The Kings High School National Honors Society, or NHS launched a peer-tutoring program in January. Unlike other tutoring programs that tutor before or after school, the peer tutoring program allows students to receive tutoring from their peers during their study hall or intervention period in the learning commons. 

“We wanted students to have some options available to them during the day to be able to seek out the help,” Said Erika Volker, one of the teacher leaders of NHS. 

Peer tutoring has become a growing trend across the country and many local schools already have established programs. Volker said that the Kings peer-tutoring program was modeled after Mason’s. 

Our peer-tutoring program is growing fast and already has a waitlist. They currently offer tutoring in Math, History and Science. 

“Right now we have 19 tutors and about 27 students who are being tutored. Right now our clients only see our tutors once a week, but our goal is to have enough tutors for our clients to see a tutor twice a week if they want to,” said volker.

Volker also said that they eventually want to turn a small part of the learning commons into an area dedicated to the peer-tutoring program. 

The National Honors Society students who are peer tutors dedicated an afternoon to educate themselves on different learning and teaching styles. 

“During 4th, 5th and 6th bell we took the time to learn about our learning styles and how to help other students without doing it for them,” said Abby Ewing, a peer-tutor.

Ewing started to tutor students who need help with math three weeks ago. 

 “I have two clients that I meet with every week. We are working together really well and I can already see some improvements as the weeks go on,” said Ewing. 

The National Honors Society also opened up a student-led writing center to offer students help with editing and organizing their papers. The writing center is located outside of Ms. Bare’s classroom during 6th bell, but Volker says that they are planning to make the writing center available during all seven bells in the future. 

As of right now, the tutors are only a part of NHS, but they hope to grow more next year. 

“We are always looking for ways to grow and change,” said Volker.  “Next year we would like to open it up to the juniors and seniors who would like to tutor, regardless of if they are in National Honors Society.”