Fluent Minds currently serves students in Grades 6–7 through our reading and writing courses and students in Grades 11–12 through Intro to Research. Grades 6–7 are organized by skill level, allowing families to choose the best starting point for their student.
Classes are held twice a week via Zoom and are embedded in the student portal. Each session is approximately 60 minutes of live, teacher-led instruction. Students can ask questions throughout. All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours — so a missed class doesn't mean missed learning.
Yes. Full-year online courses may be paid in convenient monthly installments, making it easier for families to spread tuition across the school year.
Every session is recorded and posted in the student portal within 24 hours. Students can watch the full recording, access all materials, and continue with their assignments. We encourage live attendance because the real-time teacher interaction is a core part of the program.
Tutoring often focuses on helping students complete immediate assignments or prepare for upcoming tests. Fluent Minds is different — we build the underlying skills that create lasting growth. Through structured, live instruction, students strengthen the habits of reading, reasoning, and writing that transfer across subjects and across school years.
For online classes, students need a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone (laptop or desktop recommended), and a free Google account. All course materials are accessed through the Fluent Minds student portal — no additional purchases required.
We offer a full refund within 7 days of the first class session if Fluent Minds isn't the right fit. After that, we handle requests on a case-by-case basis. Our goal is always to find a solution that works.
Fluent Minds activities are designed to develop thinking, not test students with fill-in-the-blank or matching questions. Many prompts are open-ended, allowing students to choose characters, select evidence, and develop their own supported responses. Because more than one response may be correct, traditional answer keys are not provided. Parents are encouraged to read alongside their child, discuss responses, and look for thoughtful answers supported by the text.
The Online Learning course includes direct teacher instruction, guided practice, submitted assignments, personalized feedback, class recordings, and optional office hours. Book Studies provide the same purposeful approach to skill development in an independent, self-paced format, but do not include live instruction or personalized teacher feedback.
Online Learning and Intro to Research Only: Students will have assigned work throughout the week. Most daily lessons take approximately 20–30 minutes, plus additional time for assigned reading or research. Workload may vary depending on the lesson and student.
Parents are responsible for providing access to the required novels. Families enrolled in an Online Learning Course will receive the year's book list after enrollment. Intro to Research students will receive a list of any required course materials.
For individual Book Studies, the required novel is identified when the course is purchased. Books may be purchased from any retailer or borrowed from a library. Print and digital editions are both acceptable.
Audiobooks may be used alongside a print or digital copy of the book. Because students are expected to locate textual evidence, record direct quotations, and cite page numbers, they must also have access to the written text. Listening while following along in the book is an excellent option for students who prefer audio support.
Online Learning and Intro to Research Only: Students submit designated assignments through the Fluent Minds student portal. Teachers provide individualized feedback through written comments, one-on-one support during live class breakout sessions, and designated feedback days. Feedback helps students understand what they are doing well, identify areas for improvement, and apply what they learn to future assignments.
Book Studies are designed for students to work through independently, but parent involvement is encouraged. Parents are encouraged to read alongside their child, discuss their thinking, and review the Learn section of each lesson to ensure their child understands the skill being taught before completing the assigned work.
