Literature Review (PDF)
- Literature Review (ELL Focus) (PDF)
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5 Awesome After School Tutoring Programs
When it comes to making sure that your child is getting the core concepts that they need for critical thinking, nothing beats a tutor. A general approach can be wasteful on time, but with a proper assessment that targets areas your child specifically needs, you can really make some amazing changes in your child’s skill and their desire to learn.
Unfortunately, the internet is jam-packed with providers for this, so to help you with your choices we’ve narrowed-down a range of some of the best afterschool tutoring services.
We’ve got a little something for everyone here, whether you want something specifically focused on one subject, a provider that includes a physical location with activities such as summer camps, or simply need a little more ‘oomf’ to add to your home curriculum without a lot of gimmicks that you don’t want or need.
Without further ado, let’s take a look!
Do Online Tutoring Services Really Make a Difference?
In this day and age, homeschooling and afterschool tutoring has some truly amazing advantages that we simply didn’t have a handful of years ago. Aside from online testing, virtual classes, and activities, you can also obtain face-to-face tutorials from a real human being if that’s what you want and there are even camps and events available through some of the larger franchises.
As these online tutorial options incorporate standardized testing, they are definitely useful and relevant as a way to help get your child up to speed in the areas where they simply do not feel confident. This also allows your child to learn at their own pace, with your helpful encouragement and praise helping to motivate them, so that they get the education they need in exactly the areas where they need it.
Do they make a difference? You BET they do – but you want to choose your provider carefully with your child’s specific needs in mind. That said, let’s look at those tutoring services so that you can see what sounds the most appealing and practical for you and your child.
Mastery Genius
Math and Reading for kindergarten through 8 th grade
A relative newcomer to the online tutorial offerings market, Mastery Genius forgoes a lot of the gimmicky ‘bells and whistles’ for a polished version of the time and tested approach that boils down to:
- Customize a curriculum
- Report progress and repeat
That’s a fairly simplified assessment of what they do, so let’s look at the actual delivery system which Mastery Genius employs.
On signing up to Mastery Genius, the first interaction comes in the form of NWEA MAP testing. NWEA MAP is short for Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of academic progress and this is a standard that has been used in 49 foreign countries, 50 U.S. states, and 3100 districts.
While the MAP testing standard covers a wide variety of subjects, Mastery Genius specialized in Math and Reading tutorials, and so only the NWEA MAP standards for these will be used. The test takes about an hour, and once this is done both the parent and the child will have an accurate assessment of strong points and areas where a little more study could be used.
Mastery Genius then uses this information to customize a curriculum for your child that uses software called Pathblazer, which provides video tutorials, as well as exercises designed to get your child up to speed.
Rather than simply throwing questions at them over and over, Pathblazer is designed to initially offer hints, which are slowly reduced, and it tailors the exercises so that as your child learns new skills from the areas they are having trouble in, they will be given a chance to use them.
It’s simple, but quite effective – by tailoring the course to only cover what is needed, your child doesn’t have to spend time rehashing information that they already know by heart, and while you can run the NWEA MAP testing as often as you like, it’s recommended only to do so every 30 to 60 days.
On a practical level, it’s a time investment of at least 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week in order to get the best results and if you don’t like Pathblazer, then be sure to check with Mastery Genius about alternative options – they’re actually quite flexible and if needed, experts are even available for live one-on-one sessions with your child.
While it lacks a lot of bells and whistles of some of the more established corporate franchise offerings, Mastery Genius is one of the few options out there that simply provides you with what you NEED – a focused and customized curriculum that is development-driven and not trying to sell you a summer camp. For homeschooling parents who like to take an active role in educating their child, that’s just about a perfect fit, but if you DO want those camps then it might not be a perfect fit.
Mastery Genius is quite competitively priced, with $30 a month getting you unlimited adaptive assignments and customized curriculum, with reporting options as part of the package. Additionally, you won’t be required to sign up for a lengthy commitment – you can pay for a month or two and if that’s all your child needs, and if you want one-on-one tutorials, you’ve got the option for that. Easy-peasy and not complicated at all!
To find out more about Mastery Genius, you can visit them by clicking this link .
