After-School Tutoring Realities

In-school tutoring programs have great stories of success. There are students who just did not understand the lesson for the day.  They come after school and they understand how to do it now. Most students benefit, but when a student is already struggling, not everyone can get the help they need after school.

We believe in our schools. Our teachers and administrators are doing the best they can with ever-tightening budgets and ever expanding rosters. Schools are currently under-staffed, under-budgeted, filled to the limit, and there is a teacher trying to get 30 students to learn a lesson. Our teachers work all day long - they grade papers, complete lesson plans, and prepare the next classes - (heroes that take care of our kids) but then, they stay extra, at the end the day - and help students who need extra help. In most cases, the teacher will not make individual programs for the students after school.  While many students get the help they need, success is not going to happen for everyone that stays after-school.

Sometimes, teachers work individually with students, usually if the student comes to the teacher with a specific question. Many times the teacher will do the homework on the board, and students can ask questions and finish their homework. Sometimes the after-school program is like a study hall. The teacher works on grading papers, while the students do their homework. Students can ask questions, but some students are shy or not comfortable interrupting a teacher, even though the teacher is there to help.

The best way to know if staying after-school is helping a student is if the student starts doing better, not just finishing the homework. If a student is doing better, you can tell, especially on tests and writing samples. If their test scores, from the subjects in school improve, the student is doing better and learning more.. If the grades improve because of completed homework, but the test scores do not improve, then the after school help is not working