Use Socratic Questioning

Rather than asking students “yes” or “no” questions, tutoring with the Socratic method uses open-ended questioning that encourages students to think independently, ask questions themselves, and discover answers on their own. In the long term, students learn how to deconstruct problems and come up with solutions on their own.

The Key Elements of High-Quality Tutoring

At Least 2-3 Tutoring Sessions Per Week

The most successful tutoring takes place frequently, and a tutoring schedule with two or more sessions per week is ideal. One tutoring session can last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. The more tutoring sessions a student has per week, the more successful they’re likely to be.

Smaller Groups Are More Impactful

One-on-one tutoring is more personalized (and hence, more effective), especially for students in pre-K and first grade. For grades 2–5, tutoring at a ratio of up to 1:4 can still be effective. When the ratio exceeds 1:4, tutoring efforts become less focused and customized.

Diversity is Encouraged Along With Training

A variety of tutors – including college students, AmeriCorps fellows, peers, parents, and retired teachers – can improve student outcomes. However, paid and trained tutors have been proven to be more effective. Tutors should get initial and continuous training and coaching, as well as clearly defined lines of accountability.

Relationship-Building is Key

Tutors should have social-emotional training to know how to connect with their students and properly handle their social and emotional needs. Building a meaningful relationship with their tutor has been shown to improve a student’s engagement and motivation, and effective strategies include: consistently working with the same tutor over time, incorporating relationship-building into a tutoring session, and matching students and tutors with similar demographics.

Reinforce What Students Learn in School

The most effective tutoring programs are those that take place during the school day. Tutoring is most effective when linked with the academic schedules of teachers, parents, and students. Learning gains and student attendance are higher when tutoring occurs during or soon after school hours.

The Most Effective Tutoring is Data-Driven

Tutoring programs that incorporate data and regular assessments are more effective because they allow tutors to tailor their lessons to a student’s specific needs. Overall tutoring procedures can be improved by making data-driven improvements.