About After School Tutoring Program
Benefits
Tutor criteria and selection
Comments by Students
Comments by Tutors

About After School Tutoring Program

The Tutoring and Homework Program is an after school educational enrichment program for at-risk secondary students who live in our inner-city community. The program is designed to demonstrate that the trend of poor student achievement can be reversed and that all students can master academic standards if they are given time, support and instruction that focuses on their academic needs.

Student tutors are the heart of the program. Tutors work with students individually or in small groups and offer tutoring as well as friendship, encouragement, and guidance. The Tutoring Program focuses the efforts of teachers on the diagnosed academic needs of students and harnesses the energies of tutors and learning assistance staff to reinforce the teachers' efforts. The relationship that develops between tutors, teachers and students provides the kind of guidance, support and inspiration necessary for their future success. One caring person can make a difference in a young person's life.

This after school tutoring program provides free tutoring sessions for students who need one-on-one help with their homework and assignments. Students registered in this program are tutored in the library at Guildford Park Secondary School. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities to extend our students' learning time to outside the regular classroom day. The tutoring homework program targets our underachievers whom we often lose due to their lack of success. The tutoring and homework program gives students at Guildford Park Secondary an opportunity to do homework, use computers, get help and/or study in a pleasant, well-supervised environment. Also, it gives our senior students a rewarding opportunity to provide their time and academic expertise to others in need. We raise funds to provide student tutors (qualifying grade 11&12 students) from Guildford Park Secondary School with an opportunity to apply and work for tuition credit funds which they can use to support their post-secondary education.

The tutoring program has two main objectives:

1. To allow inner-city students to receive tutoring services that they would not  normally     be able to afford.
2. To provide outstanding students with an opportunity to earn income for their post-secondary education.

After School Tutoring Program is available from Tuesday to Thursday, 2:45 to 4:45PM at the Guildford Park Secondary School Library.

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Benefits

• Student attitude and behavior will improve and self-esteem will be enhanced.
• Student achievement and motivation for learning will increase.
• Appropriate student behavior will be modeled and reinforced.
• Tutors will develop an appreciation for the educational process.
• Community awareness of the school and its needs will increase.
• Tutors will derive personal satisfaction from becoming a significant person in the life of another person.
• Tutors will receive tuition funds toward their post-secondary and university education.

Guildford Park Community Group began its pilot-tutoring program seven years ago. Our after school tutoring program is dedicated to raising academic achievement levels for low income and at-risk youth in our inner city community. Our successes in helping the student achieve the outcomes of the tutoring and homework activity translates into student success in the classroom the following day. Our research and documentation prove that this program is very successful. Since September 2002, over 100 students have received tutoring services. 28% of these students have maintained a passing grade while 65% have increased their grade in one or more subjects. Thirty five to forty students per day use this after school program (statistics attached). 436 or 35% of our students take advantage of the tutoring and homework program. Teachers agree that our program improves students' grades and attitude about learning. We have had positive feedback from the parents and students. The tutoring program has become on integral part of the educational program in our community.

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• Tutors must complete all necessary paperwork: application form with complete resume, oath of confidentiality, parent consent form, agreement-to-tutor form, and a work experience form.
• Structured tutoring workshops will be required as part of the training process.
• All tutoring will take place in the Guildford Park Secondary School Library under the supervision of the program coordinator.
• Tutors are required to record tutoring hours on a timesheet which must be signed at the end of each session.
• Rate of pay for tutoring hours will be in the form of tuition funds. Each hour of tutoring time will add eight dollars to an accumulating fund to be awarded at the end of the tutoring program. Tuition funds are intended to be used for post-secondary expenses.

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Maribel

Tutor - 2 Years

1) Why did you accept the position as an after school tutor?

I like helping people with homework or any other things they need help with. It feels great knowing you helped someone improve their assignments. I need the money to pay my university fees.

2) What were your main responsibilities and duties? What tasks were you required to do?

My main responsibilities and duties were to make sure that students received the help they required. I was also required to tidy up the library after we finished tutoring and to data enter my daily logs.

3) What training did you receive? Did you attend the training sessions? Do you feel you received enough training?                                                                    

Yes, I went to the training sessions. Yes, I felt I received enough training. We were taught signing procedures, how to enter data, how to keep a timesheet and how to study our handbook.

4) Would you recommend the after school tutoring program to a friend? Why ?

Yes, I feel that this program is beneficial. People can receive help on assignments; ask questions if they are stuck which helps them receive better marks. The tutors are friendly.                                                                           

5) Did you develop any new skills through this program that you can use in the future?

Yes, I developed better communication skills and I leaned that you need to listen and be patient when teaching.

  6) What is your impression of yourself as a tutor?

I am dependable, helpful, thoughtful, reliable and stable.

7) What did you discover, or rediscover, about other students during your tutoring sessions?