Math and Reading for kindergarten through 12 th grade
In 1922, a Japanese math teacher by the name od Toru Kumon discovered that his son was struggling with math, and so he developed a curriculum to help with this. Mr. Kumon did this by developing a sequence of worksheets that worked out so well, he was soon hearing from his neighbors who wanted some help for their own kids.
Fast-forward about 50 years, and the core concepts are mostly the same – a paced journey to academic excellence on stepstones made of worksheets – although these days the Kumon method also includes a curriculum for reading, as well.
While certainly an effective method, we should note that technically this is less of a tutorial program, and more of a structured curriculum. Kids that are using Kumon will be using worksheets, which amount to a series of hundreds of small assignments, and some additional shoring-up of skills will be accomplished by adding ‘speed drill’ exercises into the mix.
The speed drills may or may not be part of your child’s experience – like all programs, an initial assessment is performed to help to create a more focused curriculum – but what you definitely can expect is a LOT of work. It’s an aggressive approach, but sometimes that’s what you need.
The worksheets get more difficult in increments, but this is by design – by making each one just a little harder, it encourages better learning absorption, and concepts that are linked with come together for the child on their own. Feedback is also given from a live instructor, who will help to provide useful tips and feedback.
It is a slow process, but has been well-received, but there is a substantial time investment involved, with Kumon instructors from their Virtual classes recommending at least 6 to 12 months in the program for solid results.
Costs may vary, but on average the Kumon program will around $150 per month, with costs ranges falling being between $90 and $180. There is also a 15$ fee for starting materials, as well as a $50 registration fee, and this also allows access to local Kumon centers.
To find out more about Kumon, you can visit them by clicking this link.
Extensive, but includes K-12 Reading, Writing, Math, study skills, and more. Tutoring is also available for college test prep, STEM, and seasonal camp functions are also available
Sylvan Learning center has been around since 1979 and you’ve probably heard of them, so what do they do? Well, this corporate learning franchise has more than 750 schools located worldwide, and the idea behind it is that your child make take advantage of these schools – locally or remotely – or simply utilize their proprietary curriculum of online exercises and tasks. Camps are also offered, as well, should the online curriculum require a little bit of human interaction to be more effective.
In order to assess your child, Sylvan has their own proprietary testing method called the ‘Sylvan Assessment’ that is used to grade your child and to determine which areas they might need the most help in. From there, the actual structure of the program is going to depend on which options you have selected.
From an online-only perspective, it’s basically going to be their specially developed courses, which are by default structured around local curriculum standards of your state. Tutors are available, which rates varying upon their experience and location, and college level preparation may also be purchased if your education needs span beyond the kindergarten to 12 th grade level.
They also offer STEM courses for subjects such as robotics science and coding, if that’s a little more in lines of what you are looking for.
Sylvan is a little vague on their pricing and rather than laying it out, they request that you contact them for a accurate quote, but they do have a lot of positive feedback. That said, we do know that tutoring is available at an average of $48 dollars per hour, with a working range of $40-$120 per hour depending on the instructor, their ratings, and experience levels.
Academic coaching is available for around $290 per month, while camps and advanced classes are $299 and up. College test prep starts at around $1199, although 30 hour courses are available for up to $4500, and STEM programs such as coding or robotics will set you back about $99 per hour, on average.
To find out more about Sylvan Learning, you can visit them by clicking this link.
Math for kindergarten to 12 th grade
Since 2002, Mathnasium has been offering a focused, customized curriculum for students at kindergarten through 12 th grade levels. They have over 1000 centers throughout the Unites States, although online options are also available to provide a simulated one-on-one experience, as-needed.
So, how is this delivered? Let’s take a look!
Online offerings are basically tailored to create an in-school experience, with one-on-one feedback and encouragement to help capture and keep your child’s attention. Everything starts off with Mathnasium’s proprietary assessment method, which is basically designed to not only gauge their level of expertise, but also to see if part of the problem is skipping questions is more a matter of being daunted by mathematics in-general or the actual questions themselves.
