Hi everyone... Okay, Ive just finished compiling our first Library & Learning Center newsletter. Its a revisit to a once popular Writing Center newsletter we used to put out. Because Im a computer ditz, I dont know how to upload a Word document here, so I am just going the ditz way: copy and paste. The problem is that in doing this, I am not able to capture the cute pictures of each tutor or support staff person. Alas... One more note: This is rather long. If you get tired of reading, skip to the end and read the contribution by our student Thu (pronounced Two... and whom I tutored at 1:00... and thats a whole other story!). THE TUTORS HORN Thoughts and Comments from the Writing Center tutors, Math tutors, and other L&LC staff members September 2014 A note from the Writing Center Liaison: I thought it might be nice and even fun to allow our MJC family to get to know some of the people who work here in our Library & Learning Center, so a few of us put together a little collection of thoughts and comments to share with you all. Barbara Jensen A Few Comments from One of Our Reception Staff: My name is Melissa; Im currently a student at Modesto Junior College and a student worker in the Library Learning Center. My position is a Receptionist at the Welcome Desk. This fall I look forward to being able to greet students and staff. I also look forward to being able to answer questions and guide students and library friends in the right direction. I have a strong passion for working with others and being able to assist them. If you see me, dont be shy to say hello. Im always here and willing to assist and answer questions. I enjoy my work, and I look forward to seeing new faces around campus. Thank you, Melissa Aguilar Thoughts from Our Computer Assistants: Hi… my name is Charlene Olivera, and I am the computer lab assistant in the east campus Library & Learning Center. I have been working here for twenty years, and, in fact, I helped install the first computer lab in the library. I have seen many students come and go, and I love them all. Some come back years later, and I don’t remember their names, but I do remember their faces. The history of the college is very important to me; I love reading some of the old year books. I hope to see new and familiar faces this fall. Being able to help is what I like to do. Fall here we come! Charlene My name is Manuel Vargas. I have been working about thirteen years as computer assistant at Modesto Junior College. I like to interact with the students, and I also highly enjoy being a part of their success. Manuel Vargas And a Few Math Tutors Counted Off: Our math tutors are responding to a question regarding tips for new tutors. There are three tips I would suggest for new tutors in order to both reduce confusion and aid students understanding. • First, when a student asks for help on a topic that has more than one method, you dont want to start presenting it one way only to discover that its not the way the teacher taught him or her. To avoid this, first ask the student which method the teacher uses. If the student doesn’t know what it is called, ask to see his/her notes. If the student does not have notes, write down the different methods and see if the student recognizes any of them. Also, it may be helpful to see if the teacher has a worksheet on the topic at the tutoring desk. • Second, when you are aiding a student with a topic and you know a shortcut to solving the problem, it is better not to share that information with the student. You may think that you are helping him/her, but instead you might be adding to his/her confusion. Most shortcuts require a level of ease with the subject that most students in need of tutoring do not possess. However, if the student specifically asks about a shortcut, it is okay to share that information with the student. • Finally, be patient. If, after you have gone over the material you find the student still does not understand the concept, instead of thinking, “Why is this student not getting this?” think, “How can I explain this better?” Remember, it is our job as tutors to help the student understand the material, so if we go too fast or fail to explain it in a way the student understands, then we need to present the material in a different way. Erish C. Traverse I always look forward to the rewarding experience of watching the light of understanding come on for students as theyre trying to learn math. As an experienced Instructional Assistant, and former math tutor as well, I would tell new tutors that they dont have to know everything, as in being able to teach (which is what instructors do) when they are tutoring. Tutors just need to help or guide the students in finding the answers theyre looking for by utilizing resources on hand like notes from class, the textbook, and previous homework. The tutors can also, of course, ask for the help of other tutors nearby when all else fails. It is an added bonus, however, when tutors are actually able to explain things to a student when the student is just not able to grasp a concept. If I had only one thing to share with students, tutors, and faculty members, it would be that the tutoring philosophy we employ is this: The instructor is always right. We want to make sure that no matter how we may have learned to do something according to our respective instructors’ method, we are encouraging students to make sure they are working out math problems themselves to attain the same solution using the method preferred by their own instructors. At your service, Todd Mathias Instructional Assistant – Math One of the things I am most looking forward to this fall semester is having the opportunity to practice my own math skills. It seems that the more advanced a math class is, the less information from it can be applied to everyday situations. For example, I have never felt the need to use the Area of Sectors formula to calculate the surface area of a piece of pizza. So, when students bring in problems they need help with, it is as much an opportunity for me to practice as it is for them. It seems to me that when we help others, we help ourselves. And, the more we teach, the more we learn. Kelvin Traverse Comments from a BUSAD Tutor: What I have learned: My name is Jason Honor, and I am the Business Accounting tutor. I have been a tutor since 2009. Over the years I have seen several students come to me for help. What I have noticed is there