Getting Started with TutorThings

TutorThings is a voice tutor designed to keep the learner off the keyboard. It helps learners grow by talking through ideas, not by handing over answers. The more a learner explains their thinking out loud, the more the tutor can pinpoint exactly where to guide them next.

What to expect

1. Pick a session - Choose what kind of conversation fits right now
2. Start talking - Say what you know, what you're stuck on, or what you want to explore
3. Follow the questions - The tutor asks before it tells. You try first, then get support
4. Finish with understanding - The goal is being able to explain why, not just what

Open sessions and guided practice

When you open Start Session, you'll see open-ended voice sessions plus guided practice options.

Learn Anything

Bring any topic, question, or concept. The tutor figures out where you are and works from there - no setup needed. Good for the nightly "I don't get this" moment, school subjects, curiosity questions, or anything a learner is currently working on.

Story Time

The tutor asks what kind of story you like, then builds one and involves you in it with check-in questions along the way. Helps younger learners build comprehension and spoken confidence through narrative. The questions are still built around reasoning - the story is just the vehicle.

Quiz Game

A trivia-style round on a topic you pick. The tutor offers a few categories or takes a custom choice, then runs questions in a game-like format. Builds the habit of saying why, not just what.

Describe and Guess

Practice descriptive language, attributes, and clue quality by talking through something without naming it right away.

Reason It Out

Pick a prompt, share an opinion, and back it up with reasons. Good for longer turns and clearer spoken thinking.

Guided practice

You may also see focused sessions such as reading, fractions, multiplication, or science. These keep the same explanation-first tutoring style with a more specific learning lane.

All sessions follow the same rules: you explain before you get told, hints get more specific only when you're genuinely stuck, and the tutor never just hands over the answer.

For families & educators

• TutorThings guides - it does not solve for the learner
• Mistakes are treated as signals, not failures
• Sessions are short and focused (10 - 15 minutes is the sweet spot)
• Sessions are designed to stay off the keyboard and keep screen interaction light
• Any topic works - the tutor adapts to what the learner brings

Read more in the Families & Educators Guide.

Tips for a strong first session

• Start with something the learner is currently working on, curious about, or stuck on
• After the session, ask them to explain what they learned in their own words
• Short sessions consistently beat long sessions occasionally

Next step

Start here: Start Session

Need help? See Help & FAQ.