Below you’ll find some messaging surrounding the questions the media are likely curious about right now. The questions are tailored to Tutor Doctor, and are based on previous questions franchisees have been asked, and/or what a reporter may pick up on after a quick scan of your website. Please remember that these answers should be customized to fit your location offerings, and any answer is elevated when you can attach a personal narrative or anecdote.
1. Tell us about Tutor Doctor … do you specialize in any certain age groups, or academic subjects?
Tutor Doctor is a one-to-one in-home and online tutoring company that works with students of all age groups across all subject matter to provide the educational building blocks to help them become high performers in school and in life. Our tutoring approach is customized, in that we spend time upfront assessing a student’s skills – their strengths, subjects that provide room for growth, etc. – and create a customized learning plan that is both reflective of their needs and works in conjunction with the curriculum they are being taught at school. At Tutor Doctor, we believe all thinking caps can be tailored, and it is a collaborative approach that will fast track student success. Our tutors work with the student, their family and their teacher at their pace with the hope that we can fill in all the learning gaps in a memorable way.
Tutor Doctor has more than 600 locations worldwide, and operates in 15 countries. Our adaptable tutoring model allows us to reach students of all age groups and backgrounds – from elementary school to adult, to students who are homeschooled or may need extra help preparing for the ACT/SAT. We offer tutoring in math, science, Spanish, French, English, ESL, and ACT/SAT prep, but want students to walk away with even more valuable life skills. For example, better organizational habits, time and stress management, and a mentor they can count on long into their futures.
2. How have you adapted to safely tutor children/students during the pandemic? Do you think online learning is as effective as in-person?
The pandemic has been a learning experience for the entire education space. While Tutor Doctor has always had an online tutoring option, we’ve expanded it since the start of the pandemic since we saw demand for it skyrocketing. With stay-at-home orders in effect back in March and April, we saw demand for our online services increase by more than 120 percent.
With online learning, our tutors strive to uphold a high-knit bond with each of their students. We use the online platform Bramble, that gives us the ability to collaboratively review worksheets and complete interactive assignments, like an intricate math problem, together. It feels almost like we are sitting side-by-side at the kitchen table. The fantastic added benefit to online learning is the ability to record the tutoring session. This way, students can refer back to the lesson before any class exams or a related homework assignment is due. Bramble also gives the student and tutor face-to-face time, so they can chat through the school day or week with one another prior to jumping into the lesson at hand.
If we meet with our students in the home, we are working in conjunction with the CDC and state government to uphold the necessary safety precautions to keep all parties safe. LIST OUT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
3. I understand Tutor Doctor launched a new Pod-Learning program—can you tell us about that? What has the response been? What does a group lesson look like?
The pod-learning program was rolled out system wide in early August in response to client inquiries and parents’ interest in creating smaller group-learning environments ahead of back-to-school. Many parents were worried for the upcoming school season knowing that distance/online learning would be returning. While many of the kinks and obstacles that persisted in the spring will most likely be fixed this school year, having children at home throughout the school day can be challenging for many parents. It involves supervision, check-ins, and homework help every day of the week. The pod-tutoring program was created as a way to help keep students on track, and relieve parents from some of their duties as the “teacher.” The goal of the pod is to bring together students based on age and grade level to provide oversight and support through the role of an educator, while helping fill learning gaps due to virtual programming or reduced in-class instruction time. It is important to note that pod-tutoring is not in place of school, but acts as supplemental learning. One of Tutor Doctor’s tenants is to work collaboratively with the student’s curriculum to help them succeed in school and in life – and pod-learning is no different.
Tutor Doctor of LOCATION offers in-person and online pod-tutoring, which provides safe and structured learning to a group of two to six students. The pods meet anywhere from 2-4 times a week, wherever the group feels most comfortable, and the meetings and the topics are planned around the students’ actual class schedules. For students in distance learning, pods can also have socialization benefits, because the students get to work collaboratively with both the tutor and their friends, whether it’s through in person or online means. So far, our location has seen INSERT DEMAND/ ANY STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL POD TUTORING SESSIONS.
