Science Tutoring (Grades 9-12)
We use research-informed approaches and cognitive science in our programming and instruction.
Why Do Students Struggle in Science?
Science is a part of the curriculum that can be particularly challenging for neurodiverse learners because of the variety of demands it places on cognitive performance.Reading Impairments
- In Grades 9 and 10, science does not dive deeply into physics and chemistry; much of Grade 9 and 10 science involves reading.
- Science is a subject with a robust vocabulary. Students who have difficulty reading will struggle to understand the content.
- High school science, and biology in particular, includes terms that can be challenging for students with reading and memory deficits.
- Reading difficulties can affect a student’s understanding of what is being asked of them on a test or assignment.
- Science involves analyzing and interpreting information and inferencing, which is challenging if reading comprehension is impaired.
Executive Dysfunction
- Science involves observation, and students are asked to understand the big picture and fine details. This requires self-regulation and attention, which can be challenging for students with ADHD and executive dysfunction.
- The student has to take scientific concepts and processes, apply them practically, and connect them, placing a high demand on executive function skills.
Memory Challenges
- Science involves math, formulas, rules, and steps that must be memorized and followed for success. Remembering these terms and guidelines can be difficult for students with memory deficits.
- Science has a hierarchy, and what is learned in the current year builds on what the student learned the previous year; the student must be able to process and retain the information from year to year.
Tutoring Is the Best Intervention to Improve Academic Outcomes
Research shows that one-to-one tutoring remains the most effective tutoring method (Evoke does not offer group tutoring). Individualized tutoring allows us to customize student support and maintain continuous student participation. Personalized tutoring is not a substitute for classroom learning; rather, it complements and reinforces regular schooling. Online tutoring allows students to work from a quiet place with fewer disruptions and distractions and for them to proceed, in privacy, at their own pace.
Tutoring is the best intervention to improve academic outcomes when a learning loss needs to be recovered
Scheduled high-dosage tutoring is much more effective than on-demand tutoring which is not research-informed
Evoke leans into the science of learning and supports the high-dosage tutoring approach because it is a research-informed model that has been shown to be effective in recovering learning loss.
Research shows that one-to-one tutoring remains the most effective tutoring method.
The goals of the science tutoring program include:
Build student confidence
Helping students prepare for tests and exams
Enhancing student achievement
Evoke tutors provide specific and timely feedback to students to enhance their learning, help them understand their strengths, and identify areas for improvement based on the relevant provincial curriculum and knowledge expectations. They provide students with personalized and targeted instruction according to their individual needs, encourage them to reflect on their own learning and self-assess their performance, and provide them with time to practice what they have learned. Their goal is to help each student meet course requirements and improve their competency. Our tutoring program always takes the client’s neurobiology into account—we’re the experts in working with students who have ADHD, ASD, LDs, and giftedness.
Ongoing Informal Assessment for Science Tutoring Programs
In Evoke’s science tutoring programs, ongoing informal assessment is crucial in effectively supporting students’ learning and progress.
These assessments allow tutors to gather real-time information about students’ understanding, skills, and misconceptions. Ongoing informal assessment is integral to the success of science tutoring programs, enabling a responsive and student-centred approach to education. Tutors can enhance learning outcomes and foster a deeper understanding of scientific concepts by continuously assessing and adjusting to students’ needs.
Ongoing informal assessments in science tutoring provide opportunities for:
1. Formative Feedback
- Informal assessments provide immediate feedback to students, helping them understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
- Tutors can adjust their teaching strategies based on the feedback, ensuring personalized and targeted instruction.
2. Student Self-Assessment
- Encouraging students to reflect on their own learning and self-assess their performance promotes metacognitive skills.
- Self-assessment helps students become more aware of their learning goals and take ownership of their progress.
3. Progress Monitoring
- Regular informal assessments help track students’ progress over time, clearly showing their development.
- This ongoing monitoring ensures that any learning gaps are addressed promptly, preventing them from widening.
4. Adaptive Teaching
- Based on the insights from informal assessments, tutors can adapt their teaching methods and materials to suit each student’s needs better.
- This adaptability fosters a supportive learning environment where students feel confident to explore and ask questions.
5. Documentation and Reflection
- Keeping records of informal assessments and observations helps tutors reflect on the effectiveness of their teaching strategies.
- Documentation also provides valuable information for communicating with students and parents about student progress.
Who Are Evoke Science Tutors?
At Evoke, our science tutors are highly qualified and well-trained educators, including teachers and paraprofessionals who have completed university-level science programs.
Many of our tutors hold postgraduate degrees and have extensive knowledge of science content and provincial curricula. This expertise enables them to use diverse explanations and representations to foster scientific understanding.
Our tutors excel in building relationships and are adept at recognizing when to challenge students, which resources to utilize, and how to employ strategic questioning instead of simply providing answers. We understand the importance of cultivating positive relationships with our learners. Ensuring that students have a consistent tutor over time facilitates productive student-tutor relationships and a deeper understanding of each student’s learning needs. When students establish a positive, caring relationship with their tutor, they become more motivated and develop a more favourable attitude toward school. At Evoke, we pair each student with a consistent tutor for their science tutoring program to better understand their strengths and weaknesses.