From this testing, a curriculum is customized that may be done through physical locations or through online virtual classroom or one-on-one tutorials, depending on your needs and your budget.
Pricing for Mathnasium generally runs around $200-300 pr month and there is a one-time $19 registration fee. Usually, their base program package is tailored to include 3 visits per week but you’ll want to check the packages you are considering – rollover is not always available should the set curriculum need to be changed.
On the bright side, should your child wish to visit the center more than 3 times per week, this is included in the pricing, which offers a nice middle-ground in comparison when compared with Sylvan’s hourly model. As this course is ALL about math, this may also appeal to some parents who are particularly worried about their child’s performance in mathematics.
To find out more about Mathnasium, you can visit them by clicking this link.
Math and English/Language arts for preschool through 11 th grade
Eye Level offers an individualized approach that aims to inspire your child towards critical thinking and self-directed learning. While some of the standard ‘memorization through repetition’ is present, Eye Level is more focused on building confidence and individual learning drive, by the means of phsycial classes or through their online or homeschool geared offerings.
Physical classes are available through over 156 locations in the United States, as well as centers located in 20 countries where Eye Level has gained popularity. Starting off, an assessment is performed, with ‘assess but don’t assume’ in mind – meaning that grade level isn’t taken into account, only the child’s individual skills in the areas tested.
This allows for creating a customized curriculum that includes homework and regular testing in order to assess your child’s progress.
Pricing will vary based on what options you select, however, example ranges can include packages for $190 up to $370 per month that can cover math or language arts either separately or together. With the online options, materials are integrated into the online platform and an online instructor is assigned to your child for one-on-one academic coaching. They do have a good range of offerings, so for a more accurate price assessment it’s best to visit them directly for a quote.
To find out more about Eyelevel, you can visit them by clicking this link.
Some Closing Words on After School Tutoring Services
In today’s article we’ve reviewed 5 of the best tutoring services available and there’s actually quite a fine array of offerings. Depending on your needs, you can get by-the-hour tutorials, custom software-driven adaptive curriculums, and even shore things up with the occasional summer camp if you want something a little less online-centric.
Be sure to take advantage of the informational links that we’ve provided today if you would like to learn more about these top-notch options and don’t be afraid to ask questions – any tutoring service worth their salt is going to be more than happy to get them answered for you and the services that we’ve reviewed today are among the best available.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started taking control of your child’s education now – it’s the foundation they’ll be building on for the rest of their lives!
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Fun, creative, engaging opportunities await your child on school day mornings and afternoons. Our before- and after-school program for school-age students focuses on what your child needs and enjoys most: creative play indoors and outside, homework support, imaginative STEM activities, and a healthy snack to keep them energized.
This robust experience is designed to meet the needs of each individual child.
Wrap the School Day in Fun
Get ready for the day.
In the morning, we set your child up for success during the school day by offering a consistent morning routine with opportunities for calming activities, free play, and a whole group activity designed to encourage students to set a goal for their day ahead.
Power of Play
In the afternoon, your child can get the wiggles out after a day spent in the classroom. Free play as well as structured play-based activities are offered. Play-based learning enables children to build a sense of community in the classroom, enhance their creativity, and grow as collaboration. During outdoor and indoor play, your child will take on physical challenges and develop habits for a healthy lifestyle.
Homework Support
During afternoon sessions, we provide dedicated time for your child to receive homework support. Each school-age classroom is stocked with school supplies and educational resources to support their homework completion.
21st Century learning skills—such as being able to collaborate, think critically, express creativity, and communicate effectively—are crucial to a child’s development. STEM learning encourages development of such skills through engaging, hands-on activities around science, technology, engineering, and math.
SproutAbout
Stay in the know! As a parent or caregiver, you receive daily communications and updates about your child’s experience through our exclusive family app, SproutAbout .
Get peace of mind as you see what activities your child is participating in, engage teachers for homework support, and connect with your child about their day.
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Ask your school director about possible transportation from your elementary school.
