What is Mindfulness-Based Tutoring

Mindfulness-Based Tutoring offers a holistic approach to tutoring that nurtures the whole child– body, mind, and spirit. We believe mindfulness practices provide crucial support for students with learning difficulties and social-emotional challenges.

Each Mindfulness-Based Tutoring session is customized for the student's unique learning needs. Students are supported as they develop their skills in attention, stress management, and developing a positive mindset. In addition to specific subject guidance, students receive explicit instruction in mindfulness practices.

Each tutoring session consists of two parts. The first segment focuses on building body-mind connections through meditation, breathing, yoga postures, relaxation, and attention harnessing exercises. This mindfulness segment is followed by tutoring in a specific subject of study or a personal learning goal. The academic segment directly applies the awareness that was gained during the mindfulness segment. We offer both 75-minute and 90-minute options, depending upon the student’s needs and scheduling considerations.

How are sessions structured?

Students learn best when they feel welcomed, valued, and safe. Mindfulness-Based Tutoring sessions are individualized, yet follow a predictable routine to support our students.

Example of a 75-minute* session:

  • 30 min. mindfulness training
  • 5 min. mindful movement break
  • 35 min. tutoring in a specific subject or learning goal

Example of a 90-minute* session:

  • 30 min. mindfulness training
  • 5 min. mindful movement break
  • 25 min. tutoring in a specific subject or learning goal
  • 5 min. mindful movement break
  • 20 min. tutoring in a secondary subject or learning goal

*All sessions include 5 minutes for transitioning and status updates with the caregiver

Tutoring Subjects

We provide tutoring for a variety of learning goals and academic subjects, including:

  • English Language Arts/Literature
  • Handwriting
  • Homework Help
  • Keyboarding
  • Mathematics
  • Organization and Time Management
  • Orton-Gillingham Approach
  • Pragmatic Language Skills
  • Reading (decoding, comprehension, fluency)
  • Science
  • Study Skills
  • Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Social Skills
  • Social Studies/History
  • Spelling
  • Technology Support
  • Test Taking Skills
  • Visual Literacy
  • Writing (academic, creative)

What to Expect

The first Mindfulness-Based Tutoring session will focus on relationship building and evaluating whether or not our approach is the right fit for your child. Approximately two tutoring sessions will be dedicated to assessment relevant to your child’s individual learning goals. This gives us a baseline for measuring progress. Based upon the assessment results and parent interview, a tutoring program will be custom designed for your child. Typically the first semester (approximately 15 weeks) is considered our "beginner’s" mindfulness program. During the beginner’s program, students receive direct instruction in age-appropriate mindfulness and adjunct practices. Topics include mindfulness and the brain, mindful listening, mindful eating, mindful movement (yoga asana and qigong), breath, contemplation, sitting meditation, walking meditation, guided meditation, progressive relaxation, empathy, and gratitude. Students build a toolkit of mindfulness practices which they can apply to everyday life. 

Read More:

Mindfulness in the Classroom; Child Mind Institute; www.childmind.org; Juliann Garey, author

When Mindfulness Meets the Classroom; The Atlantic; www.theatlantic.com; Lauren Cassani Davis, author