What Are Tutorials?
In one sentence: Tutorials are block-scheduled year-long small-group seminar-style tutor-led classes.
We offer a full spectrum of tutorials in the liberal arts and sciences. Our high school program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, with five 1.5-hour blocks from 8am until 4:40pm, and our middle school program meets Mondays and Wednesdays (with a bit more variety in the schedule). We follow the public school calendar (with a few exceptions), running from the end of August through mid-June.
The methodology of classroom teaching at New Hope is intentionally formulated to spark and fan into flame the natural desire to learn. The goal is to nurture true understanding and deep reflection as well as basic assimilation of information and knowledge. In striving to attain this goal of developing self-learners who are wise, knowledgeable and gracious, New Hope believes firmly in the following:
- Small-sized tutorials foster both interactive dialogue with peers as well as a unique relationship between student and tutor.
- Assignments and classroom work are intentionally formulated to aid the integrative process of learning; they are purposeful in content both in and out of the classroom, without busy work or technology employed for their own sake alone.
- Assessment is a natural part of the learning process, but it must be purposeful, creating the satisfaction of accomplishment rather than fear of failure.
- Parental involvement is a vital component of education at New Hope – there is a true partnership between the tutor’s work in the tutorial and the parent’s oversight at home.
- An environment of respect among the students and between students and tutors is nurtured and expected. Such an atmosphere inspires the learning process and facilitates genuine, gracious interaction in the classroom which is a necessary factor for mature discussion and thoughtful reflection.