are several business professors, and they all have different teaching styles. I started creating a teacher/tutor relationship with all the professors who teach the classes I tutor for. What this does is give the professors confidence in sending students to the Learning Center as well as get to know who I am as a tutor. I also get to learn what each professor is teaching and create an extension of the professor from classroom to the Learning Center. What I look forward to: As the semester goes along, I can start to see a light bulb go off in a student; I see that I am actually making a difference in a student’s education. To receive feedback through facial expressions is much more rewarding than words. Another is at the end of a semester after I have seen a student struggle and put in numerous hours of hard work, I then see that it has all paid off. Finally, I look forward to having students take the time to come back just to say thank you. This is when I know not only has their semester become successful, but so has mine. Jason Honor Thoughts from a Math/English Tutor Mentor: Michael Cline tutors both subjects. I never meant to fall in love. It just happened. I needed a part-time job so I applied. I excelled in school and enjoyed helping people, so it seemed like a good fit. What started as a simple job became a love affair. I have always wondered what finding your calling in life is like. It is akin to falling in love. Tutoring has not only enriched my experience at MJC, but it has redefined my overall life goals. I still want to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, but now I want to push beyond and obtain a Master’s degree. I want to come back and teach at MJC one day. The joy I receive from helping a student is wonderfully rewarding and each time I fall deeper in love. About this fall -- I am excited! From online tutoring to workshops, there are so many new developments taking place. The 2014-2015 academic year marks a time of growth. The most exciting part is that as tutors we get to be a significant part of that growth. We have a wonderfully diverse group of tutors. In addition, we have tremendous support both from administration and faculty. They have already entrusted us with some great projects, and I cannot wait to show them what we can do. Michael Cline Experienced English/Writing Tutor Mentors Add a Few Words: Being a new tutor can be overwhelming. Maybe you’ve never done anything like this before; maybe you’re afraid that your skills are a little rusty, or you’re terrified of potentially giving a student the wrong information. Whatever your reasons, it may seem like you have a daunting task ahead of you. But the most important thing that you should keep in mind when you embark upon this epic adventure of tutoring work is that you are not going it alone. Possibly the greatest thing about working for MJC’s tutoring program is the fact that you are now a part of a wonderful, hardworking, and slightly zany team of people who are not only dedicated to helping the general student population but also to helping you grow and develop as a peer educator. Any time you have a question, comment, or concern, no matter how big or small you may think it, your fellow tutors and supervisors will be more than willing to lend you an ear. Should you ever find yourself spiraling into a pit of despair because you’ve forgotten a certain fact, tearing your hair out because you just can’t seem to explain a concept to a student, or even awkwardly shrugging your shoulders when a student asks you about something you’ve never heard of, take a deep breath and grab another tutor – and if we don’t know how to help you, chances are we know where to find someone who does. We are a team, a unit, an amorphous blob of collective knowledge and expertise, and we’ve got your back, so never be afraid to ask for help. Sarah Bonney Waiting, I glance up at the clock. I hear an annoying thumping noise, wishing it would go away. Thump. Thump. Thump. I look around, trying to look for the source of my annoyance. Thump. As my annoyance grows, my desperation to find the source also grows. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, someone taps me on the shoulder and says, “Can you please stop thumping your foot on the ground?” I laugh and ask for forgiveness. I let the nervousness get the best of me. Then is when I realize that my palms are sweaty, and my shortness of breath begins to catch up to me. What is wrong with me? It is not even my grade, not even my final exam, but it sure does feel that way. I might as well have been taking that in-class exam along with them. Even the phantom vibrations of my phone have tensed me up. Another vibration can be felt again, but alas… I will not let my foolishness trick me. It vibrates again. Could it be? No, it is not possible. All of this time waiting, thumping my foot on the ground like a kid with too much candy in her system on a pogo stick has got me in a nervous fit. I reach into my pocket and feel my shaking hands latch onto my life saver; I mean phone. It feels cool against my sweaty palms. The light on the top corner is flashing green. Read me. Read me. Read me. I am thankful to have a response. I swipe the screen anxiously, waiting for the right bait to come through like a hungry bear waiting for its next catch. It reads: 1 new message. I cannot stand the wait any more. I hit the read button. It reads: I passed. Relief! Exhilaration! I thought: no one had ever felt this amount of pleasure in their life all in one point, not even Bush on his last day in office. The light on my phone began flashing again. Read me. Read me. I was confused. Who could this be? I hit the read button again, feeling a bit dejavuish. (Yes, desperate times allow me to make up words on the spot. How else could I express this moment?) My new message reads: Thank you. I immediately understand and reply: You’re welcome. This is the moment I live for. Now, you may ask why such a “horrific moment of desperation and fear” would bring me such joy, and the answer is this: that moment of desperation and fear is one that students frequently experience. Having the ability to share that emotion with someone else, now that is what makes all of this great... and knowing that you have the backup you need and knowing that there is always someone, a tutor in this case, rooting for you from the sidelines. That is what I look forward to when it comes to