Day in the Life at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in Virginia

June 2026
Jenny Jourdain    

Hi! Jenny here, and I am excited to take you through a day in the life as a GO Tutor at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in Alexandria, VA.  I’ve tutored in-person since college and virtually with GO Tutor Corps since 2025 – and can tell you firsthand, no two days are the same, but every single one is worth it! 

6:05 AM – Rise and Shine!

My alarm goes off, and the day begins. Before anything else, I take a few minutes to stretch, make a cup of coffee or tea, and take my pup out for a walk before the rest of the day gets going. I pack my bag with lesson materials and mentally walk through the sessions with students ahead. 

7:15 AM – Head to School 

I head out the door and am on my way to Jefferson-Houston! The commute offers me another moment to get into tutor-mode. I think through each student I’d like to connect with during the day, and how I want to open up our time together. Preparation is important not just for the lessons planned, but also for how I set the tone and meet students where they are at that moment.

7:52 AM – Sign in and Settle in

I sign in at the front office, exchange morning greetings with the staff, and make my way through the building. The hallways are buzzing with kindergartners and first graders who are getting their day started. 

8:00 AM – Quick Check-in with the 5th Grade Teachers

I walk into the 5th-grade classroom as students are wrapping up breakfast and finishing their morning work.  I take a quick scan of the room — who’s focused, who’s chatty, who looks like they might need an extra check-in today. Those first few minutes of observation offer some insights before a single lesson begins.

I huddle briefly with the classroom teacher – Is there a student who is struggling with an assignment? Anything I should reinforce during my session? This brief exchange is so valuable and reminds me that being embedded in the school means I’m part of the team and that collaboration directly shapes how I support each student.

9:05 AM – ELA Session Begins

We dive into reading and writing. Today’s focus is on reading comprehension. I have students take turns reading out loud and encourage them to reference the text to support an answer. I work with a small group, and pause to ask questions and discuss what the story is telling us. One student who has been quiet in past sessions raises their hand to participate and share their thinking. I make a mental note to celebrate that before our session ends.

9:45 AM – Transition and Quick Notes

After sessions wrap and students rotate, I take a few minutes to make any notes or observations on how each student engaged with the day’s material. What worked? What should I revisit this week? These observations help me become a sharper tutor and make any adjustments in between sessions.

11:30 AM – Lunch and Recharge

I enjoy a quick lunch and take some time to reset before afternoon sessions. The middle of the day is a good moment to check in with myself: Am I energized? Did a session feel off? What do I want to do differently this afternoon? Growth as a tutor is ongoing, and honest self-reflection during the day is part of the job.

12:30 PM  Prep for Virtual Sessions

After lunch, I shift gears. The afternoon means logging on to a computer to connect with students of different grades. That transition from in-person to virtual takes a little intentionality. I review the lesson materials for both upcoming virtual groups – one for 4th-grade learners and another for 7th-grade students. I check that my tech is ready to go, and think through how I’ll open each session to pull students in quickly. Whether I’m sitting across a table or looking into a camera, my job is the same: make students feel seen and make the content feel accessible.

1:20 PM – First Virtual Session: 4th Grade Math

My first virtual group logs on, and the energy is immediately there. We often have a student joining a bit earlier than another from a different classroom. These fourth graders on a screen are vibrant, kind, and curious — but definitely a little wiggly. We work through a math problem together, and I use the virtual whiteboard to write out the information step-by-step. I call on each student by name, give them time to think, and celebrate their contributions as we solve the problem together. Their effort is what builds confidence. By the end of the session, one student who started quietly is engaged and shares what they know throughout the session. That shift helps me stay motivated because I am supporting their learning. 

2:39 PM – Second Virtual Session: 7th Grade Math

The energy shifts again when 7th graders join. Middle schoolers bring a different dynamic to a virtual session. They have more challenging work to tackle than their elementary counterparts, but once they’re engaged, the conversations move along. We tackle more complex math problems and move through algebraic expressions together. I invite students to work alongside me at the virtual whiteboard to show their work when solving the math problems. I watch as the student walks through the problem with confidence and asks questions to strengthen their reasoning — this is the kind of moment that reminds them that setting high expectations matters. 7th graders rise to meet those expectations every time.

3:45 PM – Wrap up and Reflections

What a day! I want every new tutor to know it is important to keep showing up with intention, hold your expectations high, and remember that your presence matters more than you know. Whether you’re in a classroom in Virginia or logging on from across the country, the students you work with on the other side of that session are counting on you. Trust the process, stay consistent, and lean on your GO Tutor Corps community.