Every Dojo Tutor session is an opportunity to inspire confidence and a love for learning. Follow these steps to create a smooth and engaging class experience:
Top tips to facilitate an amazing class!
Set up a quiet, well-lit environment
Your teaching space should be distraction-free with good lighting so the student can clearly see your face. Avoid noisy areas and background interruptions.
Ensure Zoom and your device are updated and working
Before class, check that:
✔ Zoom is updated to the latest version.
✔ Your microphone, camera, and internet connection are working properly.
✔ Your device (laptop/desktop only) supports all necessary Zoom features.
Be happy, high-energy, and welcoming
Set a warm, positive tone from the start! Smile, use expressive body language, and make the student feel excited to learn. Your energy sets the stage for engagement!
Keep the student engaged and actively participating
Encourage the student to speak, annotate, and interact throughout the class. Ask open-ended questions, give positive feedback, and adjust pacing based on their responses.
Build a strong connection with both the student and family
At the end of class, invite the parent/guardian to chat. Share positive feedback, discuss learning goals, and guide them through scheduling the next session. A great relationship builds long-term success!
Subscription class step by step
1. Access the subscription class Information
- Log into your Dojo Tutor Dashboard.
- Locate the class with the "Subscription" tag.
- Click on the class to review key details about your student and the previous session summary.
2. Prepare your class
- Open the Dojo Tutor Drive and make a copy of our subscription class slide deck
- Personalize the template by filling in the designated sections to tailor it to your learner.
You do not need to facilitate your entire class in Google Slides. Once you welcome your learner, you may use additional websites and resources you deem appropriate.
3. Join the Class
- Five minutes before the scheduled start time, the "Join now" button will appear in your Dashboard.
- Click it to open the class in the Zoom Workplace app (Ensure you have downloaded and updated Zoom beforehand).
- Be sure to have one of our fun Dojo Tutor Zoom backgrounds on!
4. Set Up the Learning Environment
- Open your personalized Google Slides assessment and display the welcome screen with the student’s name.
- Use Zoom’s advanced sharing options to share only a portion of your screen.
- Why? This helps keep learners focused and prevents distractions from pop-ups or ads.
5. Admitting the Student
- Admit the student from the waiting room only at the scheduled class time.
- If they arrive early, send a friendly waiting room chat message instead of admitting them early.
- If they arrive late, follow the current late arrival flow.
6. Facilitate your class
✅ Welcome back!
- Welcome your student with their name and a fun visual on the screen!
✅ Emotional Check-In
- Ask how they are feeling today and catch up with your student.
- Spending time to build relationships will help keep your student engaged and invested in their learning.
- Show them how to annotate on the screen to engage them early.
✅ Goal Slide
- Review your goals you have set for your student with a visual. Ideally this is personalized with their interests.
- Learn more about goal setting and goal expectations here.
✅ Main lesson
- You can use slides to facilitate a planned lesson, or you can use additional websites and resources you deem appropriate.
- All kids learn differently, as long as the resources are high quality and engaging, we trust you to do what is in your student’s best interest.
✅ Goal Review and wrap up
- Recap the class goals:
“We wanted to finish our first class together and have fun. What do you think—did we meet our goals today?” - Ask the student:
“What do you want to learn next time? Is there something specific you’d love to practice?” - Review and preview:
“What is one thing you remember most about today? Next week we will work on XYZ.”
7. Wrap Up the Class
- End the class on time (If there’s extra time, play a quick game or review an assessment question).
- DO NOT end early!
8. Review the Session Summary
- One hour after the class, you’ll be able to Review recap.
- This will be sent automatically four hours after the class. Learn more here.
9. (Optional) Leave a Note for the Family
- Send a quick message or attach an activity for kids to work on between classes.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who do I contact for tech help?
A: Reach out to the ClassDojo Customer Support (CS) team for any technical issues. They’re available to assist with troubleshooting and platform-related concerns. Email: tutoring-support@classdojo.com
Q: What device should I use to host classes?
A: You must use a laptop or desktop computer. Zoom’s full features, including backgrounds, screen sharing, and annotation tools, are only supported on these devices. Do not use tablets, Chromebooks, or phones, as they do not fully support Zoom’s advanced teaching tools.
Q: My computer won’t let me use a Zoom background. How do I fix it?
A: If you’re unable to use a virtual background, try the following:
- Check Zoom settings – Open Zoom, go to Settings > Background & Effects, and enable virtual backgrounds.
- Update Zoom – Make sure you are using the latest version of Zoom.
- Check system requirements – Older computers may not support virtual backgrounds. You may need to enable "I have a green screen" in Zoom settings.
- Restart Zoom – Close and reopen Zoom after changing settings.
Q: My computer won’t let me share a portion of my screen. How do I fix it?
A: If the option to share a portion of your screen is missing:
- Ensure you are using Zoom Workplace App – The partial screen-sharing feature is not available on Zoom’s web version.
- Enable Advanced Sharing – In Zoom, go to Share Screen > Advanced > Portion of Screen.
- Update Zoom – Older versions of Zoom may not have this feature, so check for updates.
- Check system permissions – If using a Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording and ensure Zoom has permission.
Q: Can I use the web version of Zoom in my browser?
A: No, using the web version will impact the number of zoom resources available to you and hinder the class. You must use the Zoom Workplace app.
Q: When can I join the class?
A: The "Join now" button will appear in your Dojo Tutor Dashboard five minutes before the scheduled class time. Click it to open the session in Zoom Workplace.
Q: What if the student arrives early?
A: Do not admit them early. Instead, send a welcoming message in the waiting room chat to let them know you’ll start right on time.
Q: What if the student is late?
A: Follow the late arrival flow to guide them into the session smoothly. If a student is significantly late, continue with the class as best as possible within the remaining time.
Q: What if the student does not show up?
A: If no student attends, you do not need to do anything. No need to let our team know.
Q: What if two kids join the session at the same time?
A: Kindly let the family know that these classes are meant to be facilitated 1:1 and they should reach out to our support team to set up another class for their other kid(s).
Q: Why should I share only a portion of my screen?
A: Using Zoom’s advanced sharing options ensures that students see only the relevant content, minimizing distractions and avoiding unnecessary exposure to ads or personal files.
Q: What should I do if I finish the session early?
A: If you have extra time, engage the student with a fun game or review more assessment questions. Do not end the class early.
Q: Do I need to personalize the slide deck for every class?
A: We encourage personalizing the slide deck to align with your student’s goals and interests. This makes the session engaging and tailored to their needs.
Q: Can I use external resources during the main lesson?
A: Absolutely! Feel free to use high-quality, engaging resources beyond the Google Slides deck. Just make sure they align with the student’s learning goals.
Q: What should I do if the student doesn’t respond during the emotional check-in?
A: If the student seems shy or unresponsive, gently encourage them by sharing something about your day or asking simple, open-ended questions. For example: “I had pancakes this morning! What’s your favorite breakfast?”
Q: What if the student uses a device that doesn’t support screen annotation?
A: Adapt the lesson by asking them to explain their answers verbally or write them on paper to show on camera. Keep them engaged through other interactive techniques.
Q: Can I skip setting the goals slide for the session?
A: No, reviewing the goals at the beginning of each session is essential. It sets clear expectations for the class and helps the student stay focused.
Q: Is it okay to extend the class beyond the scheduled time?
A: No, please stick to the scheduled time to maintain consistency. If the session runs long, wrap it up promptly and note the progress for the next class.
More questions? Email our team at: tutoring-support@classdojo.com