Welcome to the SASS Tutoring Orientation Fall 2017

Welcome to the SASS Tutoring Orientation: Fall 2017

A presentation in four parts • SASS (Sequoia Adult School Scholars) overview • About the SASS tutoring program • ESL tutoring Specifics • Getting started

If you’d like a copy of this presentation… A very similar version of this presentation is on the SASS For Tutors web page so you don’t need to take notes.

SASS Mission Statement Sequoia Adult School Scholars provides financial support, tutoring and other assistance to ESL and GED students— the vast majority of whom have minimum wage jobs—so they can enroll in community college to continue their education, expand their career options, and serve as role models and advocates for their children.

Who does SASS serve? • You’ll find the answer here: • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v= Qs. OR 4 XKEz. IA&feature=youtu. be

Part 1: SASS Overview • We started in 2010 with 2 students; this semester we’re supporting close to 200 students in community college, primarily Cañada College. • We are one-of-a-kind. • How we started.

Who are SASS recipients? • Majority are from Mexico; about 95 percent are from Latin America • Most have minimum wage jobs like dish washers, cashiers, and housecleaners • Age range: 19 to 66

Who are SASS recipients? • About 95 percent are ESL students; the remainder are students who recently got their GED or High School diploma. • About half of ESL students have graduated from high school in their native country, about 25 percent have some college in their native country.

What SASS provides: Financial support • Books

What SASS provides: Financial support • Bus passes and parking passes

What SASS provides: Financial support • Laptops for outstanding students

For SASS recipients, college is almost free! • Tuition: Paid for through a State of California program for low-income students • Books and transportation: Paid for by SASS • Students pay about $30 a semester.

What SASS provides: Academic support • Tutoring

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • Advising/Peer mentoring

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • Help applying for scholarships from third parties

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • SASS Conversation Club

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • SASS Entrepreneurs

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • SASS Student/Tutor picnic

What SASS provides: A seat at the table • SASS Mentors: A new program: Let us know if you’re interested in this.

How does SASS impact students’ lives?

How SASS impacts students • SASS students increase their self confidence and self worth by attending college in the United States.

How SASS impacts students • SASS students are better prepared to help their children in school.

How SASS impacts students • SASS students improve their English, and, as a result, improve their job prospects.

How SASS impacts students • Some recipients gain the skills and confidence they need to start their own businesses.

How SASS impacts students • Some SASS recipients get vocational certificates in areas such as early childhood education, medical assisting, and bookkeeping.

How SASS impacts students • A few SASS recipients get AA degrees and transfer to universities.

How do students learn about SASS? ESL classes at Sequoia Adult School A Cañada ESL class taught at Sequoia Adult School Cañada ESL classes at Cañada College

What ESL students who are SASS recipients study • In addition to classes in Grammar and Writing and Reading, Listening and Speaking students also can take • Computer applications classes • Career exploration classes • Fitness/Salsa/Soccer, etc.

Barriers students face • Poverty, coupled with the need to support their families back home • Multiple jobs, variable schedules so limited time to study

Barriers students face • Lack of understanding of the US education system • Lack of resources (e. g. computers) • Issues unique to immigrants

How immigration reform affects students • Federal laws • DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) • DAPA (Deferred Action for Parental Accountability)

How immigration reform affects students • California laws: Drivers licenses for undocumented residents starting January 1, 2015!

Questions? Comments?

Part 2: The SASS Tutoring Program

Why a tutoring program? • Generally capable students, who (often) have • Poor grades • Limited knowledge of the American education system • Lack of education in their native country • Outstanding students who want additional help

Focus of tutoring sessions • Most tutoring sessions focus on coursework, usually homework assignments for ESL classes • We have a few tutors helping students with math, computer applications, and physics.

How are SASS students referred to the tutoring program? • Self-referral • Progress reports completed by students’ professors

Tutor expectations • Meet once a week at a location you and your student agree to, usually a library or coffee shop. • Minimum session: one hour; most sessions are 90 minutes. • Commitment is through May, when the semester ends, though you can stop at any time.

Tutor expectations (cont. ) • If you need to miss more than a week, contact our coordinator, Tania Ventura, and she will try to find a sub for you. • Complete a short form at the end of the semester about your experience as a tutor. • Contact me with questions and concerns.

