Every experience in this class is going to be different. Hopefully, this tipsheet will provide some insight on affective tactics and methods to use in any tutoring situation. My placement was at Roosevelt Middle School. I worked with a new teacher there in a language arts class called Down Write Funny. I read out loud to students, devise lesson plans and formulate teaching material throughout the term.
Roosevelt is very open to volunteers coming and working in the classroom. It is a very non-conventional learning environment. It was not a school system I was used to. Students don't receive grades based on the A through F system, the majority of classes are electives that fall into the standard requirements; like my class, which was a humor based writing class, but fell into the language arts requirement.
To work effectively at Roosevelt, you have to put into all what you want out of it. Supervision is minimal and because the environment is so flexible, I was given free reign on how I chose to participate and contribute. When choosing a site, make sure to communicate often and clearly. I set up weekly meetings with my teacher to discusses the coming week's plans and expectations. Reiterate what you are looking for out of this tutoring experience. The most valuable thing I learned was that I am a tutor and not a paid teacher. I don't have the fear of losing my job, nor did I have to follow every rule by the book. This flexibility and privilege can really shape how much of a difference you can make in a child's life. I got the privilege to prepare an entire class. The teacher gave me a few pointers on how to prepare a lesson plan that were very helpful. First, organize your lesson plans in time slots. Five minutes for introduction role, ten minutes for explanation of activity, two minutes for questions, etc. It is nice to your plan in front of you to keep you on track. Take notes on it and leave a blank space at the bottom for notes on how the lesson went: what worked, what didn't, what you would do differently next time. Be sure to respond as soon as possible after the lesson when it is fresh in your mind. It is surprising how much can slip your mind in a few hours. If you do more than one plan, you can keep it in a portfolio or journal to go back and look over. By the end of the term you should have a really helpful resource to draw and learn from.