April will be gone in just a few hours, which means it's time to report you tutoring hours for the month. Please don't ignore this request!
Last month, I had to submit a report outlining student progress in our program. We almost didn't hit our targets on this, not because students aren't progressing, but because of a lack of data from volunteers not reporting at all, or, reporting hours but not completing the rest of the survey. Your participation in this program matters--and so does your reporting on what you do! I am ever-so-grateful when you share your stories with me.
Click here to go to the reporting survey. I will include the unmasked link at the end of this message. Please take care in filling in each field. Some of you are neglecting to enter your first and last name or your student's name, or you're reporting hours as words and not numerical digits.
If ever you notice that you haven't received the monthly email message from me, it's not you, it's not me, it's algorithms.
Some notes and news:
Art museum
A volunteer gave me two free passes to the Denver Art Museum (which is also always free on the first Saturday of the month--that's this week!) to pass along to a tutor who would like to take his or her student on a field trip. If you would like one or both of these passes, please let me know. First come, first served!
Neighborhood survey activity
(I'm not involved with this in any way--just passing along the information.) Here's something to share with your student or do together. The University of Colorado Denver is conducting a research study to understand how neighborhood design and local services shape a sense of belonging and inclusion for first-generation immigrants. A key component of the project is administering confidential surveys of adults born outside the U.S. and now living in the Denver metropolitan region.
There is an online version of the survey that participants can take on their own computer, tablet, or phone. All participants who complete the 20-minute survey will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card.
The online survey can be found at http://
Cambridge ESL YouTube channel
Cambridge (one of our favorite textbook publishers) has launched a YouTube channel for student self-study. It's perfect for learners looking for some additional help in learning English. A team of international teachers gives learners short YouTube lessons on specific bits of real-world English. Perfect for outside the classroom and supporting your teaching, why not take a look and share it with your students too? www.youtube.com/LearnEnglishwithCambridge
A note about my work cell phone
Some of you have been using text messaging as a regular means to communicate with me. Please send me emails! Email gives me an electronic record should I need to refer back to our conversation. Text messaging does not meet our FERPA privacy standards, either, so I'll likely answer by email, anyway. Please note that I really only use my work cell phone to set up appointments with students and communicate with tutors on the day of first meeting their students. The phone is turned off at the end of my work day and on weekends. I don't look at it again until I'm back at work. If you prefer to call me, my office phone and preferred number is 720-423-4843. Please add it to the contact information you have for me. Thanks.
Things to talk to your student about in May
- It's the start of hail and thunderstorm season. This is a good time to review outdoor weather safety lessons. Did you know that Colorado ranks near the top in lightning related deaths? Click here to find out why. In and around Denver, the siren alert system is used during tornado season, but newcomers might not be aware what it is. Click here for more information about that.
- Cinco de Mayo is May 5, but in Denver, it's celebrated all weekend. In Colorado, Cinco de Mayo is more a celebration of Mexican culture than an actual commemoration of the Battle of Puebla.
- Ramadan begins this Sunday, May 5. If your student is Muslim, she/he may decide to take off from lessons for the entire month (Ramadan wraps up approximately June 4). During Ramadan, observant Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn to dark. There is usually a lot of work around meal preparation late in the day. Some people are exempt from the rigors of Ramadan observance (elderly, pregnant, children, ill). Click here for an excellent explainer about Ramadan.
- Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12. Call your mom.
- Memorial Day is Monday, May 27.
- Schools are out: Denver Public Schools let out on Friday, May 31. Aurora and Adams county (Thornton/Northglenn) schools are finished on May 23. Cherry Creek Schools let out on May 24. Please note that once schools are out, this may impact when you are able to schedule lessons with your student if she/he has children.
That's all for this month. Don't forget to report your hours!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpudjHo4VV3RCyry8v_ogxbZaBniXl5FXuMYC-4xdlgAwu9w/viewform