Student expectations • Arrive on time • Arrive with assignments complete or at least started • Inform you in advance if they can’t attend

Student limitations that may affect tutoring’s efficacy • Changes in student’s schedule. • Student not adequately prepared for current class. • Student doesn’t have time to study. • Life gets in the way…

Setting reasonable expectations • Attending college even for one semester is a “success”. • Not all students will complete the ESL sequence, much less get a vocational certificate. • As a tutor, you’re having an impact nonetheless.

Takeaway • You can transform a life but there may be bumps along the way.

Questions? Comments?

Part 3: ESL tutoring specifics

The Cañada College ESL sequence

First, allaying your fears… • You don’t need to be a grammar expert to tutor ESL • Example of an ESL 922 and ESL 924 grammar assignment

ESL course content • Reading, Listening, and Speaking classes • Reading comprehension • Presentations • Grammar and writing classes • Grammar exercises • Paragraphs/essays Text books used in some of these classes are on the table.

Resources for tutors • The SASS Web site: SASSFoundation. net/tutors • Recommended grammar books • On-line grammar resources • Links to Cañada’s ESL text book series • Video of “Effective techniques for working with SASS ESL students” given by SASS ESL faculty

Resources for tutors (cont. ) • The SASS Web site: SASSFoundation. net/tutors

Resources for tutors (cont. ) • Grammar Summary Cards • The Internet!

Tutoring tips (in no particular order) • Ask to see the syllabus for your student’s class. Every student should have this. It may only be available electronically, so bring a laptop to your session, if possible.

Tutoring tips (in no particular order) • Don’t be afraid to correct students’ pronunciation. • Check for understanding again and again. Students often say they understand when they don’t.

Tutoring tips (in no particular order, cont. ) • Encourage your student to use the Internet as a resource: • Ask your student to bring their laptop to your sessions. • If your student doesn’t have a laptop, bring yours.

Tutoring tips (in no particular order, cont. ) • When teaching vocabulary, ask your student to use the new word in a sentence. • If you can, use Spanish when it elucidates; avoid it other times.

A word about grades • If a student receives a D or F in an ESL class, he/she is required to repeat the class. • A student can receive a SASS scholarship even if they fail a class and need to repeat it.

Encourage your student to take advantage of available resources: • Tania Ventura, the SASS coordinator • Elizabeth for general concerns • Cañada counselors • Cañada Learning Center

Common tutor frustrations • Irrelevant course material • Inaccessible professors • Ill-prepared students

Takeaway for today…

Questions? Comments?

Part 4: Getting started

Getting assigned a tutee • Tutors will be assigned to students on an ongoing basis. • We have several students waiting for tutors. • Other tutors will not be assigned till early October, when professors complete students’ progress reports.

Getting assigned to a student (cont. ) • If you don’t hear from us, contact us; we have a lot of students and tutors to keep track of!

Before your first session… • Tania Ventura, the SASS coordinator, or I will send you and your student an introductory email.

Before your first session… • Text or call your student to introduce yourself and choose a starting date and location. (Avoid email, at least at first, unless your student emails you. )

Before your first session… • Text your student again the day before your first session to remind them to attend. • For your first session, plan to meet OUTSIDE your meeting place. It’s easier to connect that way.

During your first session… • Try to get to know your student both to put the student at ease and inform your teaching. (e. g. Ask about family, how long she’s been here, how much education she’s had, etc. ) • Ask to see the class syllabus.

Before subsequent sessions… • Text or call your student to remind them about the session, at least for the first few weeks.

Extra credit • Like SASS on Facebook (Search for Sequoia Adult School Scholars, Facebook)

Extra Credit: Donate to SASS’s 2017 budget is $250, 000. We’re now serving about 200 students. Funds cover • Text books • Bus passes (Clipper cards) • Parking passes • Salaries to run our program

Extra credit: Help in other ways • Host a coffee to tell friends about SASS • Photograph SASS events • Help with student success stories • Hire SASS students • Be a SASS mentor

Final requests • Please let us know if • You are unable to connect with your student • Your student stops coming to tutoring sessions

Thank you for your time and for commitment to our students!

Welcome to the SASS Tutoring Orientation: Fall 2017