Tutorials

“Motivating students is not about dramatically passing on a torch. It’s about tending a long term flame.”

To fulfil our vision and to give life to our values, the tutorials at Albany Senior High School will support you to:

• Foster relationships and build a love of school and learning.
• Develop learning partnerships with family and whanau
• Build confidence as learners
• Gather information on careers and pathways
• Improve achievement

Foster relationships and build a love of school and learning.

You will have the opportunity in the tutorial to build a very positive relationship with a teacher who will be your personal tutor and a group of students who will act as your “pit crew ‘ or support team while you are at ASHS. You will be able to set goals and then share your successes and challenges with a group who really cares about you. You will be able to support and challenge the other members of your group. This is your place to share and to grow.

Build confidence as learners

You will keep a portfolio of your work completed in specialist subjects and impact projects. In the tutorials you will have the opportunity to reflect on that learning and answer questions such as – is this my best work ? - what did I do really well ? – where are the weaknesses ? – how can I use the comments the teacher has made to improve for next time ? – where exactly did I go wrong ? - what can I do to improve ?

Improve achievement

• You need 80 credits in level one – with your tutor you will keep a regular check on progress so that you achieve those credits comfortably. You should always be aiming for excellence credits.
• The tutorial is the opportunity to look closely at the requirements of an assignment with the guidance of a tutor and then to always be working at the excellence level.
• You may have a performance you are nervous about. It may be a presentation of an assignment or a speech, or a music performance – you want to get excellence and may use the tutorial group to be a practice audience.
• You may need extra tutoring in a particular maths problem – Talk to your tutor about it.

Develop learning partnerships with family and whanau

It is important that your families have a very good idea of what you are learning at school and how you learn best so that they can be part of your learning support group. You are able to share your portfolio with your families so that they can see how best to support you. During the year there will be formal occasions when your families can meet with your tutor and you and at any time during the year your family is welcome to contact the tutor.

Gather information on careers and pathways

The choices you make in the senior school are crucial for your future life. Your tutor is the person in the school,who can support you to make informed and wise decisions. Your tutor may not have all the answers but will certainly be keen to direct you to an appropriate advisor. You need to know about: NCEA requirements, University entrance requirements, Gateway opportunities, University courses that can cater for you.

Learn more about tutorials: "Sustaining the fire."