A+ Professional Development

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, teamwork, professional development, and learning from one another are part of our company culture. Tutors at A+ attend professional development meetings in the fall and spring of each year. These meetings give tutors a unique opportunity to get support from their peers, receive vital updates on company policies, learn how to use new technological services, and receive training for cutting edge tutoring programs. It is the ideal combination of team building and professional growth. Our most recent professional development meeting was held on Saturday, October 19. Mindprint Daniel Ascher, M.Ed., President of A+, walked tutors through the ins and outs of Mindprint, an optional assessment A+ offers. Mindprint assesses a student’s performance in ten key cognitive areas in four categories: memory, processing, executive functions, complex reasoning. Not only are tutors, parents, and students able to access a detailed profile of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, they can also access a toolbox containing evidence-based suggestions for instruction and support. For example, a student with stronger visual memory compared to verbal memory will be encouraged to use visual notetaking techniques to aid in recall of information she reads or hears. Mindprint is the perfect addition to any tutor’s toolbox and is an example of how A+ tutors makes use of the latest developments in the science of learning. Executive Function One of the benefits of Mindprint is the detailed information it provides about a student’s executive function skills. Executive function skills are needed for decision making, planning, organization, and time management. Students need effective executive function skills for academic success starting as early as middle school. These skills are especially important for students in the final years of high school as they prepare for the responsibilities of college. A+ has offered Executive Function Coaching for years, and as parents recognize the need for this type of coaching, it has become a very popular service. Unsurprisingly, the most popular breakout session during the fall meeting featured experienced tutors sharing best practices for Executive Function Coaching (EFC). As part of our overall environment of collaboration, A+ Executive Function Coaches learn from their peers. During the meeting two of A+’s most experienced EFCs, Anson Han and Rob Gelb, shared their insights and best practices, including providing a detailed breakdown of how to set initial goals and work with students and parents as part of a team. The goal of this collaboration is to support students as they set manageable goals that will incrementally provide them with the tools and confidence they need to become independent masters of their own executive functioning. To be an EFC means more than just teaching skills, it’s about seeing students’ challenges as chances to learn new skills and develop problem-solving strategies. The A+ Advantage One of the goals of A+ Test Prep and Tutoring’s semi-annual professional development meetings is to help our tutors feel like part of a team, and this year’s meeting was no exception. In addition to new tools and new EFC tutoring opportunities, tutors had the chance to catch up with colleagues and support each other from a rich base of experience. Prioritizing personal connections and growth in this way is what makes A+ stand out from other tutoring services and provides benefits to our students, parents, and tutors. At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive function coaching, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, our Client Service Directors Anne Stanley and Susan Ware can be reached at 215-886-9188 or office@aplustutoring.com.