HwH Hotline Guidelines
Please read the following guidelines below carefully. It is important that they are understood and followed. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us (text Homework Hub at 516-423-2543).
What is HwH Hotline? HwH Hotline is an online program for students that need "On The Spot" tutoring help. Sessions are 20 minutes long and teachers will be on call during their available times. Once a student registers for the hotline they can login to get the help they need. (All teachers will be paid $25 per 20 minute session.)
The good news is that you can be as flexible as you want. You can use the hotline to fill an open spot for a last minute cancellation or for any available free time. You can even do later in the evening when most kids are doing their homework. It is also a great way to pick up weekly clients. The bad news is that if nobody joins you do not get paid.
Requirements to Tutor for HwH Hotline:
● To be eligible to tutor elementary through high school subjects, you must be a certified teacher with at least 3 years experience and have a master's degree in the subject areas that you will be tutoring.
● If you select higher level classes (honors, AP, or IB) you must be an expert in the curriculum, have teacher certification, a master's degree, and at least 3 years experience teaching these subjects. (In order to tutor AP and IB courses, it is required that you have completed the certificate program and have received certification.) These courses require significantly more experience and knowledge than teaching regents or regular level courses.
● For test prep instruction, you must be a certified teacher or professor with a masters degree in a related subject. You must have at least 3 years experience teaching the exam. An excellent test prep instructor understands that improving a student's score is not just about teaching the content. Equally important is to provide the students with strategies, techniques, study skills, as well as a complete understanding of the format, and how the exam is scored.
● To tutor college courses, you must be a certified teacher at an AP or IB level or a college professor. You must have at least a master's degree in the subject area you are tutoring and a minimum of 3 years experience teaching that subject in a classroom setting.
Database: Every instructor must have access to the Homework Hub database in order to login and offer your availability for tutoring. Please use your email address on file and your current Homework Hub password to login.
Cancellation Policy: Students may not cancel on the day of the session, therefore you will paid for any cancellation or "no show" if that should happen.
On Time and Prepared: Please be prepared and on time. It is important that you leave enough time between your sessions to prepare for your students and for any unexpected technical difficulties.
Zoom: We chose to use Zoom for our online lessons because of its user friendly platform. Once you submit this form you will receive a Zoom invite. You may also choose to use your own zoom account.
Online Etiquette:
For optimal learning, we ask that students and instructors limit all distractions in the room - cell phones, TV, pets, family members, etc. We recommend advising students to sit at a desk or a table where they can focus best. Please use a laptop or a desktop since smart phones and tablets do not have the same interactive capabilities. It is important to make sure you and your student have the video option turned on. We strongly suggest against using a virtual background. As we know, the interaction between the instructors and the students is the key to success.
When students signs up for one of your hotline sessions, you will receive the email below:
(Students will also receive a confirmation email.)
When possible, if HwH office staff sees that a hotline session was just booked with you, we will also send you a text reminder. (However please rely on your emails to notify you.)
How to contact the student: You will need to contact the student in order to send them a link for the online meeting and a request for samples of work before the session begins. Please use the hotline email address and contact number listed in the email you receive (see above). (If the student is under the age of 18, it will be the guardian's contact phone number.) Secondary contact information will be provided if needed. If you are unable to connect with the student, contact the guardian or student by cell phone. If you do not want your phone number made public, feel free to call anonymously.
Contacting a student anonymously:
- Enter *67
- Enter the number you wish to call (including area code).
- The words "Private," "Anonymous," or some other indicator will appear on the recipient's phone instead of your mobile number.
(To remove *67, hit *82 when making your next phone call.)
Teaching Strategies: Although you may find one technique easier than another, please adapt your tutoring using the same methods as the student's classroom teacher. Communication with the student on how they are being taught at school is key. Often students go back to their classrooms having learned a different strategy at Homework Hub than what the classroom teacher has taught. This confuses the students and frustrates the classroom teachers. In addition, it causes district teachers to recommend using tutors from their child's school district only. (An exception to this policy is if the student completely understands the teacher’s goal and is capable of learning a "trick" or faster way to solve a problem and won’t confuse the information.)
After your session is completed: In order to get paid for your session, please mark the lesson completed on the hotline tutor login page located at the bottom under "Hotline Session History". Students will then receive an email where they will be asked to rate their experience from 1-5 stars. All students will have access to these ratings when they sign up for a session.
What to do if a students wants additional time: Students must log in and sign up again for you next available session.