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I
took Project Read's tutor training in March of 2001. My aspirations
at the outset were to get through the training as quickly as possible
and to finally, after all those years of thinking about it, tutor an
adult learner in reading and writing.
Upon finishing the training, I met with
Heather Ellis. We talked about different options, and after that meeting,
I decided I would contact the John Adams Campus of City College at Hayes
and Masonic. I was able to reach Gabriella Schultze, Director of the
Transitional Studies Department at John Adams. In Transitional Studies
you mentor students preparing for the GED, or any person who just wants
to learn basic literacy and math skills. I knew immediately after meeting
with Gabriella that John Adams was the place I wanted to be.
Gabriella put me in touch with Phil Cerone,
a City College instructor in charge of evening classes. I told Phil
I was a Project Read tutor and I wanted to sit in on one of his classes
just to get an idea of the atmosphere and the classroom dynamics. The
first thing Phil did that night was to introduce me to the class as
a volunteer tutor who would be helping out every Tuesday night. Many
people thanked me and several applauded. So much for just sitting in.
At that point, how could I say no? I was officially signed up!
I have since added Wednesday evenings
to my schedule at John Adams, tutoring basic math skills.
The experience was at first very frustrating,
since there is a great number of students who can show up on any given
night and I never feel that I have enough time to spend with any individual.
The students are on many different levels and learn at different rates.
Because of this, almost all the teaching is opportunistic with very
few formal lectures in reading/writing classes.
The structure of the classes has allowed
me to help many students in many areas, and I hope that somewhere along
the line I have made a permanent and positive difference in their education.
My college degree is in biology, so Phil Cerone has given me permission
to give some lectures in basic science. This will be useful especially
to the students who are preparing for the GED.
I have gotten to know many people from
many backgrounds and situations. I have enjoyed working with almost
everyone I have met, and all the students who show up are motivated
to learn and work very hard at their assignments. Now that the ice has
been broken, most of the students feel comfortable asking me for help
and a very close bond of trust has formed. I hope to be available to
all the students until they complete their goals and look forward to
the day when I see my first success story.
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