Our Academic Coach, Hailey, shares their experiences as a HIT Tutor providing mentorship opportunities for students.
There is no doubt that Lana Learn’s High-Impact Tutoring (HIT) program is a success in closing skill gaps for students as it relates to COVID-related learning loss. Student performance demonstrates time and time again that high dosage tutoring throughout the school day enhances student educational outcomes. At Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA), I also strive to support my students beyond learning mathematics.
Helping Students Think about their Future
High Impact Tutors serve not only as a reinforcer of content, but an additional layer of support for students to leverage in their education. Learning extends beyond academics and the confines of a classroom. A noticeable shift in my students can be observed in the way they talk about their futures after high school. When I meet with my students, I emphasize that they may not have an interest in math, but they should be about their own futures. By framing the goal of our sessions as an investment in their long-term growth, students have become increasingly comfortable asking for guidance in college readiness and career preparedness.
Providing Students with Mentorship Opportunities
The HIT program has allowed students to participate in a program that lends itself to not just academic support, but individualized mentorship. I believe my success as a tutor can be attributed to embodying principles of transformative mentorship in my sessions. To me, transformative mentorship means that students leave feeling empowered to achieve more than the objectives set by the program. The confidence they feel in their academics transforms them as a student, thus empowering them to pursue greater levels of success in their academic careers.
A 10th grade geometry student of mine reports having more latitude with her time now that she is no longer struggling to keep up with homework and classwork. She states, “I can now focus on other things related to school, like college and after school activities.” Outside of tutoring sessions, the student has approached me regarding college majors and what to consider when enrolling in college.
Another student, an 11th grade Algebra II student, has requested ongoing mentorship from me even after the close of the HIT program for the 2024-2025 school year. Despite this student’s stellar academics, they stated “Having a tutor talk to me about study habits and how I can use them in college has been helpful.” They have also asked me how to bolster their college applications in the fall beyond their academic performance.
High-Impact Tutoring is not just a tutoring program, but another way to open doors for students to greater opportunities.