By Desiree Williams
When searching for a math tutor for her third-grade son, Allison Hargrove discovered private tutoring rates were too high. So, she connected with students in the peer tutoring program at Carmel High School who she knew could help.
“(The tutors) are just brilliant kids that have really generous hearts, so it’s a great combination,” said Hargrove, a U.S. history teacher and co-sponsor of the social studies department’s peer tutoring program at the high school. “So many of our parents pay a lot of money for tutors when we have really great programs available here.”
The high school offers complimentary math, social studies and world language tutoring programs as well as one sponsored by the National Honor Society. Most programs run during student resource time, which is the second period of Gold schedule days.
The tutors are vetted and handpicked by program sponsors based on an application process, grade point average and a willingness to serve. The social studies program has 60 tutors available.
“I think the thing that’s important about it from what I see on a daily basis is these are kids that have actually been through the course recently, so they have more of a direct understanding of the needs of the kids they’re working with,” she said.
Hargrove said writing assignments are the most common tutoring approach as well as high-level conversation to unpack complex topics and content.
“I think why it’s such a successful program, at least from my view in social studies, is that we really emphasize with our tutors that we want the kids that are coming in to get help to feel embraced, to feel heard, and we never want them to feel rushed,” she said. “We want to take their concerns on an individual basis.”
For those interested, Hargrove suggests speaking with a teacher in the department who can then sign up students for the specific subject’s tutoring program.
