Tutorial Program

Darrow's focus on the student as an individual learner is most evident in the Tutorial Program, a process of academic mentoring.  Here, students develop strategies for academic success through one-on-one work with a teacher.  Some students concentrate on their daily organization, time management, and effective reading, writing, and study skills.  Others work with their tutors on a specific content area, such as math or history.  As students gain more confidence in their academic abilities, they learn to work more independently and to meet new academic challenges.  Most importantly, they become self-advocates in their learning.  Nearly all students choose to participate in the Tutorial Program, an important support system.

Each tutorial is individually tailored to meet a student's specific needs.  During the enrollment process, the School assesses each student's academic history to determine how to best support him or her in organization and study skills or in specific academic areas.  Student and tutor work together to identify goals and develop a plan to reach those goals.  Students meet with tutors during the class day, two or four times each week.  Tutors report on a student's progress in quarterly comments and at parent-teacher conferences.

Darrow tutor Mark McKelvey gives a thorough accounting of Darrow's tutorial program in his article Beyond Tutoring:  Taking Coaching to the Next Level, which you can read in the online edition of Independent School Magazine.