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Guide to After-School Programs
Another mom recently asked me if I was enrolling my kids in Kumon. I’m not, but that didn’t stop me from worrying. Yes, my kids are doing fine, but couldn’t they use a boost? School standards are tougher than ever and there’s so much stress on academic success, it almost feels irresponsible not to give them every possible advantage. I’m not the only one: Parents shell out between $5 and $7 billion annually on tutoring for their kids, beginning in preschool, says Steve Pines, executive director of the Education Industry Association. “The newest phenomenon is prepping kids for kindergarten and first grade,” he notes. With so much hoopla surrounding supplemental classes, deciding whether your child needs one — and which one to sign up for — can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to make the process easier. For some kids, extra help is a no-brainer. Others will do just fine no matter what program you pick. And if your child is hitting benchmarks and getting decent grades, he probably doesn’t even need extra tutoring help. This article will help you determine the next step. First find where your child falls on the learning spectrum, then match up his needs with the right option, be it a tutoring center or a free online site. Find your kid Not all students need supplemental classes. But if one of the following descriptions hits close to home, then your little learner may benefit from an after-school program. Easily frustrated Watch for: Frequent homework drama, giving up on work without trying High anxiety and low morale can stymie classwork. Students have to believe in themselves before they tackle the work. That’s why extra practice and cheerleading can go a long way with these kinds of kids. Consider: Private tutoring with confidence-boosting high school students; tutoring centers Highly gifted Watch for: Off-the-chart performances in one or more subjects, either academic or artistic When a child is truly gifted, you want to stretch her as far and wide as she can go without leapfrogging her so far ahead of her classmates that she becomes bored at school and loses interest; otherwise, her motivation may plummet. Consider: Private tutoring; online classes Stuck in a so-so class (or school) Watch for: Huge classes, few chances for one-on-one or small-group instruction, uncharacteristic complaints from your kid Every now and then, it’s the teacher or school that isn’t up to par. If your child isn’t getting a solid foundation, tutoring can be a valuable form of damage control. Consider: Private tutoring; online classes; tutoring centers Seriously scatterbrained Watch for: Lost books, misplaced homework, lack of attention to detail A kid might know his math facts like the back of his hand, but if he spends the first 45 seconds of a one-minute quiz fishing around in his backpack for a pencil, it won’t translate into good grades. Ditto if he’s off in la-la land instead of listening to directions. Consider: Private tutoring Struggling Watch for: Poor grades in a core subject, a lack of interest in learning or school Sometimes challenges come from a learning disability (like dyslexia); other times they’re tied to a concept (like fractions). Experts recommend supplementing if kids score below the 50th percentile on their standardized tests. Consider: Private tutoring, especially if your kid doesn’t get in-school services. Choose the program Tutoring Centers ($200 to $500+ per month) Good for: Struggling, distracted, easily frustrated, and gifted students; those who are in underperforming schools; families with flexible schedules What they do: Tutoring centers like Kumon, Sylvan, and Mathnasium focus on hammering in the basics. While the details of each program’s curriculum vary, the general drill remains the same: Students take a diagnostic test, then methodically move through a standardized instruction series based on their skill levels. “It’s a cycle of assessment, instructional plan, and reassessment,” says Pines. Teaching may be individualized (more expensive), small group (less pricey), or some combo of both, and it revolves around program-specific assignments (not your kid’s homework). Why they work: Review and repetition can be effective at solidifying math facts and computing skills while boosting a kid’s confidence. Skill-based curriculums also help firm up a shaky foundation, perfect for kids in bad schools or who have trouble focusing. Plus, the individualized pacing makes it possible for advanced students to learn new concepts at a faster rate than they would in class. Not so great for: Kids with learning challenges; kids who just need a hand with specific assignments or concepts like graphing or writing book reports; large, busy families Most tutoring centers follow a standard curriculum that isn’t appropriate for kids with learning disorders — who require more targeted interventions with specially trained tutors—or those who just need some targeted help. Center hours are also fixed. So if your afternoons are spoken for by work or the multiple after-school schedules of different-aged kids, these may not be the best option. Private tutors ($30 to $100+ per hour-long session) Good for: Just about any type of challenged learner; busy families What they do: Specially trained educators are free to pull from a range