Why are schools adopting programs for tutoring?

However, not all tutoring programs are created equal. To implement and scale an effective, sustainable tutoring program for literacy, school leaders should keep these best practices in mind:

1. Engage in high-dosage tutoring

Brown University’s Annenberg Institute of School Reform reported high-dosage tutoring (tutoring sessions that take place three or more times per week) in reading was "15 times more effective than low-dosage tutoring."

Researchers also found the most effective sessions last 30 to 60 minutes. However, the report noted elementary students might benefit from shorter but more frequent sessions, such as 20-minute sessions occurring five times a week.

2. Assign no more than three students to one consistent tutor

The institute also reported tutoring programs were most effective when tutors worked with students one-to-one or with very small groups. Researchers reported assigning a tutor to more than three or four students caused the instruction to become less personalized and more difficult to execute effectively. In addition, consistently assigning the same tutor to a group of students enabled that tutor to develop a deeper understanding of those students’ strengths and needs.

3. Embed tutoring sessions within the school day

Although the default approach to tutoring is after school, research confirms that tutoring works best when incorporated into the regular school day. According to an article in Education Week, researchers found students who had failed a course were much less likely to voluntarily access available tutoring than their more successful peers.

Students who have been historically marginalized or find themselves furthest from opportunity are the least likely to seek outside-of-school options. There are many possible causes for this cited in the study, and students ultimately need to build their confidence through day-to-day successes embedded in the tutoring experience. This is how we better engage the students who need us the most.

These findings indicate direct action and supervision by schools is required to ensure the students who are most in need of tutoring receive that support.

4.  Include science of reading literacy tools

Students, especially those reading below grade level or dealing with challenges such as dyslexia, require explicit, systematic instruction to acquire the necessary skills for decoding language and comprehending texts. Digital tools aligned with the science of reading and national and state standards help tutors by delivering data that enables tutors to diagnose learners’ needs in real time.

Programs that are most likely to succeed align the data to evidence-based instruction, in the form of lessons or activities. Students and tutors benefit when the data drives instruction, and instruction is provided to the instructor.

That ready access to information enables reading tutors to better use evidence-based pedagogical strategies specifically addressing each student’s need

5. Support instruction with digital connectivity

For tutors to be able to rely on digital tools for real-time analysis, schools need to provide a robust technology infrastructure. In addition, digital connectivity expands the number of research-proven strategies that literacy programs can incorporate, allowing more options for student success. Also, instead of tutors having to take the time to search for or prepare appropriate materials, online resources can provide students with ready access to scaffolded support or guided practice as soon as the need arises.

The application and value of technology

Technology tools can support not only differentiated instruction but also culturally responsive teaching. Digital tools have the capacity to easily incorporate materials that reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds existing within today’s classrooms. When a reading tutor includes culturally relevant material from those digital resources, they are taking an asset-based approach to their students’ experiences.

An additional benefit of digital resources is they facilitate active learning, enabling students to shift from being passive knowledge consumers to engaged knowledge creators. If those resources are able to monitor students’ levels of ability on an ongoing basis, tutors can use the digital tools to accurately target students’ “Zone of Proximal Development.” That way, students remain in the “sweet spot” between work that is too easy to keep their interest and tasks that are so difficult they lose heart.

A solid network infrastructure enables tutors (and teachers) to leverage all of the advantages above. Educators will have to answer a number of questions about topics such as:

• Bandwidth requirements
• Cybersecurity
• Storage and access for digital content
• Whether mobile devices will be provided
• Digital equity issues (including the need for hotspots outside school buildings for students who do not have internet access)

To learn more about how effective literacy tutoring programs require digital equity to be successful, download the free white paper, “Beyond Access Expanding Digital Equity.”

The adaptive blended learning model

An example of a strategy requiring connectivity is adaptive blended learning (ABL), which combines face-to-face instruction and independent online student practice. Research has found this combination to be more effective than either in-person instruction or online learning alone.

The ABL model enhances blended learning by including a digital curriculum that adapts to each student’s strengths and areas for improvement. The adaptive technology engages and motivates students because it aids differentiated instruction, ensuring students at or above grade level can continue progress while students who need extra time with specific skills are able to learn at their own pace. When those ABL learning tools are aligned with the science of reading and provide actionable data, they can boost a reading tutor’s efforts. By maximizing students’ time on task, these tools enable the teacher to offer targeted instruction to individuals or small groups

By incorporating these best practices in literacy tutoring programs, schools will be able to ensure every student receives the instruction needed to accelerate their learning gains. In addition, when students form positive relationships with tutors at school, those students are more likely to feel a greater sense of belonging within the school community, which bolsters their overall engagement.