Most people are shy and do not ask for help right away. I needed to gain their trust and friendship so they would know they could depend on me.

8) What aspects of tutoring did you find enjoyable?

I enjoyed helping people and filling in data on the computer.

9) What skills, knowledge and attitudes do you think are important when tutoring?

Communication skills, optimism, patience, and being knowledgeable in 

subject areas we teach.

10) Comments (if any):

I think that this program is worthwhile and I recommend it to students if they need any help with any subject.

Aaditya

Tutor - 3 years

1) Why did you accept the position as an after school tutor?

I accepted the position as an after school tutor because it was a good way for me to help other students with their work and earn money for my university courses.

2) What were your main responsibilities and duties?  What tasks were you required to do?

My main responsibilities and duties were to help students with their homework and study for tests. I was required to explain and give examples for students.

3) What training did you receive? Did you attend the training sessions?

    Do you feel you received enough training?

I received training on how to help students with their work and how to work with the students. Yes, I attended the training sessions which taught us useful tutoring skills. Yes, I think that I received enough training.

4) Would you recommend the after school tutoring program to a friend? Why?

I would recommend the after school tutoring program to a friend because it is a quiet place where kids can work and they can get help from their peers.                                    

5) Did you develop any new skills through this program that you can use in the future?

I developed new skills such as being patient and working with other people. It is always a challenge to help others with learning difficulties.

6) What is your impression of yourself as a tutor?

As a peer tutor, I see myself as a kind, helpful person who is very knowledgeable about what I’m teaching.

7) What did you discover, or rediscover, about other students during your tutoring sessions?

During my tutoring sessions, I discovered that many students are very capable and intelligent. In most cases they just need some help and guidance.

8) What aspects of tutoring did you find enjoyable?

The aspects of tutoring that I found enjoyable were when I was able to help other students with their work and watch their grades improve.

9) What skills, knowledge and attitudes do you think are important when tutoring?

I think it’s important to have skills that help you communicate with others. Being knowledgeable about the subject and having a positive and helpful attitude are important when tutoring.

10) Comments (if any):

Jamie

Tutor - 2 years

1) Why did you accept the position as an after school tutor?

I accepted the position as a job opportunity and also as an opportunity to gain new experiences.

I applied in hopes of helping other students succeed in school.

2) What were your main responsibilities and duties?  What tasks were you required to do?

My main responsibilities were to offer help to those students struggling in any academic courses. I was required to check over their work and teach them step by step on how to finish a question.

3) What training did you receive? Did you attend the training sessions? Do you feel you received enough training?

I received training on how to handle different types of students and their behaviors. Also, we learned about timesheets and data entry procedures. I believe I received enough training.

4) Would you recommend the after school tutoring program to a friend? Why?

Yes, it is an excellent opportunity to work with students of other grades and it is a great way for me to save up for my post secondary education.                                                                                            

6) Did you develop any new skills through this program that you can use in the future?

Communication and teamwork were the two main skills that had the most impact on me. I hope to continue to work on these skills as they are always useful.  

6) What is your impression of yourself as a tutor?

I believe that I do my job while helping the students in their areas of hardship. I am patient and friendly.

7) What did you discover, or rediscover, about other students during your tutoring sessions?

I noticed that the majority of the students need help in math so I was required to retrace math as far back as grade 8. Also, I discovered that each individual has a different learning style and that as a tutor; it is my responsibility to teach the way they can learn and are comfortable with.

8) What aspects of tutoring did you find enjoyable?

I enjoyed working with other tutors and younger students.

9) What skills, knowledge and attitudes do you think are important when tutoring?

Positive attitude is a priority because it makes any learning environment comfortable. Having the skills to work with different types of learners are important as well.

10)  Comments (if any):

Thank you for hiring me.

Comments by Students

"I get help with the stuff that is difficult for me to understand."

"It keeps me from watching TV which is what I would do at home".

"I am able to finish my homework at school and I understand it more"

"I come everyday after school and find it great because I get a lot more work done because I can focus and concentrate."

"I do not have a computer at home. This program has helped me do my homework. I am an ESL student and don't have much language skills, so this program can solve my problems."


"I like this program because it gave me an opportunity to improve my writing skills and learn extra information."

"I would like to thank the tutors because they help me and I need help everyday to make me understand."

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Comments by Tutors

"Learning is a great thing and help should be available to anyone who needs and wants it. It was a wonderful experience to provide my knowledge to people who need it."


"I was given a profound insight to the many struggles that students often face when it comes to academics"

"The tutoring program really made me aware of how much people around me need my help."

 "Through this program I gained a lot of experience with people. I know I will carry my experience with me when I go to university."

"The tutoring program has taught me patience, respect and many other skills that will be valuable to me in my future opportunities."

"The process of saving for my education has become a lot more bearable due to the tuition funds I received."

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