of resources to create individualized learning plans based on a kid’s needs and the teacher’s expectations. They can also consult with the teacher about each week’s lesson plan in order to prep your kid. To find a good tutor, ask around the school. Or check out Wyzant.com , with its free database of prescreened tutors (criminal background checks cost extra). You’ll be able to scroll through Facebook-style profiles that include specializations, rates, and reviews from other parents. Why they work: Tutors can tailor their instruction to whatever your child needs at the moment — on your timetable. Look for tutors who have experience in working with kids the same grade level as yours — and in the same subject matter that challenges your child the most. For kids with learning disabilities, pick a tutor who was a special ed teacher or has trained in the Orton Gillingham or Wilson methods, both great for struggling readers. If your child could use a cheerleader during homework, a high-school or college student may be a great fit. Same goes for the seriously gifted child, who may thrive with a college kid helping him delve into his particular academic obsession, from astronomy to Japanese. Not so great for: The kid who’s doing well enough in class. If her teacher isn’t worried, relax! High-tech teachers (Cost: $0 to $99+ per month) Good for: Kids who could use review; gifted kids; tweens; busy and/or budget-conscious families What they do: No surprise — the fastest growing tutoring option is the online one, says Pines: It’s more convenient, less pricey, and feels less like school than tutoring centers. Digital teaching runs the gamut. There’s Kaplankids.com, which provides a mix of skill-building drills and games (complete with rewards). Starfall.com offers pre-K through second-graders free animated phonics-based reading instruction. Grade-schoolers love Khanacademy.com , another free site that teaches math via YouTube-style tutorials. Or they can log onto Tutor.com to get some real-time help with a real-live tutor in any subject. Why they work: Sites that target younger students reinforce basic math and reading concepts, which most kids could use. Plus, the games and virtual rewards keep them coming back for more. Tweens get a kick out of watching videos, which Khan does well, and gifted children will love the idea of learning about such esoteric subjects as art history. One caveat: Kids need to be inner-directed to get the most out of online help, but since it’s such a cheap and convenient way to learn, it’s definitely worth a try. Not so great for: Kids with learning disabilities (at least as the primary source of tutoring); easily distracted kids; parents who’d rather let another adult supervise after-hours learning. Digital tutoring isn’t tailored enough for kids with LDs. It also comes with limitations for other learners — from the lack of human-to-human interaction to the many temptations on the computer (hello, Minecraft!).
Plus: The Benefits of Learning Music 6 Unique Extra Curricular Activities for Kids
Credit: Photo Illustration by Andrew B. Myers
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The internet age has given us two great benefits: the ability to learn from instructors anywhere in the world and opportunities to earn a living online. You can combine both when you work as an online tutor, sharing your knowledge and exper...
School teaches students skills they need to succeed on the job and in other areas of life. School also help students achieve a well-rounded knowledge base, which leads to a more enriching life.
The importance of going to school is to gain knowledge and achieve academic success. Going to school every day plays an important role in the academic performance of a student. Attending school every day allows students to make progress tog...
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Jan 20, 2019 - Explore Colleen Crooks's board "After School Tutoring" on Pinterest. See more ideas about after school tutoring, tutor, after school.
This file comes with a letter to parents explaining the program as well as a separate sheet for them to fill out with all necessary
An after-school tutoring program is one that connects students who want or need to focus on a specific academic topic with individuals like
A Head Start agency or child care center · An Even Start program · An AmeriCorps project · An after-school program · A Senior Corps project (e.g., a Foster
While after-school tutoring can benefit students who need additional assistance with classroom curriculum or test prep, it can also be of great value for those
Connect with school-day teachers to identify tutoring needs. Try to make sure that students meet with the same tutors at the same time, day, and place from week
Aside from online testing, virtual classes, and activities, you can also obtain face-to-face tutorials from a real human being if that's what
In the afternoon, your child can get the wiggles out after a day spent in the classroom. Free play as well as structured play-based activities are offered. Play
Or they can log onto Tutor.com to get some real-time help with a real-live tutor in any subject. Why they work: Sites that target younger students reinforce
Popular topics include their dog's cousin's half-birthday, and what their neighbor scored on his math quiz last Tuesday—which we love. During break, students