Successful Early Literacy Tutoring Programs Have These 5 Things
OnYourMark Education
A virtual tutoring intervention that gives children a critical boost in their learning-to-read journeys.
Evaluating Early Literacy Tutoring Programs: 5 Essential Questions for Principals
Literacy is undeniably a cornerstone of a child's educational journey. As educators, it's our responsibility to ensure our literacy programs are effective and empowering. Here, we explore five critical questions every principal should ask about their school's approach to early literacy tutoring support.
1. What curriculum does it use?
We know that literacy instruction based on the Science of Reading provides students with the best chance to become successful readers. We now recognize five key pillars of literacy:
When evaluating early literacy programs, principals need to consider three things:
Programs based on the Science of Reading will offer your students higher chances for success. Addressing each pillar of literacy ensures your students get reading skill support in line with current research about how kids best learn to read. And alignment between tutoring curriculum and classroom curriculum gives your students multiple opportunities to engage with the content. All of that means more opportunities to master those pillars.
2. How qualified are its tutors?
Curriculum and content are nothing without a high-quality educator providing evidence-based instruction. When evaluating tutoring programs, delve into their tutor qualifications.?
Seek out programs that prioritize experienced educators with specialized training in early literacy development and intervention. Inquire about the program's ongoing professional development and coaching initiatives to ensure tutors stay up-to-date on the latest research and instructional strategies.?
Remember, a passionate and knowledgeable tutor can be the catalyst that sparks a child's love for reading.
3. How does it measure student progress?
As an educator, you understand better than anyone that a student is more than their standardized test score. And, you see firsthand how standardized testing doesn't always paint a clear picture of a student's knowledge and abilities.
So, any literacy program you choose should use a variety of assessments—standardized alongside formative and summative—to gain a complete understanding of a student's reading skills. Be careful to choose a program that uses assessments aligned to your state’s literacy standards and content, too.?
Credit: Original (in German) Hans Traxler, 1976; English version, Barry Linton, 2000
Source: Reddit
4. How does it use student assessment data to inform instruction?
Assessment data reveals student performance patterns and trends. It highlights potential program-wide adjustments and individual student needs.
A tutoring program has to understand that literacy tutoring is not, nor can it ever be, a one-size-fits-all approach.
Educators know that two students with “below proficient” reading scores likely have very different needs. That means those two students should get the support that meets their unique needs in the classroom and with tutors designated to support them.
The days of grouping students solely by proficiency scores are behind us. Robust assessments give plenty of data on student performance. What matters, then, is that your literacy program’s educators use the data effectively to provide tailored instruction to students. By focusing on what a student truly needs, literacy programs not only maximize their efficiency but also student growth.
5. What about relationships??
A truth that every educator knows all too well: factors beyond academics, such as a child's emotional well-being and past experiences, influence learning. Often, it’s these reasons that students need a tutor at all! And it’s for these reasons you must demand tutors who choose respect, kindness, and empathy when working with students.
Yes, first and foremost, a tutor’s job is to build skills in areas of weakness. But tutors have much more success when they foster caring relationships with their pupils, supporting skill growth, academic confidence, and a sense of self-worth.
You and your staff work hard to cultivate meaningful relationships with your students. Your tutoring program must do the same.?
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Why OnYourMark is the Right Literacy Tutoring Program for Your Students?
OnYourMark Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the literacy gap and helping all students become strong readers.? OnYourMark provides high-impact tutoring to ensure the students we serve learn to read by 3rd grade.
Curriculum and Methodology
OnYourMark uses DIBELS screeners and Amplify’s mCLASS curriculum, both aligned with the Science of Reading. Clear benchmarks for mastery of each pillar ensure consistent evaluation and progress tracking.
Students attend virtual tutoring sessions for 20 minutes a day, four days a week. A year-long program consists of 20 weeks of tutoring. Students and tutors work together for a minimum of 10 weeks.
During tutoring sessions, tutors provide explicit instruction in literacy skills and assess students' progress. This approach allows tutors to meet students where they are and guide them toward becoming confident, skilled readers.?
High-Quality Tutors and Tutor-Mentors
OnYourMark’s paid virtual tutors undergo rigorous training, with more than 20 hours of professional development before working with students. They develop instructional expertise firmly rooted in the Science of Reading, enhancing their effectiveness in teaching and fostering literacy. Additionally, tutors receive weekly coaching and professional development to keep up with the latest best practices in literacy instruction.
“I love OnYourMark’s commitment to empowering tutors to learn more about the Science of Reading. Through continuous professional development and the support of our coaches, tutors who have the will to learn can find new methods to add to their teaching! I believe this is one of the most important qualities of a strong reading teacher.”
- Helen F., OnYourMark Tutor
Data-driven Instruction
Data serves as a springboard for informed decision-making. Through continuous progress monitoring, OnYourMark tutors pinpoint areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions. Classroom teachers receive regular reports from their students’ tutors so that the entire instructional team is on the same page about celebrations and next steps.
Relationships Matter
Children are humans, and so much more than a percentile or a counted item on a bar graph. OnYourMark recognizes this, prioritizing both skill development and social-emotional support. Every tutoring session starts with a relationship-building activity. OnYourMark is also committed to keeping students with their tutor for the entire school year.
“Learning with and from my students is the best part of tutoring at OnYourMark; it is wonderful to witness the amazing strides and significant progress that each of them makes when they receive the individualized and equitable education that they deserve.”
- David F., OnYourMark Tutor
OnYourMark tutors devote themselves to their students and their future success.
“The students are definitely the best part of tutoring at OnYourMark! Nothing can compare to seeing them excited about our tutoring sessions and observing their progress. They truly add to the joy and purpose in my life.”
- Susan O., OnYourMark Tutor
OnYourMark brings this approach to every level of its school partnerships. The OnYourMark team prides itself on being an extension of your school team, with all adults—school leaders, teachers and staff, and OnYourMark—working together to support students.
Regarding teacher buy-in:
“The buy-in [from teachers] has been great because of our partnership and the explanation and the effort that has gone into creating it. For example, last semester, I was able to partner with Aaron [Schlessman, Senior Director of Partnerships for OnYourMark and former educator in Chicago for Noble Network of Charter Schools]. I had him jump into our K-2 grade-level PLC meetings. He was able to meet with the teachers virtually to say ‘Hey, this is what our program is all about. This is how we’re going to support you. What questions do you guys have?’ I think that openness and transparency really gets teachers on board.”
- Imani Thomas, Primary Dean, IB PYP Coordinator, Uplift Luna Preparatory
“OnYourMark is very strategic about activities to build relationships. And it was so quick too! I was just amazed at how quickly the kids really connected to the tutors…After we started the pilot, I was just so impressed with how well they worked with us, got to know us, met our needs, and came down face to face and met our teachers, saw our campus...They were really invested…Every roadblock we faced, OnYourMark has worked through all of them with us. We've given them lots of feedback and they've taken that feedback and they've just been such a good partner.”
- Dana Talley, Chief Academic Officer, Lincoln Parish Schools
Conclusion
Choosing the right high-impact literacy tutoring provider for your students can feel overwhelming. That’s why partnerships with virtual tutoring organizations like OnYourMark offer valuable support. By collaborating, we can create a comprehensive literacy ecosystem that fosters a love of reading and empowers every child to succeed.?
We’re eager to support the literacy goals you have for your students. Meet with a member of our team to get started. Click Here!