03 Jun From the Classroom to Summer Tutoring: 5 Ways Districts Can Support a Smooth Transition
Written by Christina Merchant: Director of Curriculum | Edited by Cara Catalano
A guide for district leaders to help students shift from structured classrooms to summer learning environments, while keeping motivation high.
As the school year ends, learning doesn’t have to. Summer tutoring has emerged as a powerful tool to reduce learning gaps, boost academic confidence, and set students up for success in the fall. Yet, transitioning students from the highly structured school year to a more flexible summer environment is no small feat.
This post offers five key strategies districts can use to make that shift feel smooth, motivating, and impactful—for students, families, and educators.
1. Set the Purpose Before the Schedule
Communicate the “why” behind summer tutoring upfront.
Before calendars fill with session times and reminders, it’s critical to align with families and students on the purpose of tutoring. Is it for skill recovery? Is it for enrichment? Or, perhaps it is for preventing summer slide. Clarity here increases buy-in from all parties.
- Host a short virtual or in-person orientation to welcome families and share the goals of the program.
- Emphasize that summer learning can be more personalized and engaging than traditional classroom learning.
- Use student-friendly language to frame it as a head start rather than a remedial requirement.
2. Shift the Tone Without Losing Structure
Students need routines; they don’t need rigid rules.
During the school year, students operate within tight time blocks and formal expectations. Summer offers more freedom, yet that freedom still needs scaffolding.
- Use a consistent format for each session (like “Warm-up, Practice, Wrap-up”) to establish predictability.
- Open sessions with relationship-building questions or quick games to set a lighter tone.
- Set weekly goals and allow flexibility within the day-to-day schedule to keep students invested.
This blend of structure and autonomy helps students stay grounded while enjoying a unique, summer pace.
3. Build Student Interest Around the Content
Make learning feel relevant—even when the curriculum is set.
While the core content in summer tutoring may be structured and aligned to academic goals, there’s still room to spark curiosity and boost engagement by connecting it to students’ interests and lived experiences.
- Tutors can bring in quick, interest-based warm-ups related to the topic, like asking students to apply a math skill to planning a summer outing or creating a story problem based on their favorite summer activity.
- Allow students to share or reflect in ways that feel personal, even if the reading or math task is fixed. For example, after a reading comprehension lesson, students might draw or write about how the theme connects to their lives.
- Incorporate culturally responsive examples or discussion prompts that invite students to bring their perspectives into the session, even if the lesson materials remain consistent.
Although the structure may be set, the experience of the lesson can still feel personal, creative, and motivating. When students feel seen and heard, they show up with more energy and investment.
4. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Summer tutoring should prioritize a growth mindset and confidence-building.
The goal of summer support isn’t to cover every standard; it’s to keep students learning, growing, and building momentum for the school year ahead. A low-pressure environment can be ideal for reinforcing effort, not just accuracy.
- Use positive, process-based feedback that highlights perseverance and improvement.
- Normalize mistakes as part of the learning process—especially in math and writing.
- Track small wins over time to help students see their progress and stay motivated.
A systematic review and meta-analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that tutoring is one of the most effective academic interventions in pre-K to 12th grade education, with consistently large positive effects across grade levels and content areas.
The study emphasizes that high-dosage tutoring—typically delivered one-on-one or in small groups multiple times per week—is particularly impactful, making summer an ideal time to implement this structure.
5. Keep Communication Clear and Continuous
Build strong partnerships with families through regular, low-effort updates.
Parents and caregivers are juggling more than ever. Simple, consistent updates on their child’s progress can build trust and improve attendance.
- Send a short weekly message that shares what students worked on and include a highlight from the week.
- Give caregivers a single point of contact for questions.
- Invite informal feedback through simple text or email check-ins.
When families feel included in the learning process, students show up more consistently—and take their learning more seriously.
Final Thought:
Summer tutoring is more than a safety net, it’s an opportunity to redefine how we support student growth outside the traditional school calendar.
With thoughtful structure, personalized content, and a clear focus on progress, districts can build summer programs that close gaps and spark a renewed love of learning.
Schedule a call with our partnership team.
References
- Nickow, A., Oreopoulos, P., & Quan, V. (2020). The impressive effects of tutoring on PreK-12 learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the experimental evidence (NBER Working Paper No. 27476). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w27476/w27476.pdf
