Rebeca Moreo The Learning Zone

First Week When I entered the Southeast Branch library I didn’t know were to go so I went to the front desk. When I walked in the Learning Zone I was in shocked because there were only four students and nine tutors. Since there were only four students we had to pair up. I paired up with a classmate and worked with a third grade boy. I didn’t’ really receive any instruction from my mentor.

Second Week I had to partner up again with Osvaldo, and worked with a third grade boy on his multiplication worksheet. I got to work with my own student, his name was Nicholas and is in 2 nd grade. The grandmother gave me some background information on Nicholas; she even showed me his report card. His grades were good except for math which he had a D.

Third Week Nicholas didn’t show up so I worked with Kennya a second grader. We worked on her math homework which was about space shapes and plane shapes. The only problems she was reading the directions. She substituted words for example circle for color and hands for house. She was using visual clues and sometime language structure. I tried teaching her some phonic rules. After the small lesson on phonics it seemed that it worked.

Fourth Week This time I got to work with two boys Nicholas and Mark. Mark was also in the 2 nd grade like Nicholas. It was quite a challenge. Nicolas needed help on fractions, so I decided to make them practice fractions on dry erase boards. It was very hard for me working with two boys, especially with the same personality and behavior.

Fifth Week Nicolas had to read a book and answer questions. After he finished I asked him if he liked the book and he said no. I also asked him questions that were on the back cover of the book. The questions were comprehension questions. After I asked Nicholas the question he didn’t even answer one right. I decided to read the book and just have Nicholas hear me reading. After I finished reading we discussed the book, and attempted the questions again. This time I really felt that he comprehended the book a little bit better.

Sixth Week I worked with Mark again. I helped him with his math homework. The math homework only had 3 word problems. When we finished the math homework I told him he could pick out a book so I could read it. He brought back a book about alligators and crocodiles. As I was reading the book he would stop me and ask me questions over the book. I really enjoyed reading the book to him and he seemed very engaged in the book.

Seventh Week Work with Nicholas again. Helped him redo a book report that the teacher wanted signed by the parent.

Eighth Week When I got there Nicholas was sitting by himself reading a book. When I sat down beside him Minh came over and told me that he didn’t have his homework because he didn’t attend to school. And that grandma wanted him to read. Nicholas read a Dr. Seuss book and then we read together a Captain Underpants book.

Ninth Week There weren’t enough students for all the tutors there. I sat on a chair for like 10 minutes waiting for a student to arrive. A student finally arrived and I worked with a girl another tutor had. The little girl’s name was Noore. Noore had a homework packet. In the homework packet she had to do spelling, fraction and coloring. I thought that the homework packet was very easy for her. She did the homework packet with very little of help. Noore said lets play store I didn’t think much about it, but I then realize how a fun game can turn out in to something educational.

Tenth Week We worked on two homework packets. The first packet had 5 pages and was on verbs. The second packet was a reading packet and it had four pages. We didn’t get to finish the second packet because Nicholas didn’t want to read a story he had to, and because it was game time. Nicholas is a smart boy, but he rushes and wants to finish fast.

Tenth Week Continued Time went by so fast; I can’t believe this was my last time at the Learning Zone at the Southeast Branch Library. I learned so much and I really value the experience the Learning Zone gave me.