Homework Hub Session Guidelines 

(Please read the following guidelines below carefully. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate

to contact us through TalkingPoints - HwH Communication App.)

On-Time and Prepared:  Please arrive on time and prepared for each class. When a teacher is late, it disrupts the schedule and creates a domino effect for the rest of the day.

Name Tags:  Homework Hub name tags must be worn at all times. Please return to the front desk to be cleaned at the end of your shift.

Mailboxes:  Before going to your assigned classroom, check your mailbox. You should find a manilla folder for each student you are seeing, along with any additional pertinent information.

Student Folder:  At the start of each lesson, review the student folder (located in your mailbox). After each session, complete the summary sheet stapled inside the folder. If you need a new sheet, please notify the front desk. This folder remains at the Hub at all times. It tracks student progress and serves as documentation of your session. It must be returned to the front desk at the end of the lesson.

Smile 😊: Students are often tired after a full day of school. A positive, firm, enthusiastic, and caring environment works best. Yelling or hurtful sarcasm is unacceptable. For Pre-K through 5th grade, ticket rewards may be used (2–3 tickets per session maximum; 10 tickets = one treasure box prize). Our hope is that all students will love coming to Homework Hub!

Our Goal:  Always keep in mind that one of our goals at Homework Hub is to teach students to become independent learners. Students love to bring their homework to class to complete, however try to encourage them to do their work homework independently at home, so class time can be used to review work they are struggling with.

Session Length: Most sessions are 60 minutes; however, they may be scheduled for a minimum of 45 minutes, and there is no maximum time limit. (Billing lessons exceeding 1 hr. are rounded to the nearest 1/4 of an hr. and billed accordingly.)The session length will be determined at the time of scheduling. Always be prepared to extend learning, if work is completed before lesson is over, by introducing new material or reviewing previously covered topics. Begin wrapping up a few minutes before dismissal to ensure a smooth transition, but do not dismiss students early. Parents and students notice—even one minute early.

Virtual Session Etiquette:  For optimal learning, we ask that instructors limit distractions in the room, including phones, televisions, pets, and family members. Instructors should be seated at a desk to maintain a professional appearance. A structured environment will improve concentration and learning. We recommend using a laptop or desktop because smartphones and tablets do not have the same interactive capabilities. It is required for students and instructors to have their cameras turned on. Virtual learning is most effective when students and teachers are actively engaged and communicating in real time. Instructors must have experience in using interactive tools in Zoom such as screen sharing, breakout rooms, white board, and chat capabilities. (Using an iPad connected to the computer is encouraged for drawing and visual explanations.)                              *Incorporating these strategies can significantly enhance the interactivity and effectiveness of your Zoom lessons. Engaged students are more likely to retain information and participate actively.

Extending Lessons: Lessons may only be extended with parental permission unless you choose to extend without additional charge. If a student is late and you do not have any scheduled students after, it is your choice to make up the time or not. Please also make sure it works with the Homework Hub’s schedule. (I always try to think of these situations as if it was my own child, what would I want the teacher to do.)

Teaching Strategies:  Whenever possible, align your tutoring methods with the strategies used by the student’s classroom teacher. Using conflicting methods can confuse students and frustrate district teachers. An exception may be made if the student fully understands the classroom method and can confidently apply an alternative strategy without confusion.

Checking Work:  All work must be checked before a student leaves. Students should not go home with incorrect answers. If there is not enough time to complete all of the material, please inform the parent or guardian of any work that should be finished at home through TalkingPoints (HwH communication app).

Parent/Teacher Communication Form: If a parent reaches out to you via TalkingPoints (HwH communication app), you are responsible to respond within 24 hours. Please always begin and end your responses positively. (Save the middle for any “hard” facts.)

Student Red Flag:  If you have a student that is not meeting goals, is struggling with the material, or may be at risk of failing an exam he/she is considered a red flag! These students must be communicated to Tracy immediately, so we can communicate it to the parents. This ensures there are no surprises and keeps parents informed about their child’s progress. Clear communication is essential. When concerns are not shared in a timely manner, it reflects poorly on Homework Hub and may result in parents attributing a student’s poor performance to us.

Daily Priority Form:  This form is located on the student’s registration page and parents may submit it if they choose. If received, the front desk will place it in your mailbox. It communicates specific parent concerns and goals as well as gives you access to the student’s portal.

Behavior:   If a student’s behavior is inappropriate, disruptive, or unsafe please contact the front desk immediately! In group classes, students may be asked to sit out until they are “ready” to return. If necessary they may be sent home. It is important that we don’t allow one student’s behavior to interfere with other students trying learn.

Noise:  All doors must remain closed during tutoring. (Cameras are located in each room.)   If outside noise disrupts your session, notify the front desk promptly.

Materials & Organization:  Use colored pocket folders (located at the front desk) for classwork that is traveling between home and the Hub. Lesson Summary Cards (located in each classroom) must be completed for Pre-K through 7th grade students before they go home. For grades 8–12, they may be used as needed. Please leave classrooms clean and organized and ready for the next class. Remember to wipe down whiteboards, tables, and return borrowed materials.

