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Tutoring Session Structure

Krissy Reyes
  • Updated

This article covers what a Step Up Tutoring session looks like.

 

Starting on your third session, you will follow a consistent general structure designed to maximize learning and engagement. Sessions should include: 

 

Session Stages What You Do Why You Do It

Get Prepared

Prior to Lesson
  • Check your tech and review your plan for the session.
  • Confirm schedule with the family (if needed).
 Ensuring preparedness to maximize session time and avoid disruptions. 

Check-In 

5-10 minutes
  • Welcome your student to tutoring with enthusiasm and excitement.
  • If it is the first session of the week, have a Growth Chat with your student (the first activity in the Warm Up section).
  • If it is the second session of the week, select any activity from the Warm Up section dropdown.
 Setting a fun & inviting tone, building rapport, creating space for relationship-building, and encouraging reflection. 

Math or Reading Lesson

25-30 minutes
  • Work through the digital lesson in Reading or Math using the curriculum links provided in the Main Lesson section.
  • Ask clarifying “how” and “why” questions to ensure understanding.
  • Celebrate wins and encourage the student throughout.
  • Stay neutral and normalize errors by asking students to explain their thinking.
 Focusing on mastery of key concepts, encouraging problem-solving (even if it doesn't lead to the “right answer” the first time), boosting student confidence, encouraging habits of success.

Homework Help or Optional Academic Activities

10-15 minutes
  • Ask your student if they have homework. Have them show you their homework or ask their parent to text you a picture of it. Use the Whiteboard to help. 
  • If they don’t have homework or you have extra time, explore supplemental activities and games in the Academic Activities panel. 
 Aids classroom performance and helps you understand what the student is learning in class so you can help make connections between their tutoring and classwork. Additional activities can be a fun way to foster curiosity. 

Closing

1-3 minutes
  • Recap the session using  precise praise.
  • Praise effort over outcome! 
  • Ask your student to reflect on one learning from today’s session that they want to remember for next time.
 Ending on a high-note to celebrate your students' effort and progress.

Complete Weekly Progress Update 

1-2 minutes
  • Once a week, fill out the Weekly Progress Update (on the left nav of the Tutor Portal) to share a brief update on what you are doing in tutoring and celebrating an accomplishment.
  • The content of this form is automatically texted to your student’s parent! 
 Giving your student’s parent regular updates helps them to reinforce the learning and confidence-building at home and drives ongoing engagement in tutoring. 

All sessions must be at least 45 minutes. If you or a student need to cancel a session, sessions should be made up on a different day during the week or the weekend.

 

Session Structure .jpg

 

Related Articles

1. Step Up Curriculum

2. Tutoring Students

 

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