Our Mission
Building Self Confidence.
At Kids Building Selves, we are dedicated to helping children discover how they learn. Our programs enable children to build self-esteem, self-confidence and self-reliance by teaching them what they need to learn and achieve. We help them learn to advocate for what they want, thereby creating a positive self-image that carries through further years of learning and living their best life.
Kathy B Selz, AC
Executive Director, Mentor
Serving the Northern Virginia area, and beyond, with online coaching.
Certifications
The Difference Between Tutoring and Academic Coaching
Does your child need academic help outside the classroom? Tutoring might be a good option. But you may also hear about academic “coaches” who help teach kids learning strategies.
What’s the difference? Which is best suited for your child?
There’s no official distinction between what makes one person a tutor and someone else a coach. Sometimes it’s just a matter of marketing.
Instructors may call themselves “coaches” because some students may not like the idea of being “tutored.” That’s because some students may associate being tutored with having some kind of weakness. But they may be open to being “coached,” like an athlete, to become “even better.” This is especially true for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers.
There tend to be some basic differences between the two groups, though. This chart can give you an idea of what they are.
Tutoring
Basic Approach
Tutors tend to focus on building concrete skills and helping students with what they immediately need to keep up with schoolwork.
What a Typical Session May Look Like
A tutor may zero in on specific skills that are giving a student trouble. A math tutor, for instance, may focus on long division. He might go over assigned homework and help the student get ready for upcoming tests.
Tutors can help kids work on specific skills during the summer, too. They may do practice drills so a student can keep up on skills and is ready for the new school year.
Who Offers It
Anyone can call himself a tutor. That includes high school students. Many tutors are current or retired teachers who work independently or as part of a commercial tutoring program.
Some tutors are certified to help kids with learning issues like dyslexia. They may be certified through programs like Wilson or Orton–Gillingham. Online tutoring and tutoring software are options, too.
Type of Student Who Could Benefit
Tutoring could be a good option for students struggling to stay at grade level. It could also benefit students who need help reaching academic goals in one or more specific areas like reading, writing, science or math. However, some students with learning issues may need to see someone more specialized, like an educational therapist.
Duration of Services
Tutoring is sometimes used on a “spot” basis. This could be to help a student through a rough patch or with a specific skill, like solving quadratic equations. But tutoring often continues throughout the length of a particular course, such as algebra or chemistry.
Rates
Kids Building Selves offers tutoring for kids in grades 1-5. Contact me to find out more.
Academic Coaching
Basic Approach
Similar to a sports coach, an academic coach tends to work on strategies to help kids succeed. They can help kids develop a more organized approach to learning and schoolwork. They may also focus on strategies to help kids with motivation.
What a Typical Session May Look Like
A coach working with a younger student may help her organize her backpack. He might also show her how to create color-coded systems for her notebook and folders.
Who Offers It
Anyone can call himself a learning or academic coach. There’s no official credential. Many are current or retired teachers, or they may have some background in education or psychology.
Some commercial tutoring centers are starting to offer more “coaching-style” programs. But they still tend to refer to these programs as tutoring services.
Type of Student Who Could Benefit
Coaching could be helpful for students who have certain skills but lack the motivation, organization or strategies they need to apply those skills. Coaching could also benefit students who need help with staying focused, such as kids with ADHD. And athletes with positive sports experiences often respond well to a coaching model.
Grade-schoolers who need to learn good study habits could benefit from an organizational coach. Older students who need help with prioritizing, staying on task or even prepping for the ACT or SAT could also benefit from an academic coach.
Duration of Services
Some coaches sell “packages” that are designed to lay the basic groundwork students need to succeed within a limited window of time. This can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months, or beyond.
Rates
Kids Building Selves offers academic coaching for kids in grades K-4. Contact me to find out more.
In real life, the line between coaching and tutoring can be blurry. Some tutors, like coaches, may focus on learning strategies. Some coaches, like tutors, will help students tackle homework. And some coaches may not even call themselves “coaches.”
Once you know what kind of help your child needs, a good way to find the right person is to seek referrals from her school or other parents. Then interview each candidate carefully about his basic approach. Having a list of key questions to ask can be helpful.
And be sure to let the coach or tutor you hire know about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. The more your child’s tutor or coach knows, the better he’ll be able to help your child.