By Amelia Naughten, News Editor
Flex has been a hot topic around Mills recently; many of these conversations concern how students use their flex, how they check in, which teachers they go to, and even whether they’re productive or not. Oftentimes, this causes us to lose sight of the benefits of flex, and in particular, the programs that utilize this time. Among these, one in particular stands out: flex tutoring.
Flex tutoring was founded several years ago by Ms. Peng, the student success coordinator at Mills. Originally, the program was pioneered as a resource for multilingual students, or students who speak a different language at home and are still developing their English. Ms. Peng recounts, “The idea really came from noticing that they were not doing too well in certain classes, so they needed more one-on-one support.”
Every Wednesday during flex, flex mentees meet with the same student mentors who work with them to plan, prioritize, and improve skills in a specific subject. Every session, tutors are encouraged to look over canvas scores with the student to find topics to focus on for the period. The program is designed for student mentees and mentors to work together for the entire semester or until the student no longer needs assistance.
After the pilot program proved effective in increasing students’ proficiency across multiple subjects, Ms. Peng branched out to include the entire school. Every six weeks, D and F rates are calibrated to find students who may need extra support in certain areas. Using that generated list, Ms. Peng will reach out encouraging them to enroll in flex tutoring as a means to raise their grade, especially if the alternative after school tutoring is not compatible with their schedule.
At the same time, flex tutoring also poses a good opportunity for students who are interested in becoming tutors. Tenth and eleventh grade students can apply to become a tutor during flex through a google form and interview that Ms. Peng administers. For many students, becoming a tutor is a matter of free time during flex, an interest in tutoring, or a gateway to becoming an afterschool tutor.
“I dont have the expectation that a tutor needs to teach the way a teacher does, but if they’ve taken the class, chances are they’ve kind of remembered how to do it and can give them pointers,” Ms. Peng provided. Most volunteers who apply as tutors are accepted into the program, and through mentoring other students, they are able to enhance their communication and depth of knowledge in a subject. She also illuminated the benefits of the flex tutoring program as opposed to normal after school tutoring, whether at Mills or elsewhere.
“So many students will say, ‘I don’t understand,’ when a teacher explains to a tutee, but when a student explains it, there’s less intimidation that’s going on and you feel a little bit more comfortable asking a peer to help you,” Ms. Peng shared from experience. She also touched on how teachers often teach from a “teacher lens” or textbook format, and how student tutors are often able to translate this information into a more approachable format. Especially because tutees meet up with the same tutor every week, unlike in after school tutoring where it’s more freeflow, students in this program are able to better build relationships that make them feel open to learning.
Sharon Zhang (10), who tutors in math during flex, commented, “It’s fun to help people learn things. It’s so nice when they finally have that ‘ah-ha, I finally get it now’ moment.” Zhang originally applied looking to try something new in their spare time, and stayed with the program for a second semester after finding that they enjoyed it. In fact, all of the flex tutors from the previous fall 2023 semester decided to stay with the program for the spring.
Every semester, Ms. Peng looks for more tutors to match the ever-changing needs of mentees. “Every year it’s different, and it makes the planning so much harder. Last year we needed a lot of students who could teach modern world history and US history, and this year it has shifted again…It feels like everyone is failing math.” Due to the spontaneous nature of student needs, Ms. Peng likes to hire tutors who can tutor in multiple subjects,
A QR code on her office door is always available to any interested qualifying student. Although flex tutoring is a commitment for both tutors and tutees, the hope is that together, students can support each other to do their academic best. The Mills community thrives on student engagement and providing for the needs of everyone, and the flex tutoring program is central to building this model community up.