Copy Machine:   Use the white Canon machine in the main office to make copies. Avoid using hole-punched paper unless creating a binder. Please try to make copies during your own time. If you do need assistance with copies during a lesson, feel free to ask the front desk.

Cell Phones:  Cell phones are not permitted for teachers or students during sessions unless used for educational purposes. One of our biggest parent complaints is teachers texting during a lesson. Students will report you for texting or phone use—trust me! Please do not make Homework Hub look bad!

Food & Bathroom:  No food is allowed during sessions without permission due to allergies. Please escort Pre-K through 3rd grade students to the bathroom, water fountain, or treasure box. For group classes, ask the front desk for assistance with younger children.

Dismissal:  Pre-K through 7th grade students must be dismissed directly to a parent or guardian. If a parent is late, notify the front desk.

Professional Code: 

• Attire is casual but professional.

• Please refrain from putting down student's classroom teachers.

• Please use appropriate language at all times.

• Smoking is not permitted in or directly outside of the Hub. Eliminate any smoke odor before working with students.

• Student information is confidential and may only be discussed with appropriate staff members and parents/guardians.
  

Communication Policies:  The office uses the app TalkingPoints to schedule students and teachers. Due to the high volume of messages, if you do not receive a response in a timely manner, please reply with “?” to bring your message to the top. TalkingPoints is great for parent/teacher/staff communication. However, the following rules apply when communicating with families:

• Please do not discuss finances with families; these questions need to be directed to the Homework Hub office.

• All parent/tutor communication must go through TalkingPoints. There is no private texting between teachers and parent/students! You may email any virtual meeting links or work for the student as needed.

• Online and at-home classes may be booked between the tutor and the student.

• All in-center classes need to be booked by the office staff only to determine if space is available.

• All cancellations should be directed to the office in case you want to charge. This way it will come from us and not from you.
  

• Take advantage of TalkingPoints! Use the camera app to catch a student succeeding in class and send it to their parent during the lesson. Send home specific practice work so they know to work on it with their child. Show off what you are doing with the student by sending samples of their work. Most importantly, remember to reach out to the families and give them feedback after the lesson. Above is my favorite part of TalkingPoints. Parent and teacher communication is the key to success!
  

Groups Clases:  Ensure each child receives adequate individual attention while maintaining group flow. Groups are fomed based on school, teacher, and academic level. A group can not be run with only one student. Tutors are paid the same rate, but students pay a group rate. This helps families who financially can’t afford a weekly private class.

Review Classes (Grades 6-12):  Review classes review all topics and vocabulary, followed by practice questions related to each topic. Teachers are paid a review rate for these classes. They are responsible for a syllabus and a review packet with an answer key:

• Minimum enrollment:
• 4 students for 12:1 classes
• 2 students for 3:1 classes

• Classes remain open for enrollment until the morning they begin because many kids sign up at the very last moment.

• If enrollment is low, classes may be shortened with parent approval.

• Teachers may close a class up to 3 days before the start date if no students are enrolled.

*We will do everything possible to fill classes. You can help by promoting review sessions to colleagues and students.

Cancellations:  Teachers will be paid for any session cancelled after 10am (late cancellation) on the day of their scheduled lesson, provided they notify Tracy immediately that they will be charging for the cancelled session and that they will use that hour to come in and help in the office. If a teacher chooses to not work at the hub during that time slot, he/she will not be paid for the class.

If a student cancels at the last minute or does not show up, please contact the front desk as soon as possible. Within the first five minutes, text Tracy if you plan to charge for the missed lesson. If you choose to charge, Tracy will assign you work for that hour. This could include creating curriculum for HwH or reaching out to colleagues to find additional teachers. If you’re unable to reach her, please proceed with the outreach on your own.

Please be mindful that parents are often unhappy when charged for missed sessions. If a student has a legitimate reason and is typically reliable, you may want to consider not charging, as this can sometimes lead to the loss of a client.

Any teacher that chooses to charge the family for a late cancellation or no-show must complete a Student Cancellation Form, located on the Staff Forms page. Please note, we are not always able to charge families, and when they refuse, the cost is absorbed by the business. For this reason, we take tutors working during the canceled hour very seriously.

Database:  All staff have access to the database to view their schedule. If a class appears “grayed out,” it means it is not running on that particular day. The database shows you your rates, upcoming classes, your history, and your pay. Online and at-home classes take a few days to appear on the database history for paid classes. Our in-center classes should appear right after your lesson is completed. If something looks incorrect, notify the office. The database definitely has it’s flaws, and we are not perfect, so please let us know if you believe you have a class and you don’t see it, or you thought a class was cancelled but it’s still there. We appreciate the help!

Payroll: 

• Payroll is every two weeks.

• There is a 9-day processing period before receiving your first paycheck.

• Please confirm your hours when prompted by Lisa through email.

• Direct deposit is not available at this time.

• Checks are available for pickup on Fridays after 2:00pm unless mailing has been requested.

• For discrepancies, email Lisa at biello.hwh@gmail.com