FAQ

📅 Session Logistics

1. How often are sessions held?
   Typically one or two sessions per week, but individual schedules are taken into consideration.
   
   

2. Where are sessions held?
   Tutors frequently opt for local public spaces, like coffee shops and "libraries" as possible options.

   • Do tutors come to the home? Yes, if all parties are comfortable.

   • Are sessions online, in-person, or both? This depends on what works best for the individual client/tutor.

   • Who chooses the location? The client and tutor agree to a location before sessions begin.
     
     

3. What happens during a session?
   A “typical” session looks like the tutor asking some guiding questions to figure out the present level of each student. Using English Language Arts as an example - There are a myriad of informal assessments conducts for vocabulary, grammar, writing, reading, comprehension, pronunciation, etc. Each session may look different depending on the unique needs of the student.

   • Do you follow a specific curriculum? Not specifically. Individual curricula is followed only at the request of the client, if the tutor agrees to follow and work with materials provided to the tutor.

   • Will the student work mostly on school materials or tutor-created content? This will depend on the unique needs of the student, and agreed upon by the tutor and client together.
     
     

4. Can siblings or small groups share a session?
   Two or more students may share a session, but there is still a cost-per-student involved. This is a popular way for families or groups of friends to have their students tutor together for a discounted rate, especially when students are covering the same subjects. Ask your tutor for more details of how this looks for your selected package.

💰 Payment and Refunds

5. Is there a trial session or consultation before paying for a full package?
   This is decided by the tutor and client together. We encourage families to meet the tutor and have a conversation about expectations before prepaying for sessions.
   
   

6. What happens if we are not satisfied after the first session?
   The number of tutoring sessions needed to see progress varies depending on unique student needs and learning styles, but generally, two to three sessions per week are recommended for noticeable improvement.

   • We encourage all clients to complete the full number of sessions included in their package. Please note that if a client chooses to discontinue services before all sessions are used, no refunds will be provided.

   • Some students may see progress with just one session per week, especially if they are catching up on material or working on less complex subjects.

   • While the tutor will provide high-quality instruction and regular assessments to track growth, outcomes depend on the student’s effort, attendance, and outside practice. 

   • No specific academic results are guaranteed.
     
     

7. What payment methods do you accept?

   • In General: Cash or Check

   • Canada only: eTransfer

   • USA only: PayPal or Venmo
     
     

8. Can I split payments across two dates or pay in installments?
   There are different packages available to accomodate different payment situations. The more sessions booked in advance, the greater the discount - this is the advantage in booking more sessions upfront. 

Ask your tutor for more details of how this looks for your selected package. Per the contract you will receive: "Payment is due prior to the start of sessions unless otherwise agreed upon in writing."

📚 Curriculum & Progress

9. How are “on-grade level” and “literacy improvement” measured?
   These metrics are specifically measured with our trusted assessment platform. Both grade level and literacy are measured through a diagnostic assessment and then average improvement from there on. These assessments are all documented and can be provided as a report to provide to your student's teacher, case worker, or another interested party.

   • In the case of grammar, specific categories are measured individually and calculated on a percent scale.

   • For student writing, a cumulative portfolio is created and managed by the tutor.

   • Math lessons are all logged digitally, and only require a client/student Gmail to set up.

   • Clients may ask tutors for a PDF copy of any of these reports, at any time. 

10. Do you assign homework or follow up activities?
    Our teaching & tutoring philosophy is to leave home time for families and their children to enjoy as they please. The only activities we may assign would be at the discretion of an individual client's wishes.

    • This will depend on the unique needs of the student, and agreed upon by the tutor and client together.

11. Will you communicate with the student's school teacher(s)?
    This is a unique conversation for every client to discuss with their tutor, if they feel they need extra support communicating with their student's teacher(s), or wish to establish a wider collaborative "learning team".

    • Discuss with your tutor in advance, if they agree to collaborating with a teacher outside of their session hours, they may charge a seperate fee for a set number of hours/check-ins with the student's teacher.

⏳ Contract & Scheduling Flexibility

12. Can we pause sessions for vacation or illness and resume later?
    All sessions should be planned around any known vacations, events, or absences. Tutors and clients are expected to work collaboratively to schedule all sessions for days/times that work best for all parties.

    • In the event of student illness, refer to the "Rescheduling & Tardiness" section of the contract you will receive, in which we stipulate: "Each student may reschedule once per month without penalty."

    • This is intended to cover last-minute emergencies and unexpected illness right before a session, normal rescheduling terms still apply.

13. Can we extend the sessions beyond 30 days if something comes up?
    All packages are designed to be completed within 30 days to help tutors plan their schedules and maintain consistency for the student. Regular sessions support accountability and help students retain what they’re learning. If an emergency arises, we encourage families to reach out as early as possible to discuss options.

14. What if the student needs more sessions than a package dictates?
    Clients are welcome to book sessions at whatever frequency works best for them. We offer flexible package options, ranging from a single session (low commitment) to 8-session bundles (ideal for consistent scheduling). You can always purchase additional sessions as needed.

🔐 Other Considerations

16. Are sessions recorded (for online tutoring)?
    No sessions are recorded at this time.