tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post3320694643337008654..comments2023-10-29T09:35:33.119-07:00Comments on Thayne Center for Service & Learning: America Reads 2014-2015 November Blog PromptThayne Center SLCChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12564139122723369602noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-42320846252126311792015-06-29T11:27:42.294-07:002015-06-29T11:27:42.294-07:00I used to work with a second grade girl that was R...I used to work with a second grade girl that was Russian and came to school in kindergarten not knowing english. I'd have to say that she is one of the smartest girls I've been able to tutor. She has made tremendous progress within those couple of years and is almost caught up to her grade level. Before I began tutoring her, her teacher pulled me aside and said that she needs more encouragement that anything else because her parents are not impressed with her progress and she gets down on herself and doesn't want to read. When I began to really notice her efforts and acknowledge all her hard work the excitement she had for reading just grew and grew. It's amazing the difference a simple good job or high five can do for someone. She has since moved to different reading group because she had advanced past my reading group. -B.FAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-47406332577341873652015-06-29T11:20:02.933-07:002015-06-29T11:20:02.933-07:00I agree that certain types of personalities get al...I agree that certain types of personalities get along better with a certain gender. For me personally third grade girls were the hardest to work with because they are just learning to be a little sarcastic and because I seem a lot younger then a lot of the other tutors they try and take advantage of that. I've found the best method with defiant kids is to let them choose from some pre-picked options, that way they still feel like they have some "control".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-2174450231557958172015-06-29T11:14:49.930-07:002015-06-29T11:14:49.930-07:00I found that one of the best methods for me was to...I found that one of the best methods for me was to have a game with flash cards right before we read the story so that they could get focused and prepared to read. It even made them excited to find the word in the book because now they know the word and felt confident in reading it. -B.FAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-80141579128966093722015-06-29T11:12:48.364-07:002015-06-29T11:12:48.364-07:00I do think that it takes a lot of trial and error ...I do think that it takes a lot of trial and error depending on the age and grade of the student your teaching. I find that of course some things work better on older kids then younger kids. When I'm reading with kids I like to ask them a lot of questions like what they think will happen next or what they think about the pictures which helps with both concentration and reading. -B.FAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-12063204674233644442015-04-29T12:38:10.747-07:002015-04-29T12:38:10.747-07:00encouragement is big with a lot of students. I fin...encouragement is big with a lot of students. I find that encouraging them when they're uncertain that they can read a book, encouragement helps. Even if that means reading every 4th page etc. Let them know that you're there to support them and you know that they will be able to get through the book. When a student jumps to a new letter (Nibley Park), they may be reluctant to read the book. However, our approach does work. Thanks for sharing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769944546046095589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-45789268665034215322015-04-29T12:34:45.435-07:002015-04-29T12:34:45.435-07:00That's fabulous. I love using the white boards...That's fabulous. I love using the white boards. I will often remember what words the student was struggling with during the weeks prior weeks and test them by writing down those words. After a few weeks, they're typically able to know the word and its meaning.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769944546046095589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-1336828095696885172015-04-29T12:32:37.286-07:002015-04-29T12:32:37.286-07:00In my experience, I find that every student has mu...In my experience, I find that every student has multiple ways of learning. When I see a student struggling, I will try several different tactics to help reach the desired goals of the day. For instance, I will utilize humor to get students to respond to the material. It helps to put a smile on their face while they read. Also, it's a balance because you don't want the student to think it's all games. Rather, get the student interested in the book that he/she is reading by reading a page with an accent. Other tactics that helped me are to have the students explain to me what (if any) the pictures are reveling about the book. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769944546046095589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-10556203999587909402015-04-02T11:06:59.832-07:002015-04-02T11:06:59.832-07:00Yes the treats are definitely a big motivator for ...Yes the treats are definitely a big motivator for the kids to read and behave well. It is also a tool that we tutors can use to help us tutor them better, if all they want to do is play not read, and don't behave we can use it as an advantage for us to help them behave. <br />-syAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-39817680872424347182015-04-02T10:51:38.179-07:002015-04-02T10:51:38.179-07:00All of my students at Nibley are making good progr...All of my students at Nibley are making good progress. I have a first grader who is below all my other first graders. What I like to do is have him read the flash cards, and I would make it fun by timing him and seeing if he could do it faster the next time. I also like to have them write the words that they have trouble with on a white board, and have them sound it out while writing it. Another one I have been doing is have them construct a sentence with the word. Having great encouragement and support is also a great way to keep them going. <br />-syAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-90326921900997225442015-03-31T14:49:06.349-07:002015-03-31T14:49:06.349-07:00I love whenever the children have that "HA HA...I love whenever the children have that "HA HA" moment. It's the most uplifting feeling! It encourages me to keep going as well. Having different races and ethnic backgrounds is one of the reasons why I love going to YMCA. It's so fun seeing how these children, especially those like how you mentioned don't know english very well. Try their hardest. You can tell these children are actually willing to learn and its even better knowing that we are here watching them see this. :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08390030134491532975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-74015188373244518922015-03-31T14:42:18.909-07:002015-03-31T14:42:18.909-07:00I could honestly say that all of my students are p...I could honestly say that all of my students are progressing. I have moved about 3 students to the next level, I usually read a book with them in class and if they have no mistakes I make them take a book home that is in that level. When they return and we read the book and they have no mistakes again, I move them up a level. It has honestly made such a difference with not only my students but myself. I am making a difference in these children’s life, I feel so blessed. I also have one student who is having challenges with believing in herself, when she tries to sound out a word and she’s having troubles she usually always throws a fit and starts to almost cry. I use strategies like encouragement; this ALWAYS helps my student who is having challenges. “You just read the first half with no mistakes, and you said that word all by yourself. YOU CAN DO IT, come one we’re almost done!” ☺ Words that usually do the trick! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08390030134491532975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-58826931384255645142015-03-22T14:08:28.063-07:002015-03-22T14:08:28.063-07:00I am sorry that you are stumped. I'm not sure ...I am sorry that you are stumped. I'm not sure I can think of any suggestions to help. However, from the sound of it, you have been very patient with your student. He is lucky to have a tutor that can not only relate but is dedicated to finding a solution.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06082604783516842667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-30479200678147498002015-03-13T10:28:21.806-07:002015-03-13T10:28:21.806-07:00The students I had at Whittier we kindergarten age...The students I had at Whittier we kindergarten age and I had one boy who said he did not want to learn. I was given cards and a white board. I said to him how come you do not want to learn. His reply was "its too hard and takes too much time.". This is what his parents had told him. I told him that I had some fun things here and I pulled them out of my bag, they were the cards of numbers and letters as well as the white board. I told him for every card he got right he could write on the white board. So first I had him go through the cards to see what he really did know. He knew quite a bit of the alphabet and numbers as well as the sound of the alphabet. He has improved greatly and now enjoys learning because I told him that learning is fun and may take some time but it is so fun to learn. There is another tutor helping him. I do not know how he is doing with her.<br /><br />BooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-10827382239321665462015-03-13T10:12:34.516-07:002015-03-13T10:12:34.516-07:00I enjoy working at the Y. I work with all age and ...I enjoy working at the Y. I work with all age and group levels from pre-K to 6th grade. With these children they do not have the support of Mom or dad and so it becomes our responsibility to help them out with their homework and reading. Many of the parents may not understand how to do the work or may not understand English. They children do but the parents may not. I look around for someone who is alone and looking like they are lost. this is the child I will be helping. For all people we need to have compassion and understanding if we are going to go far in this world and help these children understand these concepts as well.<br /><br />BooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-49950984423082979402015-03-13T10:05:06.899-07:002015-03-13T10:05:06.899-07:00I like it when you have them explain because you c...I like it when you have them explain because you can then see if they understood the concept. Also teaching someone else helps them to understand more deeply what the teacher was trying to teach.<br /><br />BooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-22928893407815373522015-03-13T10:00:44.814-07:002015-03-13T10:00:44.814-07:00The students I work with are at two different scho...The students I work with are at two different school and the YMCA. I get to see children have their HA HA moment and feel pleased when they understand Math or reading. I work with many children of different races and ethnic backgrounds. It is fun to see how much they have grown and how much they are learning from tutoring. There is one little girl who does not speak or read english very well. So I give her time to figure out the words on her math paper as well as in her book she has been assigned to read. She really does want someone there with her to assure her she is reading well and good. That is what I am there for. I help her with simple math operations and explain it to her. She has come a long ways.<br /><br />BooAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-41727640877000740012015-02-27T10:29:21.536-08:002015-02-27T10:29:21.536-08:00I agree that it is very important to work with the...I agree that it is very important to work with the basics for each kid, and especially to not give up on them. Giving up on a child can be so easy, but then the child is not getting the help that he/she needs...and will struggle later in life. We are there to help these children to learn and to grow, and each child learns at a different pace, and in different way. Awesome advice here!C.D. Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05900711386892543820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-79213977131797514912015-02-27T10:26:01.811-08:002015-02-27T10:26:01.811-08:00I love how you are continuing trying with your kid...I love how you are continuing trying with your kid that is struggling, and not giving up. It is very important that us tutors are there everyday with the kids that we tutor, and I do also agree that we need more tutors at Nibley, because there are still many children that need the extra help.C.D. Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05900711386892543820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-67077690184041965142015-02-27T10:22:49.586-08:002015-02-27T10:22:49.586-08:00I agree that learning does indeed need to be fun f...I agree that learning does indeed need to be fun for the kids, otherwise if they are not having fun, then they will stop trying to learn. When I can see improvement, even if it is just something small, I give the kid a high five and tell them how awesome they did! And if I can see that they have been working hard for a few tutoring session, I will through in a few extra minutes to play a game with them. This always helps them to want to try more. And it's a great feeling.C.D. Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05900711386892543820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-7113952642433989942015-02-27T10:19:29.419-08:002015-02-27T10:19:29.419-08:00Since this is my first semester back, after taking...Since this is my first semester back, after taking a year off, I have not seen a whole lot of improvement, but I have seen some challenges with the kids that I work with. Some of them are having a hard time with vocabulary, and it seems to be the same kind of words over and over again.<br />What I do to try and help them with their vocabulary is try and have them sound it out, and then we will go over words from the packets that Mrs. Sherrie gives each tutor at the first meeting with her. This I think is helping the kids out, even if all I can do with them for 30 mins is read one book and then spend the rest of the time sounding out words and working on vocabulary. So far, this seems to be what the kids need.C.D. Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05900711386892543820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-15371852616896921302015-02-26T22:14:38.117-08:002015-02-26T22:14:38.117-08:00One of my favorite students is one I'll call M...One of my favorite students is one I'll call Matt. I met Matt on my first day tutoring at the YMCA. We had 5 children in all playing a game with pencils and dice. I'll spare you the details but they do not matter much since Matt refused to play anyway. He was sullen and insisted that I call him Matthew Junior. I was a little disappointed. I had not accomplished much on my first day and I would not see Matt again for a week because I was working at multiple sites. To my surprise when I returned the following week I heard a loud whoop as I entered the room and Matt ran across the room (a no no) and stood in front of me with his hands on his hips and said, "Can we choose a better game this time?" Matt has a challenging background but he is very intelligent. All he requires from his America Reads tutor is that it not be a different tutor every time. He is no longer Matthew Junior. He is Matt now.<br />Another child, we’ll call her Karla, responded well from the very first visit. She was cooperative with me and she helped the other children without needing to be the center of attention. I thought she was one of the easiest children to work with but the staff told me that she is defiant and sarcastic with anyone but me. My theory is that it is because I am a man. The staff tell me that it would be nice to have more men involved in the program.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08391392209344451948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-91423132688088442932015-02-25T13:45:01.732-08:002015-02-25T13:45:01.732-08:00I haven't been tutoring long enough to see any...I haven't been tutoring long enough to see any progress, but I do see a few kids that are a handful. where the teacher is tired of the same issues everyday with this "problem child" I am grateful to be a fresh newbie! I still have the energy to try to connect with this youngster. Learning has to be fun for kids! when it's not they don't want to do it. I like to make it fun by making up songs, rhyming and making a game of it. The smartie-pants kids tell me they play lots of learning computer games, reinforcing the fun part of learning.Jodinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-17993359634572506642015-02-25T12:50:35.824-08:002015-02-25T12:50:35.824-08:00Last semester I worked with a little boy that seem...Last semester I worked with a little boy that seemed to never make progress. No matter what I did it stayed the same. I asked other tutors and Sherrie. I worked with him starting over going through the alphabet showing him how each letter had a different sound. So he got better slowly. Then in January he read books faster. I must always remember to go slow with him or he shuts down. I play alot of games him that require him to read. I need to really try things differently with him each time. He is a challenge but I reward him with each thing he does get right. he really needs to have his self esteem boosted. I am there for him weekly he knows i am not leaving him. Another boy seemed very sad. The more i work with him the more he is opening up. One thing Nibley Park needs is alot more tutors. We have a great team but there are many children that need more of our time then we have tutors. MCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-45740107692556781522015-02-18T10:22:08.879-08:002015-02-18T10:22:08.879-08:00There is a girl since i started with her her she s...There is a girl since i started with her her she started at A and now is reading at J. I just followed the basic format that they give us at Nibley and worked with her twice a week for one and a half semesters. Every week I see her progress a little more. I have one little boy who never wants to try. he just wants to play. So I talked to every one but I did not give up on him. I am learning myself how to work with him differently all the time. He has not made much progress but he and I just keep going. When he will not listen I tell him he must work with me or I might take him back to his room but I have never had to do that yet. Follow the basic rules but know each child is different and do not give up on them. FHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439019031384671619.post-10881490959255460572015-02-08T21:47:31.828-08:002015-02-08T21:47:31.828-08:00Helping someone be able to read really gives them ...Helping someone be able to read really gives them so many opportunities. They need someone to give them a chance, and to give them some time. Sara Schildmeyernoreply@blogger.com