Welcome to World Class Tutoring
We're so glad you're here! To make sure every session is as productive and enjoyable as possible, here's what we ask of our students and families. These expectations help us show up fully for you, and we'll always do the same in return.
Student Expectations
For our high school students
Showing up on time
Please log on at your scheduled start time. If you're running late, send your tutor a quick text to let them know. Sessions generally end at the scheduled time regardless of when you arrive. In some cases, if the tutor's schedule allows, they may be able to shift the end time so you still get your full hour, but this is never guaranteed and always at the tutor's discretion.
5 min If you haven't joined, your tutor will send you a text to check in.
15 min If we still haven't heard from you, we'll reach out to a parent.
~20 min If there's still no contact, we'll close the Zoom meeting. The session will be charged as if it took place.
If something unexpected came up, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'll always do our best to work with you.
Your environment & appearance
Set yourself up in a good workspace. You'll need a table or desk with a solid writing surface — sitting in bed doesn't give you what you need to focus and work through problems. Coffee shops and libraries are totally fine as long as you're in a spot where you can talk out loud.
Dress as you would for school. You don't need to be fancy, just ready to learn. A shirt is always required. (Yes, this has come up before.)
Food and drinks are totally welcome. We hate tutoring hungry students! Just keep in mind that we expect you to keep your video on even if you're snacking.
Zoom & technology
Camera
Your video must be on for all tutoring sessions and classes. Position your camera so we can see your full head and shoulders — this helps us teach you well! For our very large classes with a teacher and TA (30+ students, and these are very rare), video off is okay.
Microphone
Keep your mic on and unmuted for 1:1 sessions. For classes of 6 or more students, please stay muted and unmute only when you've been called on by the teacher.
Device
The Zoom app works best. A browser window also works well. Please avoid joining from your phone because the screen is too small for screen sharing to be effective. If there's a tech issue, we'll figure it out together.
Phone use
Keep your phone out of the way, but we recognize it can be a helpful tool! Texting a photo of a homework problem to your tutor, or using Desmos while your laptop shows the tutor? Both great. Answering a call or text from a parent? Go for it, but let your tutor know so they can pause.
We do our best to be flexible with tech issues, but video and audio are important tools for effective tutoring. Please make sure your setup is working before your session starts.
Coming prepared
Bring something to take notes and work through problems. Pencil and paper work great. You'll also want a calculator handy for math sessions. We work with mostly online materials, so no textbooks needed!
Complete your homework and send it to your tutor at least 15 minutes before each session. If you weren't able to finish just email your tutor at least 15 minutes ahead so they can adjust the plan.
Please don't cancel a session because your homework isn't done. Our tutors will always come ready with something productive to work on. A session without homework is still very productive!
Communication & respect
Email is the best way to reach us for most things. Please use polite email habits, such as starting with a greeting and signing off with your name. If you're canceling or rescheduling a session, copy your parent so they stay in the loop.
Texting
Texting your tutor is fine for time-sensitive things, like letting them know you're running late. When you text for the first time, please introduce yourself! We don't always have students' numbers saved and won't recognize an unknown number.
We expect respectful communication in all directions. We hold ourselves to the same standard and will always treat you with kindness and professionalism.
Cancellations & rescheduling
World Class Tutoring 24-Hour Cancellation Policy
We understand that life is unpredictable, and we'll always do our best to be flexible! You are welcome to cancel or reschedule any appointment free of charge as long as you give us 24 hours' notice. (But more is always appreciated!)
To cancel or reschedule, contact your tutor directly by email or text. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged as if the session happened.
However, if you have an emergency or extenuating circumstance, don't hesitate to reach out to your tutor. If it's possible to move your appointment to later in the week, we will do our best to make that happen for you. Thank you for understanding!
Session recordings
We record every session using Fathom and are happy to share recordings with parents and students upon request. Recordings may also be shared with a fellow tutor if we're collaborating on your progress. If you'd prefer not to be recorded, just let us know — no problem at all.
Parent Expectations
For the families of our students
Your role in the process
Parents are welcome to join the first half of the first session if they'd like. You can be a useful part of the goal-setting conversation and discuss scheduling and homework expectations. That said, this is entirely optional, not a requirement. Once we get into the academic work, it's best for students to have that one-on-one space with their tutor.
We love a proactive parent! The more you check in with your student about tutoring, the better it goes for everyone. We work with teenagers every day and love watching them grow into self-sufficient students. Some teens are totally ready to manage their own calendars and email; others still need a little support from mom or dad. We recognize that you know your student best and will follow your lead.
Payment & packages
All tutoring sessions are paid in advance. Most families purchase a package of 10 hours, which comes at a lower per-session rate than booking individual sessions. After each session, we'll send you a report that includes your remaining prepaid hours.
Keep an eye on your balance. Once you use up the 10 hours in your package, you can add hours at the package rate in any quantity. Just let the student success coach or your tutor know if you want to add hours, and we will email an invoice.
Payment communications are typically kept separate from your student. We'll reach out to parents directly about any billing matters. If you have a different preference for how you'd like financial communications handled, just let us know!
Session reports & homework
After every session, we'll send you a report letting you know how it went, including whether the homework was completed.
Our tutors work hard to build strong, trusting relationships with students, and we want to keep it that way. It puts us in a tough spot when we have to flag missing homework. You can help us out by checking in with your student before sessions. If you ask us about homework completion, that's a much easier conversation than us having to bring it up! We'll always be honest with you, and we appreciate you being a partner in the process.
Never hesitate to reach out to your tutor or our Student Success Coach if you have any questions about progress, homework, or how sessions are going.
We're here to help your student grow, succeed, and actually enjoy studying with us.
If you ever have questions or concerns, we're always happy to talk.
Welcome to the World Class Tutoring family.