Lesson Review 14 A...To Andrew Williams and Ret. Colonel Aubry McAlpine...our Assistant Tutors...(Aubry's Birthday...September 29, 2000. Happy Birthday, Aubry!)

                               "A Free Tutoring Service"

                                Cleophas McAlpin....Tutor

                                Doctor Cheryl Ojei...Tutor

                                 Colonel Aubry McAlpine...Tutor

Sometimes, it seems that way. The "wee hours" of the morning are my time. My time to reflect on the Tutoring Service and all of the wonderful things that it has been able to accomplish. My time to put negative thoughts out of my mind and continue along this path. My time to remember my "one-on-one" tutoring of September 28, 2000, from 3:00PM to 9:00 PM. My time to pray.

Jarrell was the first "one-on-one" recipient. As soon as I had picked him up from Banning High did we start on "Genetics". We discussed genetic engineering, DNA and Mendel. We discussed dominant and recessive genes and which characteristics in offspring were to be expected when parents containing certain genes are mated. Jarrell's 9th grade has not arrived at that phase of Biology, but that does not matter because our "Biology Blitz of September and October" is ongoing.

Through some miracle, the bus strike has placed this 13 -year old "A" student with me throughout its course. We have had loads of one-on-one tutoring.

Lauren was the second. She finished her homework and was summoned to the front porch for a review on mathematics. One-on-one. We reviewed decimals, percents, fractions and exponents. We discussed Biology. We went into the Internet to research AOL@SCHOOL.COM . We went into the Internet to research Dodson Middle School's Website www.Blackboard.com  and the subjects that were being taken by Lauren. Our future pediatrician responded to all of our one-on-one antics.

Asia, a new 14-year old student, was the next. I sat with her and assisted with her 9th grade math assignment. It dealt with positive and negative numbers. It dealt with the area of a trapezoid. A=1/2 h (a + b). Asia had to input several values of h, a, and b, and then find the area. Asia and I completed the review assignment and made up our own dimensions of a trapezoid, fractions included. That led us into a review of basic fractions which we thoroughly "blitzed". One thing led to another and Asia found herself immersed in a sea of decimals, fractions, exponents and scientific notation. Asia seemed comfortable as a new student and I am sure that she will excel at Drew Magnet School in the future.

Deandre is also a new student. He is 14-years of age. His homework consisted of basic algebra. I worked several problems, one-on-one, with him. He now understands how to remove parentheses and assign the correct signs to positive and negative numbers contained in the parentheses.

Cleasena had to show her Spanish assignment to me. We reviewed the Spanish assignment...with me asking her about the meanings of such phrases as "Como esta usted"?, and "Que tal?" I also reviewed Cleasena for a math test on Friday...one-on-one.

I worked with Sheena on the construction of a poem for her homework assignment. She had to write at least ten lines of poetry. I am a poet by nature and that was right down my alley. We wrote on "My Face". Sheena proved to be just as good a poet as me!

Jarrell played Assistant Tutor and worked with Deandre and Asia. All of the students then joined in a "new one" for me. They all did mathematics together! They seemed in an excited state as they worked problem after problem.

The students only took a break to eat Sloppy Joes (fixed by Gayle). Then they continued on their educational journey.

Our next meeting will take place at New Philadelphia A.M.E. (1902 Dominguez, Carson. (310) 830-8777 at 1:00 PM on October 1, 2000 in the classroom. There will possibly be a lecture by Medical Doctor Cheryl Ojei. 

Colonel Aubry McAlpine will be giving a lecture in the classroom of New Philadelphia A.M.E. on October 22, 2000 at 1:00 PM. All students are encouraged to attend all lectures and to bring their homework. There is also a chance that we will venture to a batting cage for some recreation on October 1, at 3:30 PM. The students really deserve it!

Commentary Section: Any successful "Free Tutoring Service" has to have absolute commitment from three factions. The first is the parent. The second is the tutor and the third is the student. A weak link in either will spell doom. Andrew Williams is truly a very strong link in our chain!

 Andrew takes these three students, along with others, home each tutoring day. He is what I call an "ideal parent". Grandson Jeremiah, center, is very blessed to have such a caring parent. No matter how tired Andrew is, he always says "yes" when I ask him to pick up students or take them home. Thank you, Andrew.