Some Training Dates Coming Up

Welcome Back to all our Volunteer Tutors:

I hope you all had a restful holiday and are back ready for a great 2013.

A few dates coming up I would like you to consider:

First One
Wednesday, January 23
Our In and Out in One Hour Series
We focus on one skill at a time.

Time: 12 - 1
Topic: Lesson Planning
Where: at the Learning Centre above the Bank of Montreal
Please let me know if you are coming. 604 - 413-1021

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Second One
For all the tutors who have just been trained, or for anyone who missed this in the past.
Thursday, January 24

Topic: Our Tutor Library Tour
Time 6:30 - 7:30 ish
Where: Powell River Public Library

Topic: Jo-Michelle Seidl will be showing us around the library to see what the learners might like to use or what resources are good for you. She will also be discussing how to get your learner to come to the library or come back to the library. There will be treats to eat.

Christmas Closure

Hi Tutors
Just a note to remind you that the Learning Centre will be closed the Christmas week of Monday December 21st to Monday January 1st inclusive. 

Thanks for all the hard work, and we hope to see you all in the new year.

Another In and Out Training for Tutors

MARK THE DATE 

IN and OUT  - Tutor Training in One Hour 

Sessions that focus on one skill at a time. 

How to Create a Lesson Plan

Perhaps you missed it in the first training or you would like a refresher.

• Why plan your lessons?
• How can you create balance in your lessons?
• What do other tutors do in their lessons?

Join me for a 1 hour IN and OUT session on January 23, 2013.

Time - noon to 1 pm.

Place - the Learning Centre (above the Bank of Montreal)

Meet other tutors and have a cup of tea with us.

We are trying to create a good community of tutors and will be offering one training per month, usually in the lunch hour.

RSVP to call@prepsociety.org

Would love to see you there.

Deb Calderon

How to Send an Attachment

A lot of people aren't sure how to do this, so here is a short video. He has some other videos that might be helpful too.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4983894_send-email-attachment.html

What is the World Wide Web

nice little video in plain English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iclxOgD1uvc

Lesson Plans

http://library.nald.ca/learning/browse/series?name=Lesson+Plans+-+READ+Saskatoon

A veritable library of lesson plans. Really wonderful stuff. Just take a little time and go through some of them.

Digital literacy

http://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/index.php

Lots of good ideas about teaching computers found here.

Mouse games

you might to start your learner out with mastering the mouse

http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/games.htm

http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/samegame.htm
double click game

http://www.seniornet.org/howto/mouseexercises/mousepractice.html
try drag and drop

Computers for Seniors

Just combing the airwaves looking for some good links.

http://www.seniorsguidetocomputers.com/default.asp

Mousercize to build mouse using skills

http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/mousercise.htm

Very large document with lots of information

http://www.sandyseniorcenter.org/Computer_Basics_RevC.pdf

Grammar Games

http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm

Try the exercices. If you lose a cow moos at you. If you win you get a car.

What a lot of Worksheets

There are so many worksheets at this site it is amazing.

http://www.englishbanana.com/downloads.html

Take a look.

Kate Nonesuch

Kate Nonesuch taught adult learning on Vancouver island for years and years and years. She puts many of her ideas into a blog. It is well worth looking under a few headings.

http://katenonesuch.com/2012/08/30/the-period-and-the-sentence/#more-1652

why not learn from the best?

Parts of Speech

Here is an interesting set about the Parts of Speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0shhlf_Ja8&feature=relmfu

This is a multiple series covering all kinds of different parts of speech.

Fun and lively with a relaxed feel.

There are even worksheet activities to go with them here

http://321grammar.com/

Grammar

Well I am going to start looking for grammar games. Let's see what I can find.

http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm

Halloween Typing Game

So many learners (and maybe tutors) use the old hunt and peck method of keyboard typing. We have lots of games on this blog for typing. Here is one for Halloween.

http://www.freetypinggame.net/play17.asp

Facebook Help

You may know a bit about Facebook, you may know a lot. But your learner might enjoy getting help with these video tutorials.

