A Free Tutoring Service

    Lesson Review 16A...To Mr. Charles M. Carr: Assistant Principal of the 95th Street Preparatory School and one of our financial supporters ($60 donation, October 2). Congratulations New Assistant Principal!

  Tutoring Activities...October 4, 5, 7, 2000

Lesson Review Wednesday, October 4, 2000

Students in attendance: Cleasena, Michael, Jarrell, James, Jeremiah, Asia, Sheena

Jarrell (13) was quite bored. He knew all of the mathematics review problems that I placed before the students upon their arrival at Dominguez Hills. He knew all about the circumference and area of a circle, the perimeter and area of a rectangle, the laws of exponents, the volume of a cylinder, the fractions and decimals, the rules of scientific notation, square roots, cube roots, and everything else that I threw at the students. Jarrell oftentimes serves as Assistant Tutor, and it was for that reason that he had to endure my lecture.

Jarrell would have preferred doing more of his 9th grade Biology assignment from Banning High, but my mode of operation included a one hour lecture before homework.

All of the students sat and took notes. Basic mathematical formulas are a must and I drove that point home with several references to the S.A.T. examination. I gave the students a problem involving the area of a rectangle that is left after a section is removed. For example: If a rectangle of length 10 feet and width 5 feet has a rectangle cut out of it of length 4 feet and width 2 feet, what is the area of the remaining section? Jarrell sat and did the exercise in his head.

It was on to the same type of problem involving the circle. If a circle of radius 10 inches has a square with one side equal to 2 inches  removed, what is the area of the remaining section? Again, Jarrell sat bored. What is circumference, perimeter, volume? Jarrell tried to answer but I stopped him each time.

Students are especially irritated when they know the answer to a problem and are not allowed to blurt it out. Jarrell knew all about my fraction problems and geometry problems but I did not allow him to speak. The other students would have been devastated by his expertise in every facet of mathematics. After all, he had received many, many times more tutoring lectures than any of them. I finally had pity on Jarrell and released him to finish writing a review of Chapter 2 in his Biology book. He and I had already reviewed Chapter 2. It dealt with the "Chemistry of Biology".

I find that I must review mathematics on a continuing basis. With new students joining the Tutoring Service, I must ensure that they have the required mathematical skills that go along with being an 8th or 9th grader. It is oftentimes painful (because they really do not have a grasp of basic math) for some students but they must endure my lectures. Sheena, Asia and Cleasena have many more such lectures in their future.

With our mathematics out of the way, I allowed the students to complete their homework. Jeremiah (13, 8th grade) said that he had no homework, and that released him to do 6 problems involving the graphing of straight lines for me. He did each in record time. I reviewed "slope" with him and had him to graph his lines in even more record time by using just the "slope and intercept" to graph the lines. Jeremiah also understands the Pythagorean Theorem, as well as trigonometric functions relating to right triangles. He is on the verge of becoming another Assistant Tutor!

I assisted Asia and Sheena with their "inequality" problems. Sheena related that some teachers "go too fast" with their explanations of "greater than, less than and equal to" problems. They fail to really reach the students to the point that there a is complete understanding. After a few minutes of  my "bringing it down a notch" Sheena and Asia are now confident that they can graph a "greater than, less than, or equal to" problem and they proved it by doing all of their assigned problems...in record time. Basic algebra, with all of its plus and minus numbers is not too bad after all.

Jarrell, James and Jeremiah asked to do another debate. They have become fanatical about debating each other. This time the debate centered on "should citizens own handguns". They each took a few minutes to get their points together and then it was "on to war".

Jeremiah pranced around like a million dollar lawyer. He gave several good reasons as to why handguns should be allowed. James countered with his reasons as to why they should only be allowed in the hands of Law Enforcement Agencies. Jarrell fed off each and gave his reasons as to why they should be strictly controlled by examinations and waiting periods. The students are becoming very adept at impromptu presentations on many subjects.

The students were allowed give their input as to where that should go on the next field trip. They all agreed to go to a "fun center" and I agreed. The date is yet to be decided.

Tutoring Activity: October 5, 2000

Keyotta led the way through the halls of Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Jarrell, Jeremiah and I followed. Keyotta seemed very happy to have us accompany her to her school open house. She moved rapidly around the campus like she was doing one of her 800-meter record races.

We sat and listened to all of her 10th grade teachers. We listen as they told of the grading systems, the assignments and the report cards. We listened as they told of the lesson plans and the extra-credit work. That especially interested me and I informed some of her teachers that she extra credit work is "on the way".

The teachers were gratified that Keyotta was in a tutoring service. They promised complete cooperation with me.

Keyotta's track coach was very proud of this 15-year old. He corrected her when she said that she would "probably" win a gold medal in the 800-meter event of the 2004 Olympics. She told Keyotta that she would win the event. I agreed. I told the coach that our goal in the tutoring service was to match her speed on the track with a very high G.P.A. He agreed. Keyotta is already receiving letters from major Universities. They already know of the speedy youngster!

October 7, 2000

I called for Monique, age 12, to attend a picnic held by New Philadelphia Church. Monique could not attend. Monique calls at least every two weeks to inquire about the Tutoring Service and her former students. We sincerely hope that Monique will return to the Tutoring Service.

Jamise, James, Jeremiah, Lauren, Cole, Kenneth, Michael, Cleasena, Brittani and Gabrielle were in attendance at the picnic. Two new students, Cassandra and Mathew, and their father Eddie, were introduced to all of the students at the picnic. Cassandra and Mathew will be joining the Tutoring Service.

October 7, 4:30 PM...Conference with Margaret, mother to Joshua (12). Margaret and I discussed strategies as to how to improve Joshua's attitude about schoolwork at Carnegie Middle School.

October 7, 2000.... 6:00PM    The Alabama Club Meeting

I made a presentation to the Alabama Club members. I told them all about our wonderful Organization. I told them all about our curriculum and our Volunteer Tutors. I told them all about the improvement in grade point averages of our students, and I asked them for financial assistance.

The Alabama Club contributed $250 on the spot! They promised to become a sponsor after a favorable 2 or 3 month evaluation of the Service. I urged them to attend our tutoring sessions and they would undoubtedly recruit others to assist. I promised, as I always have, to ensure an interaction between the students and their supporters. I encouraged each and every one of them to attend some of our sessions and to participate. I encouraged each to visit our website for a synopsis of what goes on. There are no secrets to this Organization, finances and all. You see, we all work for free! That invitation stands open to all. Thank you, members of the Alabama Club. Your website appears on the Home Page, as promised.

October 8, 2000...To Anaheim and our Volunteer Tutors, Rita and Orlando.

It's time to install CD-ROM drives (5) and modems (5) in computers. It is time to journey to Anaheim after church to upgrade some of the computers that were donated to New Philadelphia Church. Some of the computers will go into the classroom at the church so that all of the students can use them.

It is time to learn from our Computer Tutors so that I can teach the students how to upgrade the remaining computers. They will install the other 4 modems and CD-ROM drives, along with a zip drive when they come over on next Wednesday. That is the assignment on October 11, 2000.