What is The Difference Between Tutoring and Academic Coaching?
There are 3 key differences between tutoring and academic coaching.
1. Tutoring focuses on targeting specific skills, while academic coaching focuses on strategies that work across different subjects.
Tutoring tends to focus on strategies specific to a set of skills a student may be struggling with. This can be across more than one subject. High-quality tutors use proven methods to run effective interventions to support their students academically.
Academic coaching tends to focus on strategies that may be holding students back across all subjects. This could be time-management, organization, or developing greater self-regulation skills.
2. Tutoring focuses on what to learn, while academic coaching focuses on how to learn.
After running a comprehensive assessment, tutors focus on building up a student’s strengths by specifically targeting their areas of weakness. Tutors focus on specific content areas or skills that students are struggling with, ensuring they have the support they need to be successful.
Academic coaching isn’t specific to any subject or skill. It focuses on the learning process as a whole. Instead of focusing on how to multiply or identify parts of speech, academic coaching helps students with staying focused, taking notes, and setting goals.
3. Tutoring best supports students who struggle academically in one or two areas, while academic coaching best supports students who need support in three or more areas.
If a student is struggling in all of their classwork, sometimes tutoring alone may not be the most effective intervention. High-quality tutoring best supports students who need additional instruction in one or two academic areas.
When students are experiencing frustration and disappointment across all subjects, oftentimes academic coaching may be the most effective intervention to that student. Through giving students strategies to do their best in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, academic coaching helps students who need support in three or more academic areas.
What if My Child Needs Both?
You do not have to choose between one or the other. At Strive Learning Solutions, we partner with parents to create a plan to best support their children. This could mean a combination of both tutoring and academic coaching strategies if that’s what the child needs to be successful.
Strive Learning Solutions empowers students to reach their full potential through comprehensive learning solutions. To learn how Strive can support your student, schedule your free consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tutoring and academic coaching?
Tutoring focuses on specific subjects or academic skills, while academic coaching focuses on how to learn. Academic coaching helps students build strategies like time management, organization, and focus that apply across all classes.
How do I know if my child needs tutoring or academic coaching?
If your child struggles in one academic area, tutoring may be the best fit. If your child has challenges across multiple subjects, such as missing deadlines, staying organized, or managing stress, academic coaching may be more effective.
Can a student benefit from both tutoring and academic coaching?
Absolutely, many students thrive with a combination of both. Tutoring helps fill skill gaps, while academic coaching builds the habits and self-management skills needed for long-term success. At Strive Learning Solutions, we create personalized plans that integrate both when needed.
Does Strive Learning Solutions offer academic coaching and tutoring in Denver?
Yes. Strive Learning Solutions provides both tutoring and academic coaching across the Denver Metro area — including Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and Golden — as well as virtual sessions for families anywhere.
