By Savannah Warren ·
How to Get the Most from Tutoring Sessions
Get more from tutoring: set clear goals, share schoolwork with the tutor, keep a steady schedule, practice between sessions and check progress every few weeks.
To get the most from tutoring, give the tutor a clear goal and recent schoolwork before the first session, keep sessions on a steady weekly schedule, and have your child do a few minutes of practice between sessions. Then check in with the tutor every few weeks so you can adjust.
Tutoring works best as a partnership between you, your child and the tutor, not as an hour you hand off. Name one or two specific goals, share recent schoolwork, pick a time when your child is fresh, and add short, regular practice between sessions. Keep the classroom teacher in the loop and review progress every four to six weeks.
Before tutoring starts
A good tutor can do a lot in a short time, but what happens around the session matters just as much as the session itself.
- Name one or two goals. Be specific: "read grade-level chapter books on her own," "understand fractions well enough to keep up in class," or "feel ready for the end-of-year test."
- Share the evidence. Send recent tests, homework, report card comments or notes from the teacher. This saves the tutor weeks of guessing.
- Tell the tutor about your child. Mention what motivates them, what frustrates them, how long they can focus, and any learning differences or accommodations they use at school.
- Agree on how you will hear about progress. A short message after each session or a check-in every few weeks keeps everyone on the same page.
Setting up each session for success
- Pick a good time. Avoid slots right after a long school day or late in the evening when your child is tired. Many kids do best after a snack and a short break.
- Prepare the space. For online sessions, use a quiet spot with a charged device, a working camera and microphone, and paper and pencil within reach.
- Bring questions. Encourage your child to write down one thing that confused them in class that week.
- Step back. Stay nearby for younger children, but let your child do the talking. Kids open up more when a parent is not watching every answer.
Session length by age
| Age | Typical session | Practice between sessions |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 7 | 20 to 30 minutes | 5 to 10 minutes a few days a week, often as a game |
| 8 to 10 | 30 to 45 minutes | 10 to 15 minutes a few days a week |
| 11 to 13 | 45 to 60 minutes | 15 to 20 minutes, tied to schoolwork |
| 14 and up | 45 to 60 minutes | Practice problems or reading set by the tutor |
These are starting points. A tutor who knows your child may suggest something different.
Between sessions: making learning stick
Short, regular practice beats one long cram. Ask the tutor for a small task each week and fit it into your routine, for example right after dinner. The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests simple everyday habits that reinforce learning, like asking your child to explain what they learned and finding reading and math in daily life, such as cooking from a recipe or using a family calendar. Their article How to Reinforce Your Child's Learning has more ideas.
- Ask your child to "teach" you one thing from the session.
- Praise effort and strategies, like "you checked your work," not only right answers.
- Keep a simple log of what was covered, so you can spot patterns.
- Connect tutoring to class. If the tutor works on fractions this week, point out fractions when you see them in schoolwork or at the store.
Keep the teacher in the loop
Your child's classroom teacher and tutor are working toward the same goal. Let the teacher know your child is getting extra help and ask what topics are coming up next.
Passing upcoming topics to the tutor lets them preview new material, so your child walks into class already a step ahead. Share any feedback from the teacher with the tutor too, so the plan stays matched to what is happening at school.
What to watch for
Check progress every four to six weeks. Good signs include fewer homework struggles, better quiz scores and your child saying they understand things in class. Warning signs include:
- The tutor is doing the work. If sessions are mostly finishing homework with the tutor giving answers, ask for a change in approach.
- No clear plan. A tutor should be able to tell you what they are working on and why.
- Growing dread. Some reluctance is normal, but real anxiety before every session means something needs to change, whether the time, the pace or the tutor.
- Too much screen time. If online tutoring adds to a long day of screens, balance it with time outside and offline play.
- Safety. Keep online sessions on a platform you control and where messages stay visible. On Undoschool, for example, sessions are live on Zoom and recorded for safety.
Not sure tutoring is the right fit yet? See how to tell if your child needs a tutor.
Frequently asked questions
Should I sit in on tutoring sessions?
For young children, sitting nearby for the first few sessions helps. As your child gets comfortable, step back and let them build a working relationship with the tutor. Ask for a quick summary instead.
How long before we see results?
Many families notice more confidence within a few weeks. Closing a real skill gap often takes a couple of months of steady weekly sessions. Review progress together and adjust the goal as needed.
When should tutoring end?
When your child reaches the goal you set and can keep up on their own. Some families taper to every other week before stopping, which helps confirm the progress holds.
How much practice should my child do between sessions?
A little, often. Depending on age, that might be 5 to 20 minutes a few days a week, or whatever short task the tutor sets.
Find a tutor who fits your child's goal
Live online 1-on-1 tutoring gives your child focused time with a teacher on the exact skill they're working on, on a schedule that fits your week.