Tutors on Wheels has earned a strong reputation for the finest one-on-one tutoring out there. Some of the reasons why our one-on-one tutoring approach is so effective is due to the methodology. The components of our approach include the diagnostic process, working with the pace of the student, behavior management, and questioning.

The Diagnostic Process

Prior to starting any tutoring, the tutor must identify the academic standing of the student they are working with. A diagnostic assessment is the tool we train our teachers from where to base this assessment. Our assessment is aligned to the common core goals, and uses the standardized system as our foundation. In addition to testing and assignment evaluation, the tutors base the assessment from soft skill interactions as well. This involves discussions with and observations of the student. The diagnostic is included in the tutoring package and is typically the motive of the first session.

Work with the pace of the student

Classroom teachers don’t have the time nor means to focus on the individual student’s struggles. Even if they attempt to make an effort, their focus is on the class as a whole – notwithstanding that classroom teachers have multiple classes to focus on as a whole. Moreover, when teachers identify serious issues with a student’s comprehension and mastery of former lessons, they always recommend one-on-one help. Our tutoring model provides the framework for students to catch up on former lessons in order to master the skills they need to be successful in their current grade level. Our tutors will track key skills and periodically assess the student in those skills. The reinforcement of those skills allows students to develop success at their own pace.

Behavior Management

One-on-one tutoring involves more than just academic goals; behavior management is key for academic success. Our tutors provide help with study skills, classroom behavior, notetaking, and critical thinking. A student is not a successful learner through rote memorization of materials but with comprehension and understanding. Classroom teachers focus behavior management for an orderly classroom but not necessarily for optimal learning. Our tutors work with students to individually develop positive habits for more efficient learning; “a little bit every day can go a long way.”

Questioning

When in groups, many students are self-conscious of themselves and what their peers think. Therefore they avoid asking questions. With tutoring, students are forced to engage with tutors in discussion about the content they are learning. This forced engagements pushes students to reiterate the lesson content and engage in discussions with the tutor. Periodic retelling develops self-reinforcement thus preparing the student for self-learning. In addition, verbal expression of content correlates to comprehension of content. Our tutor’s goal is to develop active learning in students through questioning students on the lesson content much like a Socratic Educational Method. This method enforces learning through answering generalized questions, where the tutor would ask follow up questions and narrow down the main points. Essentially, the student is guided to answer the specific question by first thinking through a generalized approach.