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/facebook101

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_108_use-facebook.html

Language Experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg3fJQrG2cA

This little video does a good job of reviewing language experience technique.

Math Word Problems

A lot of learners have problems with math word problems. It is a case of being overwhelmed with information I think. Anyhow here are a few sites to help out.

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/translat.htm

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/13281/

http://www.mathrec.org/mcc/wordproblems/exercises.html

Prime Numbers and Requests

If you need to teach a particular skill and are not sure how to do it, please contact me and I will look for some ideas.

Someone needed to teach a bit about prime numbers and so I found this game. Please don't hesitate to ask for help.


http://www.gameclassroom.com/game/63533-3260/prime-factors/king-kongs-prime-numbers

We Are Back

It is nearly fall and I am back in the job. I hope all of you had a lovely summer break as did I.

I am going to start contacting you to see what you are up to in terms of what you want to offer for tutoring this year.

So if you could think for a moment about:

1) your availability
2) anything different you might want to do
3) any upgrading you think might be helpful
4) anything else you can think of to chat about

that would be just great.
Thank you all for being the lifeblood of this program. Without you it would be, well, I can't even imagine..... would I have to do all the tutoring. Oh goodness.... well, anyhow, just welcome back.

A Wonderful Free Math Resource

I found this amazing math resource online

http://decoda.ca/wp-content/files_flutter/1334268171MyMathPathBinder.pdf


You can open it up and run off just a section with your learner. It covers the following topics:

Decimal Fractions
Ratios and Proportion
Percent
Powers and Roots
Statistics

It has exercises and tests and all and is absolutely free.
Check it out.

What's Going on at the Learning Centre

Hello all you fine tutors:

Just letting you know what is happening for the summer.

I don't work in July and August, so you won't be seeing me or hearing from me for a bit.

But you are welcome to continue tutoring over the summer if that suits your learner and yourself. We do encourage people to make arrangements for a bit of a summer break, if not the whole summer. Just do whatever you and your learner decide.

If you don't have a place to tutor please consider coming down to the Learning Centre above the Bank of Montreal on Marine Avenue.

People down here book themselves into a room and can do the tutoring down here. Just look at the booking sheets by the doors of the two tutoring rooms. If you see a space write your name in that space.You might also want to check with Kelli Henderson who will be working through the summer.

Two times you want to avoid are Tuesday and Thursday morning as we have big ESL classes at that time and they really take up all the space.

Another option if the stairs are a problem is the private room at Breakwater Books. Go to the front desk and see if they have time available for you.

I want to take a moment to say thank-you once again. So many of you have donated so much of your time to help your learners. Whether you have seen little bits of progress or rapid leaps, please know that you have made a real difference in someone else's life. Some of you have been with us for four years, and some for just a few months, but we appreciate all of you very much.

I hope we see you all back in September for another year, but let me know if you see changes coming up.

I wish you all a warm summer and breezy days. Thanks

Deb Calderon

Lots of Good Books

Hi Tutors

Just wanted to say thanks for making our Volunteer Thank You Lunch so much fun. I am glad you all got to meet someone new.

Now I have just ordered a big load of new books for the Learning Centre. If you haven't been in lately, drop on by and take a look. Most of my books are in the first little room you come to when you enter the Learning Centre.

But some are also in the rack in the main tutoring room.

Here are some of the books:

Adapted Novels

The Everest Story

Full House by Maeve Binchy

Not Just for Christmas by Roddy Doyle

Anne of Green Gables

The Spider Bites

The Fall Guy

Shipwreck

Titanic

The Elephant Man

A few new computer books:

My Parents Guide to the Internet

My Parents Guide to the Mac

My Parents Guide to the Computer

There are always so many books around the place, so please grab a coffee or tea, sit down and comb through them.

We are open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 4 pm. Please come on by.

