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ENGLISH LEARNING CENTER

NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

MATH

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Our Mission

At the English Learning Center, we are a learning

community of refugees, immigrants and advocates. Our mission is building knowledge for

better livesand livelihoods.

Our core value is to educationally empower our students and their families towards

self-determination . We desire for our students to determine for themselves what

constitutes success. Our goal is to tear down the barriers of language and culture so

our students can make their dreams happen, whatever those dreams may be.

Student Story

Aziza

Aziza was an English 5/6 student, but she did not enter the school at such a high level. Just a couple short years earlier, Aziza was a new student in English 2. She studied hard and rapidly advanced to English 4! Aziza took a year off when she had her child, but she did not stop studying. She returned to school and placed into English 5/6. Aziza stayed in that class for nearly a year, closely watching her test results; anxious to “graduate” from this course as well. Finally, the day came when Aziza’s test score leapt out of range for her class and we knew she was ready to move on. She passed the GED entrance exam on her first attempt! Her goals is to study nursing.

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Program History

1981

•Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church started an English literacy program to meet the educational needs of new Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees in the Phillips neighborhood.

2004

•All legal responsibilities were transferred from the church to the new non-profit, Our Saviour’s Community Services (OSCS).

2010

•The ELC merged with the UCAM school, previously located out of Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis. With that, we started to provide morning programming for students for the first time in 29 years.

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Cultural Awareness

Muslim students

Students pray about 5 times a day

In the restrooms there are plastic jugs to cleanse their bodies before they pray – don’t throw these away

There is a separate praying area for men and women

Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com

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Cultural Awareness

General Don’ts

Even if it’s only to give them a pat for doing a good job, we recommend not touching students.Some students do not shake hands, so wait for them to initiate that particular greeting.

Depending on their educational background, students may be less familiar with American classroom etiquette and culture.

We teach content, but we are also teaching social norms and classroom structures. It’s okay to include these pieces in your instruction where you see fit.

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Emergency Preparedness Plan – Inclement Weather and Fire Evacuation

In case of a fire•1) Evacuate the building immediately•2) Instruct all students to leave calmly and meet in courtyard in back of church or yard north of Men’s Transitional House

If there is severe weather -- determine your own safety for travel. In the evening, call by 3pm to see if school will be cancelled.

If severe weather occurs such as a blizzard while class is in session, encourage students to stay at the school until it is safe to go home.

If class is in session and a tornado watch or warning is issued, keep students in the classrooms if we are in or near the path of the storm. Ensure everyone crouches down and protects his or her head from flying debris.

For any other emergency that may require medical attention or law enforcement call 911.

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Responsibilities of a math tutor

Volunteer once a week (1.5 hours) for one full semester.

Complete ESL pre-service training through the Minnesota Literacy Council or ELC math training by end of semester.

Arrive with enough time to plan and prepare your lesson. We recommend being at the ELC fifteen minutes before your class (8:00am or 5:15pm).

Notify ELC staff if you will be unable to volunteer. If you know in advance, please do your best to find a substitute.

Adhere to Volunteer Boundaries Agreement.

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Responsibilities of a math tutor

Adapt your teaching to meet the needs of various learning styles and levels of comprehension of your students.

Provide a positive and safe learning experience for students.

Review curriculum and use supplemental materials (visual aids, objects, job application, etc.) as appropriate to help expand on concepts.

Communicate with fellow teachers by leaving notes in the class binder.

Log students’ test scores in binder when they have advanced to a higher level of math.

Keep accurate records of students and volunteer hours.

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Teacher Room

Math student workbooks

Math class binder and answer keys

Attendance

Connect with ELC on Facebook!

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http://www.facebook.com/englishlearningcenter

Contact Information11

Morning Program: Colleen CaseyP: (612) 874-9963 x 3colleen@englishlc.org

Evening Program:Jenne NelsonP: (612) 874-9963 x 2jenne@englishlc.org