We are pleased that your principal has assigned an Adelphi America Reads/America Counts tutor to your classroom. We hope and expect that you will find the tutor's assistance helpful to you and beneficial for your students. Here are answers to some questions you might have:
Q: Who are Adelphi University America Reads/America Counts Literacy Tutors?
A: America Reads/America Counts (AR/AC) literacy tutors are undergraduate students from all academic disciplines at Adelphi University; most are not in teacher training programs. (Your tutor will be glad to tell you about his or her major, etc.) Although tutors have received some pre-service training, they are not trained teachers or literacy experts. For this reason, tutors are expected to work solely under your direction. We think the best training is that which is specific to your school and classroom. Tutors may record on their timesheets any training sessions provided by you or your school.
Adelphi University AR/AC tutors are paid employees, not volunteers. They are paid 100% from their federal work-study packages. Tutors may earn up to, but no more than, their federal work-study allotment. Students are paid $10 per hour. We hold tutors to a very high standard, and so should you. If your tutor is anything other than cooperative or helpful, please report this to your principal or to our office immediately. Chronic tardiness and absences, lack of cooperation and unprofessional behavior are not acceptable. If the tutor is not helpful to you, the tutor should not be in your classroom.
Q: How can I use my tutor?
A: The tutor's efforts must be aimed at improving literacy, a broad area that can include specific subject areas as well as pure reading instruction. To this end, you may use tutors in whatever literacy manner you see fit: working with students one-on-one; in small groups; for class-wide projects; helping with homework and classroom assignments, etc. You might at times even use tutors to work with advanced students to free yourself - the trained expert - to work with children who are struggling. Like everyone in a school, your tutor can help with occasional housekeeping and clerical tasks; however, the tutor's primary purpose is academic. They are not to be used as clerical or disciplinary aides.
Q: When will my tutor be here?
A: All Adelphi University America Reads/America Counts tutors are full-time students at the University, so it is not possible for us to send you a tutor to meet your ideal schedule. Tutors must sit down with you and work out a mutually agreeable schedule.
We hope you will try to accommodate a tutor's scheduling needs, just as we expect the tutor to accommodate yours. But if you are not able to work out a satisfactory schedule with a given tutor, direct the tutor back to your principal for a new assignment. We cannot guarantee that we can send you an alternate tutor. Together, you and your tutor will fill out and sign a
Work Schedule Form (PDF 20KB). You should give a copy of this form to the school principal and fax a copy to the Adelphi University Career Center at 516.877.3136. We will expect the tutor to follow that schedule (as should you). Please keep a copy so you'll know when your tutor will be in your class.
Q: Is there anything tutors cannot do?
A: Tutors are not permitted to: 1) supervise children in the absence of a teacher; 2) fulfill any serious counseling role with the children; 3) monitor hallways, lunch rooms, or playgrounds. Tutors should not be expected to handle disciplinary problems.
Q: What do I need to do?
A:
Other than supervising your tutor in the literacy and math help they are there to provide, your only responsibilities are to verify and sign off on the tutor's Work Schedule (usually only at the beginning of each semester) and to sign off on the tutor's timesheet (every two weeks). Tutors will fill out these time sheets themselves, and submit them to you for your signature. We hope you will maintain these records carefully.
Please note the following:
- Review the time sheets carefully, and keep a copy in your records
- You should verify only those hours when the tutor worked in your classroom, or you otherwise have first-hand knowledge of their work in your school
- Any irregularity in time sheets will result in the immediate suspension of a tutor. If a time sheet is reviewed for any reason by this office and does not conform to the copy you have kept, the tutor will be suspended.
America Reads/America Counts should be a wonderfully productive and enjoyable program for everyone involved. We are grateful for your participation. Please feel free to call us at the number below if you have questions or if we can be of any assistance.
