SFA Tutoring
COMPUTER-ASSISTED TUTORING TOOLS
In SFA elementary schools, tutoring is an important intervention that occurs throughout the school day. In middle schools, you may only be able to offer tutoring services before or after school or through special programs, depending on your schedule. In any case, tutoring is the most powerful intervention that can be provided for struggling students.
EARLY INTERVENTIONS FOR STRUGGLING READERS
In Success for All, students who demonstrate a need for additional help in reading receive targeted group or individual tutoring aligned to classroom instructional objectives. Regrouping for reading instruction meets many individual instructional needs, and often it is enough to support progress for on-level readers and accelerates below level readers. However, some students need focused or intense support. Both small group tutoring (tier 2) and individual, intense tutoring (tier 3) are available with highly engaging computer assisted tools.
WHAT IS LIGHTNING SQUAD?
Lightning Squad is an online, team-based tutoring intervention. Students at first through third grade levels practice their fluency, phonics, reading, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension skills through interactive games.
HOW IS TUTORING STRUCTURED?
The tutoring program provides twenty minutes of intense and complete daily instruction that directly supports what the child is learning in reading class. Children are tutored outside of reading and math times during a specific time in the schedule set aside for interventions for all students. The focus on individual problems is designed to keep students in tutoring for only a portion of the school year. One of the primary goals of the tutoring program is to help students succeed in class on their own.
Tutoring sessions directly support classroom instruction. Most tutoring sessions are conducted in a small group setting (no more than 10 students) to address their individual needs. Consider two students from the same reading class. Although they work with the same story during their respective tutoring sessions, one may be engaged in activities to help develop fluency, while the other is focused on strategies to increase comprehension.
Tutoring sessions directly support classroom instruction. Most tutoring sessions are conducted in a small group setting (no more than 10 students) to address their individual needs. Consider two students from the same reading class. Although they work with the same story during their respective tutoring sessions, one may be engaged in activities to help develop fluency, while the other is focused on strategies to increase comprehension.
COMPUTER-ASSISTED LESSON PLANNING AND PROGRESS MONITORING
Tutors work with students according to a planning cycle. Tutors begin the tutoring process by assessing each student’s skills in each key area using a computer-guided assessment. The system then recommends specific lesson activities in letter-sound correspondence, sound blending, fluency, and comprehension to develop needed skills. Students’ progress is noted as they complete activities, and the system automatically records student mastery and updates lesson-plan recommendations.