Cheers

TV411

Wow is this ever an exciting website

TV411

Honestly tutors, open it up and watch a few of the videos. I checked out the one about tiles and measuring area and medicine labels. I am sure you can use it somehow in your tutoring.

http://www.tv411.org/writing

Computer Videos

Really worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7djm1L2Fkc

If you have ever been frustrated with a computer check this out.

More Math Fun

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonsList.aspx?grade=3&standard=1

Some rather good math ideas and activities here.

Spot the Error

As we wanted to honour all our wonderful Literacy volunteers this month, the Learning Centre put an ad in the April Powell River Living.

Now due to circumstances beyond our control, there was a hum-dinger of an error in our little ad. Instead of literacy, somehow it got written Literacty. So consider yourself literacty volunteers.

So it just goes to show you, even with all the proofreading in the world anyone can make an error.

Let me just take this opportunity to say Thank You to All Literacy Volunteers for your hard work and efforts throughout the year.

Videos about Computer Use

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsROH9YfOZk

keyboarding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YNlb-UtgPs&feature=related

keyboarding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXsutlz0GIQ&feature=fvwrel

Facebook basics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrMikHd7Myw

Teaching Dad How to Use Facebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-xgMBTDOSI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkOJp4j2o0A

Create a New Document

Learning to Use a Mouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2leftW7E_s

Pain Free Mouse Use

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RETawiY0PQc&feature=related

Basic Parts of a Desktop Computer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUEx8nKgIHM&feature=related

More Computer Resources

http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/welcome.htm

http://www.comptechdoc.org/basic/basictut/index.html

http://www.180techtips.com/indexword.htm

Computer Basics

http://www.ctdlc.org/remediation/indexcomputer.html

Teaching computer basics. Use this when you work with someone new to the computer.

Some Random Resources

http://www.aplusmath.com/

A nice math site

http://www.ns.literacy.ca/TheLearningBeacon/index.html

An interactive reading site

http://www.schoolhousetech.com/

Good all round site.

Clicky Mouse Game

http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/courses/computer-basics/lessons/clicky-mouse-game

Some people really have to get used to using a computer mouse. This game will do it for them.

While you are in this site, look at some of the lessons and other activities.

Computer Help Online

I might have listed this one before, but it is really good, so I will list it again.

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computers

lots of lessons here, from basic internet to computer use and much more. A great way to give your learner some reinforcement at home.

Grocery Shopping

Go ahead, try a little shopping. It is fun to pick out the right amounts at the right price.

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/everydaylife/groceryshelves

Sometimes a Math Video is All You Need

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

This whole website is full of information, lessons and more. What I really like, though, are the videos. Open it up and look at one of them on fractions. That makes it so much easier for some people to understand.

How to Do Word Problems

http://www.kidzone.ws/math/wordproblems.htm

A lot of people have trouble doing math word problems. They need a way to sort out what it is they are supposed to do. Check out this site for some help for your learners.

Times Tables Games

When you really have to learn your times tables it is time to turn to games.

http://www.maths-games.org/times-tables-games.html

A great game to learn about making change.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/money/money-master.html

Here is some fun with fraction games too.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/fractions/index.htm

Keyboarding Anyone?

If you are working with a learner who is learning the basics of computers you might want to give them some help with keyboarding. Send them to one of these sites or use a computer at the Learning Centre to work together.

The sites are a little bit child oriented, but they are free and seem easy to use. It is all about practice, so try one of these today.

http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/lessons.php?lang=EN&lesson=1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/levels/level1.shtml

http://www.powertyping.com/qwerty/lessonsq.html

http://e-learningforkids.org/Courses/EN/K0001/index.html

http://www.typing-lessons.org/index.php?e=preliminaries_4

Online math practice

http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard

Oooh, oooh, this is fun. Same site as below, but this is where you can practice some of the math skills. Try a few and see what you think.

Math Videos

Here is a fantastic site for learning videos. I noticed that the section titled Arithmetic is really good. Check out a couple of the videos and see what you think.

http://www.khanacademy.org/