What are the technology requirements for online tutoring?
For coding sessions, I recommend a computer/laptop/chromebook with a keyboard for the easiest coding experience. Tablets with keyboards can work as well. Students can join the Zoom meeting and code on one device (moving between Zoom and Browser windows, or see them side by side) or join Zoom on two devices. In the latter case, they can keep zoom open on one device to watch my screen, and code/share screen on the other device! I do ask that your student join the Zoom meeting on the device they are coding, whether or not they have an additional device as well. This way, they can share their screen for debugging and sharing their awesome projects with each other!
What times are you available for tutoring?
My availability shifts frequently, so please contact me for exact availability. General availability is 9am-5pm Pacific Time, M-F. If your availability is very limited in that time frame, or you wish to request a time outside that time frame, please let me know early in the process. This way, we can make sure I can accommodate before we move forward!
What ages and levels do you tutor?
I teach students of all ages, four to ninety-four! For coding sessions, I specialize in beginner to intermediate level students.
Policies
Due to the extra complexity of joint tutoring, and fees frequently split between multiple families, policies for cancelling, rescheduling, and missing sessions vary from those for single-student sessions. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Single Student: scheduling
A big benefit of individualized tutoring sessions is flexibility. I will work with you to find a regular time and frequency that fits into your schedule. You can always reschedule/cancel a single session or move the regular session time to fit your student’s needs and schedule. There are no fees for changes communicated more than 12 hours before a session.
Once a regular session time has been confirmed, it is yours! As a courtesy, I will send an email at the beginning of each month with all session dates scheduled for that month. The dates outlined in the email are already scheduled and no response is required to confirm sessions. If you need to cancel or reschedule you must notify me. Failure to notify me more than 12 hours in advance will result in the missed session fee.
Single Student: Late or Missed Sessions
If a student has not arrived at the session shortly after the start time, I will send an email to contacts on file. You may choose to provide a phone number to call or text as well. A session that starts late due to student delay or technical issues will still end at the designated time and cost the same as a full session. If the student has not arrived 20 minutes after the session start time, the session is considered missed.
Missed sessions will result in a fee of 50% of the usual session cost.
Multi STUDENT: SCHEDULING
A big benefit of individualized tutoring sessions is flexibility. I will work with you to find a regular time and frequency that fit into your schedules. You can always reschedule/cancel a single session or move the regular session time to fit your students' needs and schedule. There are no fees for changes that are agreed upon by all students' families more than 12 hours before a session.
Once a regular session time has been confirmed, it is yours! As a courtesy, I will send an email at the beginning of each month with all session dates scheduled for that month. The dates outlined in the email are already scheduled and no response is required to confirm sessions. If you need to cancel or reschedule you must notify me. Failure to notify me more than 12 hours in advance will result in the missed session fee.
If all parties agree to cancel or reschedule 12 hours before the session start time, no fee will apply for the session. Some parties may choose to keep the scheduled time and use it for a solo session. To give yourselves time to communicate, at least 24 hours' notice to other parties is recommended. Without 12 hours' notice from all parties,the missed session policy will apply.
An example: Student A needs to miss a session and the parent emails Student B's parent 2 days before the session. Student B and parent choose to keep the session as a solo class. Both inform me the day before the class. The session fee is adjusted for a single student session and goes solely to Student B's parent.
MULTI STUDENT: Late or Missed Sessions
If any student has not arrived at the session shortly after the start time, I will send an email to contacts on file. You may choose to provide a phone number to call or text as well. When not all students have arrived on time, sessions will still begin but I will do my best to get any late students up to speed or modify curriculum so they may participate when they arrive. A session that starts late due to student delay or technical issues will still end at the designated time and cost the same as a full session. If no students have arrived by 20 minutes past the session start time, the session is considered missed by all parties. Due to the split-cost nature of multi student sessions, any party that misses a session is still responsible for their portion of the session fee.
BILLING POLICY
I accept payment through four virtual payment platforms: Venmo, Google Pay, Zelle, and Paypal (additional fees apply). Checks via mail are also accepted.
There are two options for billing frequency:
Monthly Billing is available for all payment options. At the beginning of each month, I will send a request via payment service or an emailed invoice. Fees are due by the end of the day Sunday after your first session of the month.
Weekly Billing is only available if paying via virtual payment platform (Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, Google Pay). A request will be sent via service after the session. Fees are due by the end of the day Sunday.
ONLINE SAFETY AND PRIVACY: MINORS
Safety of my young students is my utmost priority. In the online sphere, I take the following precautions to ensure that students are engaging online safely and their privacy is secure:
All Zoom Meetings are unique to each customer. That means only the students in that session (and their parents/guardians) have the link and meeting information.
All Zoom Meetings are password protected and waiting-room-enabled.
All websites and resources used in sessions are vetted for age-appropriate content.
Generally, engagement in safe, extracurricular activities (google image search for a game background, downloading that image, etc.) are allowed if student has experience in the area. I trust that students engage online within the boundaries set by their family. If there are any areas of concern, parents/guardians are encouraged to keep open communication so I can help monitor and enforce boundaries during our session.
Student privacy is respected and encouraged! I remind students what sort of information they should and shouldn't share online -- even with me!
Students are welcome to engage with me via email outside of sessions with permission from their parent/guardian. Parents/guardians are CC'd on all exchanges.
Parents and Guardians are welcome to observe the sessions at any time. If parent/guardian presence becomes distracting in any way, I will work with the families to find a way to ensure transparency as well as productive environment.
Any photos of minors that are shared, with permission via a photo release form, will not include names or other identifying information.
It is impossible for me to enforce 100% control over a student's online activities during the session. All reasonable effort will be made to keep students on task and monitor for off-task activities. I will share any concerns about student focus or off-task activities with parents and guardians so we can work together to ensure student success and safety.