Purpose: This checklist supports tutors and coaches to reflect on session facilitation. Facilitation is what keeps a student engaged and on-task throughout a tutoring session. Effective facilitation requires thorough planning: not just around what concepts and skills to work on, but also around the routines, directions, and logistics of the tutoring session itself. Time the tutor spends thinking these things through ahead of time maximizes the time the student spends actually learning during the session, rather than getting situated or resolving confusions.
| Pre-Session |
| Key Actions | Details |
| Preparation | - Set clear session goals (based on data from teacher, parent, or student).
- Outline main talking points and plans for addressing misconceptions.
- Ensure all necessary materials (examples, worksheets, templates, digital resources) are ready.
- If virtual, ensure materials are open in the tutor's browser.
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During Session Facilitation
Tutor Sets and Maintains High Expectations |
| Key Actions | Details |
| Activity Directions | - Give simple, concise, step-by-step directions.
- Break down directions into manageable chunks (3-4 steps).
- Use visual aids (whiteboard, worksheet, screen-share) alongside verbal instructions.
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| Behavioral Expectations | - Clearly state expectations.
- Appropriately set and enforce expectations to foster productive struggle.
- Provide examples (e.g., "For the next 10 minutes, we'll work through these problems...").
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| Academic Expectations | - Share learning objectives and rationale with the student.
- Provide regular progress updates.
- Support the student during productive struggle (minimally invasive).
- Cultivate a growth mindset through praise and connection to growth.
- Use precise academic language.
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| Language Use | - Discuss conceptual and procedural ideas using specific academic language.
- Limit talking points to essential ideas.
- Explicitly model procedural steps, emphasizing critical thinking and questioning.
- Reinforce high expectations for student responses and engagement with the content.
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| Open-Ended Questions | - Use open-ended questions to assess student understanding and promote critical thinking.
- Actively listen for misconceptions and understanding.
- Examples of open-ended questions: "What was your thinking?", "What was challenging?", "Why is that?".
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| Addressing Misconceptions | - Proactively address common misconceptions (based on student data).
- Help the student understand and correct unexpected or uncommon misconceptions.
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