Tutors

Who are Fresno READS Tutors?

Fresno READS Tutors are California State University, Fresno students who are paid through Federal Work Study and come to this site free of charge! These students tutor elementary grade students in reading. Their primary job is to promote an effective, supportive and encouraging learning environment that will support the development of reading skills in their pupils. Under the direction of a site supervisor, VISTA Volunteer and program coordinator, tutors will work with school age youth in regular one-on-one sessions at Fresno area schools and nonprofit agencies.

Tutors will be required to:

Set regular, scheduled days and times to meet with their pupils.
Tutors are asked to make a year-long commitment.
New tutors will be required to attend a Tutor Training Course at California State University, Fresno. Tutors will be paid and can receive academic credit for this course.
Tutors will also be required to: maintain a professional appearance and conduct at all times; attend training; keep all scheduled tutoring appointments; keep records of student work; report on tutoring activities, pupil progress and concerns; and conduct evaluations as needed.

Receiving Academic Credit for Being a Tutor. For the last several years, Students for Community Service (SCS) has engaged students in thousands of community service work each semester. Since the Fall of 1990, the Community Service 101 course has generated over 150,000 hours of community service. In response to the America Reads Challenge, students in the Students for Community Service/Community Service 101 course are encouraged to engage in service work related to education and tutoring. Visit the Students for Community Service web site for more information.

Tutoring/Mentoring through other Service-Learning Courses. Service-learning is an educational approach which involves students in community service work directly related to the academic content of a particular course. Service-learning provides students with the opportunity to relate classroom learning to community problems, in turn giving them the chance to understand the practical applications of the materials they cover in class. A number of departments and instructors are involved in service-learning approaches. Those related to tutoring/mentoring and the Fresno READS project include: Child Family and Consumer Studies, Chicano-Latino Studies, Speech Communication, Education and Human Development, and Sociology.

Liberal Studies Senior Projects Fulfillment. One component of Fresno READS is the Liberal Studies Senior Project course. Each semester seniors in the Liberal Studies degree program participate in the Senior Project course called EHD 115 that utilizes a service-learning approach. A large portion of this class involves mentoring of an elementary school child, undersupervision, at selected elementary schools. Each college senior receives training and support and then works with a specially identified child for one hour, two times per week in an after-school program created by the Project and school-site staff. Approximately 450 students complete this course each academic year and offer over 13,000 hours of tutoring to area elementary students. For more information on the Liberal Studies program or the EHD 115 class, please call the Liberal Studies Department at (559) 278-0270.

Participate through Work Study. Each year approximately 60 students have are hired through Work Study to act as Fresno READS mentors. These students will work with elementary students and provide tutoring assistance to students at the K-3 level. In order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid - Work Study positions through Fresno READS, students must be eligible for Federal Financial Aid - Work Study and must go through an application, screening, hiring and training process.