tutoring, turning that “horrific moment of desperation and fear” into a moment of success and self-fulfillment. Jessica Calderon Last semester was a great learning experience for me. The reason is that as I was tutoring some students at Modesto Junior College; I was able to retain the material that I had gained in my pervious classes. I was also glad when people started to understand how to develop a proper paragraph and how to conclude it. The joy was extremely apparent on the faces of the tutees as well as mine. Well, that first semester is over, and the fall semester is approaching. What I truly want to gain from this upcoming semester is helping my tutees out as much as I can, and I believe the best way is by going to the writing tutoring classes. Every tutor should participate in these classes. Then the tutors will be able to understand how to approach different tutees. The tutors will also be capable of gaining some new knowledge from the instructor and from experienced tutors. We will not only be able to hold onto that new knowledge, but also we will have the ability to help and relate to various students. Steven Duncan A New English/Writing Tutor Adds a Few Words: In regard to tutoring this fall, I would have to say I am most looking forward to being able to put my desire to help others to use. I feel satisfied when I know that I have helped another person succeed, so I am looking forward to gaining knowledge and insight from other tutors on how to become the best tutor I can possibly be for others. I am also looking forward to meeting fellow tutors and having a great fall semester with them! Candice Wilkerson A New ELS Tutor Adds Her Thoughts: Hello everyone, As I have taken many ESL classes at MJC, I know what the students are going through because a few years ago, I was in their situation trying to learn English to improve my ability in reading and writing. I think as a tutor, I can help the students with reading and understanding the prompt, brainstorming and helping them come up with some ideas, and helping them think about what they want to write about by asking them questions that will help them to come up with some good ideas. Also, I hope I can learn different writing styles and gain experience in regard to tutoring, such as how to help students and make them understand easier and faster. Carmen Yerwanghaterchee And… Some Anonymous Comments from One of Our Volunteers: Why did you volunteer to…………? They asked me the same thing during Hurricane Betsy when the Scouts turned out and I flew in on a stripped-down Piper Cub, to Biloxi, to land at a flooded golf course and bring in whole blood. I was the light weight in the troop. Same question came up in ’71 when I was eating a 2” thick steak combo dinner at a Plaquemines Parish topless joint and café one Friday night, and the volunteer fire alarm siren sounded. I rode 25 miles downriver on the tailgate of a 1948 la France pumper, teeth full of grit and bugs….because we had a call out on a rig blowing out and a barracks barge on fire. It wasn’t. South East Asia in ’75, when a fourteen year old girl was delivering her baby on a river sampan and the medic and a few of us stayed behind…him ‘cause of the baby….us because of him. And so on, and so on in a long and eventful life. When I started out doing this tutoring thing it was because I had a deep resentment that grade school teachers were not teaching their pupils how to read! I still feel that way, but most educators are by the nature of the beast basically non-confrontational and light weights, if you know what I mean. And, I work with educators. So, it sounds more politic to say that I do it for the sake of the students’ futures. That’s true too. Anonymous ‘47 What Would We Do Without Our Students? This student asked if she could contribute to our little newsletter. I’m so glad she did. Education is one of the most important things for people all over the world, but how to learn it is more important. Each person was born in different ways, and their brains have different intelligences. Some of them are not lucky that their brains are not developed fast enough like others, so they need someone to help them get through what they are stuck on while learning. This is the reason why the Learning Center helps students who have trouble while studying. English is my second language, and it is very hard for me to learn in another language. I will never forget the first time I went to the Learning Center for help. I thought the tutor there would be very strict and bossy because I have heard students tell me many different stories about them. It was different than what I thought about them; they were very nice to me and helped me get through the subject that I had problems with. They also gave me a different way to learn such as reading a book, checking on the internet, and researching on the library website. Sometimes, they spend their own time to help me finish my subject. The Learning Center is typically a designated area within the library that provides students with exciting and interesting experiences to practice and enhance their leaning. Going to the Learning Center, I have learned a lot of things from different tutors about different ways to learn that have helped me a lot. Now, every time I come to the Learning Center, I feel like I come to my own family that I love very much. It makes me feel more confident and relaxes my mind because the tutors there make me feel so welcome -- like I am their family. Thu Johnson Thoughts to Ponder from Barbara Jensen: I’m especially happy to be able to work in the Writing Center/Library & Learning Center this semester. When I began teaching at MJC, I worked in the Writing Center as an Instructional Assistant and then later as the Instructional Assistant and Writing Center Instructor. I’ll be retiring in December (yes, at the end of this semester), so I’m feeling as if I have been able to come full circle in my work here at the college. I almost feel as if I’m putting a concluding paragraph on an English 49 essay. I’ll miss you all and carry you in my heart always, but in the meantime… we have lots of work to do! Another semester -- another adventure -- is just beginning! For more about Who We Are, click on the following link: libguides.mjc.edu/content.php?pid=583652&sid=4811330
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 05:18:06 +0000
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