Welcome to Our Tutoring FAQs

How does online tutoring work?

Our online tutoring involves a student connecting with a tutor via an easy-to-use live two-way video conferencing platform. The tutor provides personalized instruction, using a collaborative tutoring platform, screen sharing, and subject-specific tools to make it a fun learning experience.

Is online tutoring as effective as in-person tutoring?

Studies have shown that online tutoring can be as effective as in-person tutoring, especially when sessions are personalized and tutors use engaging digital tools (like we do!). It also offers added convenience and flexibility for busy families.

Check out screenshots of a session on our tutoring platform or book a FREE Meet and Greet to check it out for yourself.

How do you ensure my child’s safety during online sessions?

All tutors are provincially certified teachers with valid criminal record checks and are in good standing with their provincial teaching organization. They are trustworthy professionals who work with children regularly.

Each student and tutor have a secured and unique space for their sessions together. All sessions are recorded to ensure your child’s safety and are only accessible by the Diamond Teachers Group administration. The recordings are never shared with anyone unless required by law.

How is your online tutoring service different from others?

1. Certified Teachers: All tutors are experienced, provincially certified teachers who understand the curriculum.
2. Curriculum Alignment: Sessions are tailored to follow the student’s school curriculum, preparing them for class and deepening their understanding of the material.
3. Personalized Learning Plans: Customized learning goals are developed to close gaps and, most importantly, build confidence!
4. Convenience and Accessibility: Online sessions eliminate the need for families to travel.
5. Comprehensive Services: We provide a range of services including special education, test prep, mindfulness tutoring, and learning a new language. We also offer educational assessments for students in grades 1-8 for families looking for insight into their child’s abilities in a specific subject.

What if a tutoring service or location is not listed on your booking page?

We currently offer online tutoring in British Columbia, tutoring online with teachers in Alberta, teachers who tutor online in Saskatchewan, and online tutoring with teachers in Ontario. If you do not see your province or subject listed when you try to book a tutor, please text us or call us. In most cases, we have tutors joining us that may not be listed on our website yet.  

What qualifications do you require your online tutors to have?

Our tutors are all provincially certified teachers, (excluding our post-secondary and second-language tutors), who have experience teaching/tutoring online. They have a strong understanding of the subject matter, school curriculum, and course expectations to help you thrive at school. 

Tutors are carefully selected through an interview process, and must provide two professional references, and a valid Vulnerable Sectors Check (specialized criminal background check for working with children).

What technology is needed for online tutoring?   

The only things needed to have an online lesson with us are:

• A laptop or desktop computer with a microphone (internal or external) and a webcam. Or a tablet or smartphone ideally with at least 4GB of RAM. 

• A reliable internet connection with ideally at least 5Mb/s download and 3Mb/s upload. Test your internet speed here.

• The latest version of a modern web browser (we recommend Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).

• Optional: Drawing tools such as touch screen laptops, drawing tablet, or stylus. 

• Optional: Headphones or earphones with a microphone to prevent echoing and help filter outside noise. This is recommended for students who struggle with attention and/or will be joining from a space that may have some distractions. 

How do you match a tutor with my child?

You can review profiles of tutors and choose your tutor OR you can contact us for help. 

We ask you insightful questions to better understand your child, both personally and academically.

We also use a detailed set of questions to evaluate our tutors, allowing us to compare their responses and find the best match for your child.

Can online tutoring help with specific subjects or standardized tests?

Yes, we provide targeted test prep for standardized tests like the EQAO (in Ontario), SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test), GED (high school equivalency test), TOEFL, IELTS, and more. 

How do you ensure my child stays engaged during online sessions?

• Our tutors use interactive tools, games, and real-time feedback to keep your child engaged.

• Sessions are tailored to your child’s pace and personal interests which helps your child see the subject in a new way.

• We offer shorter sessions for students who struggle with attention. We highly recommend shorter sessions (30- or 45 minutes) for younger learners a couple of times a week versus one longer 60-minute session a week.

• Our tutors also create learning goals WITH your child which outline what they will be working on together, and then track their progress and share it with your child after each session, so they can see how they’re doing.

These strategies help your child ‘buy into’ the sessions by seeing the value and purpose behind each session.

What if my child has special learning needs?

Our tutors are real teachers, many with Special Education qualifications and experience, trained to work with students with special educational needs, including those with learning disabilities, ADHD, or other challenges. They can provide customized strategies to support your child's unique learning requirements and teach them how they learn best.

Learn more about our tutoring services for students with learning disabilities. 

How is progress monitored and communicated?

We set long-term goals within the first few sessions using our Success Strategy template which is then shared with you and the student for input. The Success Strategy is a document shared with you and your child that provides written feedback after each session about progress, next steps, and any concerns. 

What are the costs associated with online tutoring?

The cost of tutoring sessions depends on the student's grade or subject, the session length, and any additional support requested. 1 to 1 tutoring sessions typically range between $38-75.

We strongly recommend 30-minute sessions for children in grades 1-3 multiple times a week to promote engagement and the opportunity for review. We also recommend 60- or 90-minute sessions for grades 9-12. Secondary courses are more in-depth so the longer sessions allow sufficient time for introducing a topic, giving examples, and checking for understanding without rushing through the material.

We also offer add-on services including essay editing, homework assignments for extra practice, IEP consultations, educational assessments, and more. Please email us for more information.

Is there flexibility in scheduling sessions?

Yes, one of the main advantages of online tutoring is flexibility. You may schedule sessions at times that are convenient for your family, including evenings and weekends, and depending on the tutor’s availability, during the school day is possible. 

How do I sign up for tutoring services?

You may review online tutors and book a FREE Meet and Greet, or session, with them. Or give us a call and we can help you find your tutor.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask for 24 hours’ notice to cancel an individual session or terminate sessions altogether. If you aren’t happy, we don’t think it’s fair to continue paying for sessions you don’t want. Please book a call with us to discuss your options.

Do you offer any FREE sessions?

We offer a FREE Meet and Greet to allow you to meet your online tutor and see if they'd be a good fit.

We also offer a FREE workshop every month. The workshops focus on different subjects or skills each month and are scheduled on a specific day and time. Check out our next workshops and save your seat!