Celebrating Growth: How Consistent Tutoring Helped Molly Shine

Over the past year, I’ve had the joy of working with a bright and motivated 4th grader named Molly. What began as a short-term effort to boost her writing stamina and prepare her for an important assessment quickly turned into a long-standing tutoring relationship rooted in growth, challenge, and joy.

The Journey

I started working with Molly in spring 2024. At the time, her parents were hoping to help her build the confidence and skills needed to pass an assessment that would determine her readiness for 4th grade. While she had a solid foundation in both reading and writing, they wanted her to strengthen her writing stamina and overall academic preparation.

From the start, it was clear that Molly was a special student. She came to each session enthusiastic, engaged, and full of curiosity. Her vocabulary was already strong, and she had a joyful approach to learning that made our work feel more like discovery than drill. My priority was to build on that excitement while reinforcing the areas that needed development.

Stretch + Support

Molly stands out as an advanced learner in many ways. Unlike many of her peers who experienced learning gaps due to starting school online during COVID-19, she entered our sessions with a strong schema, developed through travel, extracurricular activities, and a wide range of life experiences her parents had provided.

However, even advanced learners have areas for growth. One of the things I enjoy most about working with students like Molly is the opportunity to stretch their thinking while addressing skill gaps. With Molly, I often used higher-level approaches, like having her evaluate student writing samples using a rubric. This strategy not only exposed her to strong writing models but also helped her internalize what excellent writing looks like. Over time, she began applying these techniques in her own work.

My philosophy is that no student is perfect, and they don’t need to be. High-performing students often still require assistance in building stamina, articulating their thinking clearly, or applying metacognitive strategies.

With Molly, I used a mix of engaging, high-interest resources and creative teaching approaches to challenge her while reinforcing core skills.

Celebrating Wins

By the end of the 4th grade, Molly’s growth was undeniable. She proudly told me she had received multiple academic awards at her school’s end-of-year celebration, including top achievement awards in Math and Reading. Most notably, she received the Highest Reading Growth Award in the entire grade!

Her joy was contagious. When she shared the news, she was absolutely glowing with pride—and I was just as thrilled. Beyond academics, she even shared that she had beaten a 5th grader in a school race! Molly is clearly a rising star in every sense of the word.

What led to such remarkable growth? I believe it was the combination of her consistent effort, growing confidence, and a positive mindset about learning. Our weekly sessions helped create a steady rhythm that allowed her to stretch and shine without pressure.

A Word on Impact

Tutoring doesn’t happen in isolation—it thrives through partnership. Over time, I’ve developed a strong and professional relationship with Molly’s family. We communicate regularly about session updates, school goals, and scheduling, and there’s a mutual trust that allows us to stay aligned in supporting Molly’s success.

That trust deepened when I began working with Molly’s younger brother, Henry, who is also an advanced learner in first grade. The family recently told me, “We’re locked in. The kids love you.” That affirmation means the world to me.

I believe one of the biggest drivers of Molly’s progress has been consistency. I show up every week. I communicate clearly. I adapt and adjust. And most importantly, I truly enjoy teaching her. Over time, those small moments of support add up, and the results speak for themselves.