Summer Tutoring: A Path to Academic Success for Alberta Students
As the school year comes to a close, many parents start to think about how to structure their child’s summer. Should I let my child rest? Should I sign them up for camps? How can I help them prepare for academic success in the school year ahead?
In this article, I will explore the benefits of summer tutoring, when to look for a tutor over the summer, and address common questions I receive about tutoring.
What are the Benefits of Summer Tutoring?
As a tutor who specializes in assisting high school students, I know that the pacing of high school courses can be challenging. Many students are expected to recall key concepts from the year before with little to no review. For example, a grade eleven student may be asked to write a critical essay without a full review of how to structure it. In these moments, knowledge gaps that emerged over the summer can cause undue stress.
With rising class sizes, it can be difficult to get answers to questions or extra support when needed. Summer tutoring sessions can help students retain essential skills to ensure that their transition back to school is as smooth as possible.
Students who struggled with English during the previous school year often face the most obstacles when they return to class. Concepts that were challenging in earlier grades typically become even more demanding over time. That's where summer tutoring can make a difference.
Summer tutoring helps:
Build confidence in writing skills
Reduce stress when students return to school
Address areas that students have struggled with in the past
Prepare students for standardized tests like PATs and Diplomas
How Are Summer Tutoring Sessions Structured?
During the summer, students are free from the pressure of regular coursework. This gives them the opportunity to focus on areas for growth in a low-stress environment. During my tutoring sessions, I prioritize giving students the practice they need. This looks like:
Learning step-by-step approaches to planning essays
Receiving detailed, personalized feedback
Practicing writing PRTs and CRTs with Alberta curriculum-aligned prompts
Building confidence in their writing skills
Learning essential reading comprehension strategies
Learning to annotate and analyze short stories and poems
When helping students with writing, my sessions begin with reading a text. This could be a short story or, if the student is in grade eleven or twelve, it could be sources from a released diploma. Once we have analyzed the source together, the student is asked to write on a prompt.
When I begin working with a student, I am very hands-on. I believe it is important to walk each student through the writing process from start to finish. This ensures that they have a solid understanding of key aspects of writing, including planning, writing a thesis statement, and structuring their essays.
As students progress, I offer them more independence with their writing and transition to a feedback-loop approach. Typically, this involves going through the text together, then allowing the students to write independently. I give them the chance to write in ten-minute stints. After each ten-minute period, we come together and discuss what is going well with their writing and what they can improve.
Rather than editing everything for a student, my approach is to ask guiding questions and, when needed, to offer examples of what an edit might look like. After an example is offered, I take it off the page and ask the student to proceed in their own way. My approach teaches students to think critically and prepares them for independent writing in class.
Continuity, practice, and support are the keys to academic growth. I prioritize all these aspects of learning in my tutoring services.
To learn more about my approach to tutoring and my background, click here.
How Much Do Summer Tutoring Sessions Cost in Calgary, Alberta?
Tutoring costs vary but, on average, the cost of summer tutoring is between $50-$80 per hour. For more insight on the average cost of a tutor in Calgary, Alberta, check out my blog post here. The cost of tutoring varies depending on whether you work with an agency or an independent tutor. Additionally, the amount of education and experience a tutor has often factors into their hourly rate.
The Cost of My Summer Tutoring Sessions
In order to address the needs of each student and their family budget, I offer a tiered pricing system:
Core Tier — $48/hour
Perfect for students who want one-on-one support during scheduled tutoring sessions. This includes help with essay writing, reading comprehension, and grammar.
Plus Tier — $56.50/hour
Designed for students who would benefit from in-session support plus feedback on one assignment per week outside of tutoring sessions. In these cases, I typically ask a student to finish an essay we started in class or to make significant progress on their piece (for example, writing two to three paragraphs).
Premium Tier — $65/hour
Ideal for students who benefit from extensive feedback and are aiming to significantly improve their mark in the fall. This tier offers two rounds of feedback per week. This means that a student can work on their assignment, submit it for feedback, make revisions, and submit their work for feedback again before our next session.
How Many Summer Tutoring Sessions Will My Child Need Per Week?
The answer to this question depends on a few different factors.
I recommend one session per week if:
Your child is already relatively strong in English
They have one area they would like to improve upon (for example, writing CRTs)
Their goal is to either maintain their current mark in English or improve it by five to ten percent
I recommend two sessions per week if:
Your child has struggled with English in the previous year
They have multiple areas that they would like to address
Their goal is to improve their mark substantially in the year to come
When Can I Register For Summer Tutoring?
My registration opens up at the beginning of June. If you would like information about summer tutoring sessions and the opportunity to register early, please sign up for my email list by scrolling to the bottom of this page. You can also reach out to me directly with any questions by filling out my contact form, which can be found here.
If you would like to start tutoring right away, you can book a free meet and greet by clicking below. During this meet and greet, we can discuss your child's academic goals, review my approach to tutoring, and address any questions you have!
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