January 8, 2006
A Federal and State of California Nonprofit Corporation
Cleophas "Mike" McAlpin...Executive Director/Chief Tutor
(Begin January 4, 2006 with Lesson Series F)..........Page 2: January 8-9, 2006
After Church (click)...The Focus in on.....The "Slope Intercept Formula" for a straight line, and then the "Time Line of the Following Day"...below
January 8, 2006
Jasmine, Brianna and Shalay enjoy graphing straight lines instead of watching television! (Don't make me laugh!)
Y= mx + b: That formula has been around for a very long time. I have taught many, many students in its regard. Still, I must go back into it countless times because the students seem to be confused in their respective schools concerning it! Jasmine (13) didn't remember it well enough, even though we dissected it thoroughly a few days ago! And so, I had her father bring her over, not only to attend my church for the first time, but to review once again, everything in Algebra One that deals with a straight line.
Students in attendance: Jasmine (13), Cleasena (19), Brianna (13), Shalay (13), and Kahmya (15).
Tutoring Hours: 2:00 PM until 5:00PM
After the students had eaten (I cooked the night before) the teriyaki chicken, the macaroni and cheese, the green salad and drank the soda, they settled in for a session of graphing straight lines...again. While one of the parents of Jasmine sat in the family room, ate and watched football, I was not granted such amenities; I, along with my student tutor, Kahmya set out to pound another round of straight lines into the hearts and souls of the other students. Of course, I paid Kahmya $20 for two hours of tutoring: that made the other students a bit uneasy; I assured them they would also receive compensation when they reached the level of a 4.0 student with a knowledge of straight lines that is second to none.
Kahmya did a great job of solving a system of equations; first by graphing, then by the elimination method and then by the substitution method.
Jasmine did understand, at last, how to solve the equations in her Algebra book. She smiled a wide grin as she graphed and plotted until it was time for all of the students to take pictures of themselves with the digital camera, load them into the computer and gawk, gawk and gawk at them, to erase them and start all over again!
January 9, 2006; A round of appointments
Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center at 9106 South Western Ave. Los Angeles, California.
1:00 PM I visited "The Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Foundation" at 9106 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles. I met with the Director of this powerful nonprofit corporation, Mrs. Faye Rumph, for approximately one hour. The Organization serves many students in that part of Los Angeles, and it is primarily an after school Organization. It's goals are similar to those of the Free Tutoring Service. I met with Faye to discuss education and the possibility that I might render my services in Mathematics to her Organization, one day a week.
Faye thought that was a grand idea! And so, I will be teaching Mathematics from 4:00PM to approximately 6:00PM on Wednesday afternoons. I will focus on Algebra One and Two, Geometry One and Two. These are the problems areas for our youth in middle and high schools. I will also be tutoring in those same subjects at my location at 19009 Laurel Park Road # 348, Rancho Dominguez. I will be tutoring on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Sunday afternoons from 2:00PM until...As usual, this will all be done...free of charge. That is my creed; to give all I have to give; seeking no earthly reward...until I can't give anymore. The youth of our communities really need all of the help we can muster. Salaries most oftentimes, get in the way!
I then ventured to King Drew Magnet School to meet with Ms. Woodlief, math teacher supreme. As usual, there was a warm greeting from Ms. Woodlief, as well as some of her students, who by now, seem to be one a first name basis with me! I discussed picking up students from in front of the school on tutoring days, and Alex (15) glowed with that suggestion. I will pick up the 14 year old Katie, who desperately need assistance in Algebra One and all other subjects. There is a challenge there, and I definitely appreciate having the opportunity to change each and every one of her failing grades to "A"s. God has equipped me to do just that! I let all of the students know about the Al Wooten Jr. heritage Foundation, and supplied a pamphlet to Ms. Woodlief.
I met with Kevin, a writer, in the classroom. He discussed giving motivational lectures to the students, and I told him that as soon as we were caught up, we would again be doing our presentations of the past; "Show me what you've got".
I visited a family friend (ill) and a friend to the Tutoring Service, Mabel, in Compton. She beamed at my visit.
I then came home to attend a basketball game at Cal State Dominguez (6:00PM). It was the Rebels against some other team. Anyway the "some other team" barely squeaked out a win over my grand daughter's team, the Rebels. I did the photography work with the digital video camera and the digital still camera. Of course, most of the batteries had been spent on the picture takers on Sunday. They had forgot to put the rechargeable batteries into the charger!
Kahmya's defense
almost
brought the Rebels back!
It was then back home to take a nap; it was then on to the computer to do paperwork and request financial assistance through another non-profit corporation...Positive Opportunities in South Central Los Angeles. Mr. Woodie Coleman is as dedicated as me when it comes to elevating grade point averages, counseling and mentoring the youth of our communities. That is where we connect the most; we will be going to lunch together, when each of us can rip ourselves away from the task at hand: The task of giving all that we have to give....to our underprivileged, as well as all of the youth of our communities.
God orders all of our steps...may He continue to bless each and every one of you for your interest and your support!
