1. Adult Student Match

2. You’re ready to get started!
You’ve completed RT’s orientation, training, interview and background check. Now it’s time to meet your student!
At the introductory match you will meet your student along with an RT staff member.
RT staff will conduct an English Assessment (CASAS) if one was not completed beforehand
Discuss and set a tutoring schedule
Exchange information
Establish student learning goals

3. CASAS-Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems
The CASAS assesses reading and writing comprehension. Students are tested on everyday English language skills.
CASAS is one of the ways that the effectiveness of RT programs are measured and evaluated.
Each student is given a pre-test and will be expected to take a post-test once they reach around 40 hours of instruction and additional post-tests for every additional 40 hours.
An RT staff member will contact volunteers to schedule a post-test and administer the test. CASAS sample questions will also be ed to help prepare students.
It is very important to complete your volunteer log each month! This is the how RT keeps track of student instructional hours.

4. Life Skill Themes: Help Students Achieve Their Goals
Employment
Health
Parent Participation
Citizenship
Finance
Transportation

5. Planning your lessons Where do I start?
Suggestions for structuring lessons
Lesson Plan examples:
Directions: Literacy – Beginner
Now you try:
Lesson Plan Template

6. Materials Immigrant Guide Oxford Picture Dictionary
RT will provide an Immigrant Guide for your reference.
This can be a helpful tool for you to find subtopics on life skills and things the student may need to know to navigate systems here in the US. Tips for using The Immigrant Guide
RT will provide an Oxford Picture Dictionary for your adult student to use. You will receive this during your introductory meeting along with Tips for Using Picture Dictionaries.
This can be a helpful tool for you and your student.
Images arranged by topics.
Pictures can cue conversations or role play.
Visuals can help build background knowledge.

7. Free Events and Field Trips
Our Sr. Program and Volunteer Coordinator will be reaching out periodically with upcoming opportunities for you and your students to attend free events and field trips. Please consider taking at least one field trip during your first six months with your student, whether arranged by RT, or otherwise.
FuncheapSF, is a great resource for free and low cost events throughout the Bay Area.
For SF youth with a library card, they can get a lots of free passes. Check out this link.
Field trips are a great way to get out into the community, do something fun, and practice your English together in a real world context.
Full families are always encouraged to attend, and don't forget to get parental permission if you're working with youth.

8. Trips!!! Here are some tips on how to make the most of outings with your student.
Before the trip
During the trip
After the trip
Learn words, google the place, read about it, compare and contrast with similar places, make predictions, write about what we think we will find.
Plan our route, ask for and give directions, write a note explaining where we will be going.
Talk about the route, look for new objects, describe people, places and things, ask questions, write down/ text new relevant words, take pictures and video, journal at the site.
Look at pictures and video, write about what happened, write a letter, postcard, thank you card, or travel blog about the place we visited, look online to learn more information about the place or similar places. Present information with pictures by typing, using online formats or by hand.

9. RT Tea Time
Once a month, RT will hold a Tea Time event for volunteers to meet with program staff to discuss any issues, developments, successes, or questions that they might have regarding their work with home-based students.
New volunteers are required to attend two sessions within their minimum 6-9 month commitment
Times & Dates TBA.

10. Remember . . .
Please submit volunteer logs monthly. Volunteer logs are the most important tool for RT to gauge the progress of your work. Enter the number of hours every month, and fill in other fields in the log once every few months.
Maintain boundaries and privacy (for example, don’t post your students’ pictures or names on social media)
Be consistent
Empower your student
Start each lesson with a review
Be encouraged, the time you are dedicating to your student is making an impact!
Make the student’s lives the classroom. Take their everyday experiences and turn them into an English lesson. The best learning does not have to come from a book!
Please reach out to an RT staff member if you have any questions or concerns.