Reading and writing tutors adopt a student-centered approach inspired by the Harkness Method.

The Harkness Method is a student-centered approach to learning that prioritizes discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. Originally developed at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1930, the method centers on dialogue rather than direct instruction. Students take the lead in analyzing texts, posing questions, and engaging in thoughtful conversation, while teachers act as facilitators rather than lecturers. This approach, rooted in the principles of equality, shared responsibility, and active learning, has proven effective in promoting deeper understanding and fostering essential skills like critical analysis, communication, and independent thinking. While traditionally associated with classroom education, the core principles of the Harkness Method can be successfully adapted for one-on-one learning environments. For reading and writing tutors, incorporating elements of this method can create a more engaging and empowering experience for students. By promoting open-ended discussion, encouraging self-reflection, and fostering shared responsibility, tutors can help students become more confident, thoughtful, and independent learners.

At its core, the Harkness Method shifts the focus of education from teacher-led lectures to student-driven discussions. Instead of the teacher delivering information directly, students are encouraged to engage with one another, ask questions, offer interpretations, and challenge ideas collaboratively. The teacher offers occasional prompts or clarifications but largely allows the students to direct the conversation. The goal is for students to develop critical thinking, active listening, and articulate self-expression.

The physical arrangement of the classroom is integral to the method. The Harkness table, usually large enough to seat 12 to 15 students, ensures that every participant has an equal place in the conversation. This physical setup reflects the philosophical underpinnings of the approach — equality, shared responsibility, and mutual respect. No single student or teacher is positioned as the "authority" in the room, encouraging all voices to be heard.

The philosophy behind the Harkness Method is rooted in constructivist theories of education, which argue that students learn best when they actively construct their own knowledge through exploration, dialogue, and reflection. By promoting open-ended discussion, the Harkness Method aims to deepen understanding, foster independent thinking, and nurture intellectual curiosity. It contrasts with traditional lecture-based models, where students passively receive information from the teacher. Instead, it views learning as a shared journey where students' perspectives and insights are essential to the learning process.

Another key element of the Harkness Method is accountability. Because students are responsible for driving the discussion, they must come to class prepared, having read and analyzed assigned texts in advance. Their contributions are essential to the collective learning experience, so students are encouraged to take ownership of their role in the discussion. Teachers may assess students based on the quality of their contributions, their ability to support their points with evidence, and their capacity to listen and respond thoughtfully to their peers.

The method is used primarily in humanities subjects, such as literature, history, and philosophy, where open-ended questions and multiple interpretations are common. However, it can also be adapted for math and science classes, where students might work through problems collaboratively and discuss various approaches to finding solutions.

Supporters of the Harkness Method argue that it develops lifelong skills, such as critical analysis, communication, empathy, and the ability to engage in civil discourse. By encouraging students to listen, reflect, and articulate their thoughts, it prepares them for higher education and professional environments where collaboration and effective communication are vital.

Reading and writing tutors can incorporate elements of the Harkness Method into their pedagogy by fostering dialogue-driven learning, encouraging student agency, and promoting collaborative exploration of texts and ideas. While traditional tutoring sessions often emphasize one-on-one instruction or direct feedback, a Harkness-inspired approach shifts the dynamic toward a more student-centered experience. This method invites students to take an active role in their own learning, mirroring the philosophy of shared inquiry and open-ended discussion that defines the Harkness Method.

One of the most effective ways for tutors to integrate this approach is by framing tutoring sessions around guided discussions rather than directive instruction. Instead of telling a student what a text "means" or how to revise a piece of writing, the tutor can ask open-ended questions that prompt the student to reflect on their interpretation of the material. For example, while analyzing a literary passage, a tutor might ask, "What do you think the author is suggesting here?" or "Which parts of the text support your interpretation?" This method encourages students to actively engage with the text, develop analytical reasoning skills, and articulate their ideas with clarity and confidence.

In writing instruction, tutors can adopt the Harkness approach by facilitating reflective conversations about the student's own work. Rather than providing a list of corrections, the tutor might guide the student through a self-evaluation process. For instance, the tutor could ask, "Which part of this paragraph do you think is the strongest, and why?" or "How do you think your argument would change if you rephrased this sentence?" This line of questioning places the student at the center of the revision process, encouraging them to think like a writer and recognize their own strengths and areas for growth. The tutor's role is to guide, probe, and challenge assumptions, but not to dictate.

Another key aspect of the Harkness Method that tutors can incorporate is the concept of shared responsibility. While a one-on-one tutoring session cannot perfectly replicate a full Harkness-style discussion with multiple students, tutors can still create a sense of collaborative inquiry. Tutors and students can work together as intellectual partners, exploring a text or writing task as equals rather than adopting a hierarchical "expert-student" model. For example, if a student is struggling with a writing assignment, the tutor might offer to brainstorm possible approaches together, sharing ideas back and forth as co-thinkers. This process models the collaborative spirit of the Harkness Method, where all participants contribute to a shared understanding.

In a Harkness classroom, students are expected to come prepared, having read and reflected on assigned materials before the discussion begins. In the same way, tutors can encourage students to come to tutoring sessions with specific questions or goals. Instead of arriving unprepared and waiting for direction, students can be tasked with identifying a section of a reading that challenged them or highlighting a paragraph of their writing they feel needs the most work. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and helps students become more self-directed learners.

For younger students or those unfamiliar with this method, tutors may need to scaffold the process. Early on, tutors can model the type of questions that promote deeper thinking. For example, instead of asking simple comprehension questions like "What is the main idea of this passage?" tutors might use more open-ended prompts like "What surprised you most about this section?" or "Which part of the story do you think was most important, and why?" As students become more comfortable with this type of inquiry, they can begin to generate their own questions, a hallmark of the Harkness approach.

Finally, tutors can reinforce the skills of listening and perspective-taking. In a Harkness discussion, students are encouraged not only to share their own ideas but also to respond to and build on the ideas of others. In one-on-one tutoring, this can be achieved by asking the student to reflect on the feedback they receive. If a tutor provides feedback on a student's essay, the tutor might follow up with, "How do you feel about that suggestion? Do you see another way to address it?" This approach encourages students to see feedback not as an external judgment but as part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at growth.

Incorporating the principles of the Harkness Method into reading and writing tutoring offers a meaningful way to shift students from passive recipients of instruction to active participants in their own learning. By emphasizing dialogue, self-reflection, and shared responsibility, tutors can foster an environment where students engage deeply with texts, articulate their ideas, and become more independent thinkers. Through open-ended questioning, collaborative exploration, and guided self-evaluation, tutors equip students with the tools to approach learning with confidence and curiosity. This approach not only strengthens academic performance but also cultivates critical skills like analytical reasoning, effective communication, and self-directed learning. By adopting Harkness-inspired strategies, tutors can create lasting educational experiences that extend well beyond the tutoring session.