1. Welcome to the SASS Tutoring Orientation: Fall 2017

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Who does SASS serve? You’ll find the answer here:
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6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. What SASS provides: Financial support
Books

10. What SASS provides: Financial support
Bus passes and parking passes

11. What SASS provides: Financial support
Laptops for outstanding students

12. 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.

13. What SASS provides: Academic support
Tutoring

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

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

16. What SASS provides: A seat at the table
SASS Conversation Club

17. What SASS provides: A seat at the table
SASS Entrepreneurs

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

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

20. How does SASS impact students’ lives?

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

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

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

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

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

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

27. 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

28. 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.

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

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

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

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

33. Questions? Comments?

34. Part 2: The SASS Tutoring Program

35. 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

36. 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.

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

38. 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.

39. 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.

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

41. 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…

42. 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.

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

44. Questions? Comments?

45. Part 3: ESL tutoring specifics

46. The Cañada College ESL sequence

47. 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

48. 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.

49. 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

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

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

52. 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.

53. 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.

54. 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.

55. 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.

56. 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.

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

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

59. Takeaway for today…

60. Questions? Comments?

61. Part 4: Getting started

62. 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.

63. 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!

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

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

66. 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.

67. 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.

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

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

70. Extra Credit: Donate to SASS
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

71. 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

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

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

74. Welcome to the SASS Tutoring Orientation: Fall 2017