RPtS Tutor Training Program

There are multiple opportunities to participate in the RPtS grant over the next 4 years. In partnership with Thinkist, Penn GSE is offering tutor training courses for high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12. These trained students concurrently provide tutoring to peers (learners) in grades 6 through 12. Students can participate in the tutor training program as tutors or receive tutoring from others.

This grant predominately supports students in rural Pennsylvania schools. Rural schools are identified by the following locale codes: Rural: Fringe (41), Rural: Distant (42), Rural: Remote (43), Town: Distant (32), Town: Remote (33).  

No! The cost of this program is covered under the Rural Pathways to Success Grant (RPtS) funded through the U.S. Department of Education, therefore participation in this program is FREE for both tutors and tutees (learners).

Courses are offered during the summer, in the evenings, and on weekends to support student's busy schedules. When registering, select a time that works best for you!

The tutor training program consists of 2 courses: PLN 1000: Introduction to Tutor Training and PLN 1001: Advanced Issues in Tutor Training. After successful completion of each course a student earns 4 undergraduate credits from the University of Pennsylvania, totaling 8 credits for successful program completion. After successfully completing this program, participants earn a certificate in tutoring. 

Students may count program hours toward community service requirements.

There are many ways this program can benefit students:

• Supercharge college and university applications

• Earn valuable community service hours

• Ability to earn significant income as a professional tutor in the future

• A transformational leadership development experience

Students must be enrolled in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.  Students must be earning a B or higher in an honors or advanced level math course or an A in a general math course. The student must also have access to a computer with speakers/microphone/camera and a reliable high-speed internet connection.

Participants will learn to develop effective tutoring practices and apply tutoring strategies to one-on-one and small group settings. The training fosters personal growth and leadership while deepening understanding of yourself as a teacher and learner through reflective tutoring practices.

There are many ways this program can benefit students:

• Students can reflect on their tutoring experience in college application essays.

• Students can create a tutoring business in the community.

• Both tutors and tutees (learners) deepen their knowledge of personal strengths and challenges, and enhance their problem-solving skills.

To register for the tutor training program, apply using the following link: https://www.thinkist.com/penn-peer-tutor/. 

If you are in your first semester of the program you will register for PLN 1000: Introduction to Tutor Training and if you are in your second semeter you will register for PLN 1001: Advanced Issues in Tutor Training. 

You will be notified within 7 business days.

Tutors are required to attend a 15-week virtual course for 1.5 hours a week. In addition to the class time, the registered students are required to tutor 1 student for 1 - 1.5 hours a week. To successfully complete the tutoring program and earn a certificate, tutors are required to complete 2 courses: PLN 1000: Introduction to Tutoring Training and PLN 1001: Advanced Issues in Tutor Training.  

Grades, Official transcript, & Unofficial transcript are posted in your Pennant account. Sign in using your Pennkey and password using the links below:

• Unofficial Transcripts: https://path.at.upenn.edu/student/unofficialTranscript

• Official Transcripts: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/transcripts 

Students will need their PennKey username. This credenital is emailed to you by the University of Pennsylvania between class session 2 and 4.

Use the follow link to register for tutoring: https://www.learnspeed.com/gd/ctrac/apply/penn-fall-2024-tutee

Tutees (Learners) are asked to commit to attending weekly tutoring sessions during a series of 12 weeks: October-January and/or February-June. Learners can register for either session. After honoring this commitment, learners will receive an emailed certificate acknowledging participation from Thinkist.

When tutors and tutees (learners) register, they are prompted to provide their availability for tutoring (days and times). Tutors and tutees (learners) are matched based on their availability through the Thinkist platform. 

Texts and emails are sent to parents and students as reminders for the scheduled tutoring session.

If learners or tutors must to miss or cancel a scheduled tutoring session, PLN/Thinkist admin will support the rescheduling of the session(s). 

Missing multiple tutoring sessions can lead to an incomplete in the course for tutors.

Missing multiple tutoring sessions can lead to a discontinuation of tutoring services for tutees (learners).

After each tutoring session, students and parents/guardians are sent a session log. Schools/teachers can request to receive copies of weekly session logs. A sample session log is provided below:

This is a session log for John Smith:

Session Date: 09/22/24 10:15 am PDT
Length: 1 Hours
Session Type: Peer Tutoring 
Subject: Math
Attendance: Present
Instructor: Jones Jane

Student Note:
Hello John, I hope you’re having a great day!

We worked on reviewing and touching base on continuous and discrete graphing, arithmetic and geometric sequences, scientific notation, defining integers, squares, and cubes.

I helped by generating practice problems and explained some concepts that might have been forgotten and explained certain terms that might have been confusing.

Your goal is to continue learning about discrete and continuous graphs and telling the difference between them. This will help prepare you for the coming test.

Thank you for showing up and participating, I appreciate it greatly! Thank you for having your camera on as well 😊

Tutoring sessions are conducted and recorded on a secure platform, and reviewed by the instructor or mentor. A site administrator is scheduled during tutoring sessions to provide support, as needed. 

During tutoring sessions a Code of Conduct is openly displayed allowing tutors and tutees to understand the standards and expectations for tutoring sessions. The Code of Conduct is as follows:

Tutors and Tutees should:

• be kind to themselves and each other

• celebrate not knowing....yet

• not share personal contact information

• have cameras on with full view of each other's face

• watch and discuss the Session Starter Videos together at the start of each tutoring session and

If the tutee needs additional assistance following these suggestions, the tutor will contact an administrator for help. If necessary, the tutor may turn off their camera and sound until the administrator arrives.

To report an incident that occurred during the session, click here.