Connecting enthusiastic volunteers with passionate students
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a buddy do?
A buddy meets with their student regularly (at least for an hour a week) to help them with school work and study skills, AND to be a friend and a mentor. What being a buddy looks like is NOT uniform- some of our pairs spend every session reading together, some pairs mix up math practice with throwing a frisbee. Families who are drawn to our program usually have an idea of what their kid needs help with. We all work together (often with the student’s teachers, too) to create a buddyship that is beneficial for everyone and helps both Buddy and student grow.
How often do buddies and students meet?
All of our pairs meet at least once a week for an hour. Beyond expecting that you will meet at least once per week, you are free to determine what kind of schedule is best for you. Some pairs prefer shorter and more frequent meetings, others do up to four hours a week.
Are you meeting in person or virtually?
Meeting in person (social distanced) and meeting virtually (usually on zoom) are both options for you.
Our program began with an emphasis on in person meetings. All meetings were strictly socially distanced (six feet apart with masks), but in response to the countywide shelter in place order and widespread increases in COVID cases in the winter we transitioned to virtual meetings. We have numerous resources available to help you make the most out of the technology that is accessible to you. Currently, pairs that have wanted to have gone back to meeting in person. Virtual meeting is always an option if it is preferred.
How do buddies and students get matched together?
When signing up, buddies may indicate any preferences in terms of academic subjects and ages. Families also may indicate if they would prefer a certain kind of tutor (age, expertise, gender). These preferences, as well as scheduling and convenience, are taken into account when we match up buddies and students. Before we help you set up a first session, both the buddy and the student’s family will okay the match.
For Buddies
What will my responsibilities be?
Part of the process of becoming a buddy is becoming familiar with what you can expect from us and what we expect from you. Before you meet with your student you must agree to do your best to meet these expectations. These expectations can be found on our become a buddy page.
I’ve never tutored a kid before. Can I sign up?
Yes! No experience is required to be a Study Buddy - only a healthy dose of interest and enthusiasm, as well as a readiness to commit to meeting regularly with your student and working hard. For more about being a buddy check out this page.
What if I have to help my buddy with something I don’t know a lot about?
As a buddy, you will be supporting your student with whatever work they have. We especially focus on elementary and middle schoolers because the subject matter is less specific than in high school. Being a supportive, caring person that the students dedicate weekly time to work with matters more than teaching the student content.
That being said, if your student is struggling with specific content that you want to help them with (algebra, note-taking, learning a language....), we will work hard to support you by talking to you, connecting you to helpful resources and helping you tap into your tutor network and your student’s teachers.
What is the process of becoming a buddy?
To become a tutor please fill out this quick form. You will sign up for a time for a 30-minute Zoom interview in which you will learn about us and we will learn about you. After your interview, we will send you some information for you to look over (tutor expectations, liability waiver) If you are a good match for our program and are ready to commit you are ready to attend a training session and join our Buddy community. After that we will match you with a family and work with both of you to set up a time to meet. A Study Buddies representative will attend your first session to help you get to know each other and make sure you are a good match. After that, you’re all set to work independently with your student!
For Families
My kid has a learning disability - can I sign up for a Buddy?
Yes. There are no barriers to signing up for a Buddy. We will match your kid with someone that we think will work well with them and we will do what we can to support you, your student, and your Buddy. We often help Buddy connect with students’ teachers to find out more about the best ways to help a student with unique needs.
In person tutoring - how do I know this is safe?
Anyone who is interested in being a buddy must fill out an application, meet us for an interview and provide a non-familial reference. We do not yet have the resources to conduct background checks-- for this reason, we require that parents be able to see or hear their student at all times during their session. This can mean being in another room and coming in to check on the student, or being in the same room and supervising. We trust all our tutors, but being extra cautious that all students feel 100% safe is a necessity. If you have further questions about this, feel free to contact us.