Amidst growing concerns about the persistent lack of learning loss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a noteworthy success pattern emerging: live tutoring with state-certified teachers. While headlines lament the challenges [1], personalized instruction, immediate feedback, and social engagement, all via certified teachers, offer a pathway to academic recovery. Moreover, stringent background checks ensure the safety and well-being of students, further underscoring the importance of this approach.
Personalized Instruction
One of the defining features of live tutoring with certified teachers is its capacity for personalized instruction. Dr. John Hattie, education researcher and author, notes: “Effective teaching is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; it requires an understanding of each student’s unique learning needs.” [2] Certified teachers are adept at assessing these needs and tailoring their instruction accordingly. Through real-time interaction, they can identify and address areas of weakness, providing targeted support that is essential for combating learning loss.
Immediate Feedback
In the words of renowned psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, “Feedback is essential for learning. It tells us where we are and what we need to do to improve.” [3] Live tutoring facilitates this feedback loop, offering students timely insights into their progress and understanding. By correcting misconceptions as they arise, tutors who are certified teachers can prevent the accumulation of gaps in knowledge that often characterize learning loss. This immediate feedback fosters a culture of continuous improvement, empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey.
Social Interaction and Engagement
Beyond its instructional benefits, live tutoring fosters social interaction and engagement— crucial components of effective learning environments. Research by Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, education policy expert, underscores the importance of social relationships in education, stating, “Learning is a social process that thrives on collaboration and interaction.” [4] Certified teachers cultivate a supportive tutoring environment where students not only feel empowered to ask questions, seek clarification, and participate actively in their learning but they can also experience an authentic connection with their tutor. According to the American Psychological Association, “Improving students’ relationships with teachers has important, positive and long-lasting implications for both students’ academic and social development.”[5]
Accountability
Live tutoring also instills a sense of accountability in students, encouraging greater diligence and commitment to their studies. Education advocate Michelle Rhee observes, “Accountability is not just about holding students to high standards; it’s also about providing them with the support they need to meet those standards.” [6] By engaging with certified teachers in real-time, students are motivated to stay on track and fulfill their academic responsibilities.
Pedagogical Expertise
Central to the efficacy of live tutoring is the pedagogical expertise of certified teachers. Drawing on research-based instructional strategies, these educators possess the knowledge and skills to facilitate meaningful learning experiences. Educational researcher Dr. Robert Marzano emphasizes the importance of evidence-based teaching practices: “Effective instruction is grounded in research and guided by best practices.” [7] Live tutoring with certified teachers ensures that students receive instruction that is not only content-rich but also pedagogically sound.
Moreover, certified teachers are adept at differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners. In a classroom or tutoring setting, students come with varying abilities and interests. Differentiation involves tailoring instruction to accommodate these differences, ensuring that all students have access to appropriate learning experiences. This might include modifying the content, process, or product of instruction to suit individual students’ needs [8]. For example, a certified teacher might provide additional support to a struggling student, offer enrichment activities to a high-achieving student, or adjust the pace of instruction to match students’ readiness levels.
The ability to differentiate instruction is a hallmark of effective teaching, yet it requires a deep understanding of both content and pedagogy. Non-certified teachers may lack the training and expertise necessary to effectively differentiate instruction. Without the foundational knowledge of educational theory and instructional methods, they may struggle to identify and address the diverse needs of learners. As a result, students may not receive the targeted support they need to succeed, potentially exacerbating learning gaps and disparities.
Rigorous Background Checks and Training
In addition to content and pedagogical expertise, the importance of rigorous background checks for tutors cannot be overstated. As education scholar Dr. Diane Ravitch asserts, “The safety and well-being of students should always be paramount in education.” [9] By vetting teachers through comprehensive background checks and providing ongoing training, educational institutions uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safeguard the welfare of students.
Conclusion
In navigating the complex landscape of learning loss, live tutoring with state-certified teachers stands as a beacon of educational resilience. With its foundation built on personalized instruction, immediate feedback, social interaction, accountability, and pedagogical expertise, certified teachers pave the way for academic recovery and success. Prior to engaging with any tutoring vendor, schools and districts should elevate these attributes as non-negotiable standards. By rigorously evaluating potential partners based on these criteria, schools and districts can ensure that their investments are directed towards interventions that effectively address learning loss and propel student achievement forward. In prioritizing the use of qualified educators as tutors, we fortify the educational landscape, providing every student with the necessary support to thrive in an ever-evolving world.