4. With the uncertainty of the school year ahead, what type of advice do you give parents and children on how to navigate an entirely remote, or hybrid school year?
There are a couple of ideas/talk points you can share and expand on, both beneficial for the student and their parent:
- Don’t be too hard on yourself: The number one thing for parents to remember is that we’re all in this together. The stresses of remote learning should not fall on the shoulders of the parents. Reach out to the vast resources you have easy access to: the school, neighborhood parents and friends, a tutor, etc. if you need extra help. We know parents are superheroes, but they can’t do it all. Holding down a full-time job and helping your child through an ever-changing school year can make for a stressful day. Make sure to make time for yourself and remember that you have a support system to fall back on.
- Reach out to the teacher: Your child’s teacher is a great resource for you throughout the school year. If your child is struggling, tap into teachers for advice and knowledge. Ultimately, you both want what’s best for your child – you want to see them succeed in all they do. The teacher may be able to provide additional worksheets or online resources to help your child, or meet with them outside of normal class time to help get them back on track. You never know what could be until you try!
- Create a “classroom” for your kid: While distance learning means “going” to school at your desk, young children still need to have an environment that reflects the mindset they need to be in for the school day ahead. Find a quiet space where children can concentrate on the lesson plan and during homework time. Remove electronics, TVs, and toys from the “school zone.” Make sure there is enough natural light to inspire productivity and keep the students awake and focused. Lastly, make sure the student has proper school supplies, food and drink so they don’t constantly get up and leave their desk. That can cause distraction and make children less focused and able to retain the information they were just taught.
- Participate in class: Online environments can make it harder to speak freely, collaborate with classmates, or ask for help. In the next few weeks, students should not be afraid to ask for participation guidelines and set challenges for themselves throughout the week. For example, “I’m going to raise my hand five times this week,” or “I’m going to set up a Zoom group with my classmates so we can work together and ask questions.”
- Keep a consistent schedule: Flexibility is a benefit of online learning – no monotonous classroom or rushed schedules. But, it’s critical to maintain a “school day routine” with set times to wake up and complete homework assignments. Don’t forget to make time for the activities you enjoyed at school – like gym/recess, lunch time, and extracurricular activities. If you don’t you run the risk of burnout and shorter attention spans.
Consider a tutor: If online learning proves difficult or if students aren’t seeing improvements, consider hiring a tutor to help reinforce what students are learning. Especially if parents are heading back to work, a tutor can help with accountability and provide guidance in struggling subject matter areas.
5. THE BIG STUMPER: Is there anything else you would like to add before we wrap up?
Always mention how to contact you, or where viewers/readers can go for more information (website link, social handles, a phone number) if the reporter/anchor hasn’t already asked you.
If they have, feel free to restate your call to action, which is the message you want viewers to remember from your interview.
If that’s been said a few times, refer back to your key messages, and if you haven’t mentioned one, you can weave it in here:
- Tutor Doctor is fulfilling the high consumer demand for convenient, effective and affordable private tutoring services. We provide a customized approach to learning, really getting to know the student and their needs, and providing 1:1 guidance and mentorship.
- Tutor Doctor treats each student like a unique individual. We know every child, teenager, and adult has a different learning style, and that all thinking caps can be tailored.
- Our Academic Game Plan focuses on the development of key executive functions, such as organizational skills, time management and task prioritization. This helps students become high performers in school – and in life.
- One of the things I love about being a Tutor Doctor franchisee is that I’m a part of the community. The people I serve are my friends and my neighbors. It’s important for me to stay involved with the school districts so I can have my finger on the pulse of what matters to the students here. Their success is my success and vice versa.
Lastly, you can mention why you joined Tutor Doctor and why you believe in the message and mentorship that tutoring can bring to a student’s life.