Amid Pandemic MSCP Students Offer Free Tutoring
With many area students learning remotely, the Teacher Education Department in collaboration with the Community Clinic for Counseling and Educational Services initiated a free tutoring program this fall. Offered to students in Long Beach and Los Angeles Unified School Districts and utilizing College of Education students enrolled in the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as volunteers, this tutoring program is offered in multiple subjects for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
Leading the initiative is Dr. Fay Shin, Department Chair, Teacher Education. Dr. Shin shared why she thought offering this free tutoring service was essential during this time, saying, “Many students are having a difficult time with virtual instruction. Children are naturally very social, and they are currently in a situation where they are learning in isolation. A tutor provides not only academic support, but one-on-one interaction and encouragement.”
At this time, the need for free tutoring services is great. With many parents and guardians juggling responsibilities, including helping their children with school, having tutoring support can help alleviate some of this stress and ensure students are receiving the support they need. “Currently, there is a very high demand for tutors, and a tutor can engage the students and provide support both academically and emotionally. In addition, many students from low income families are falling behind, and this program particularly focuses on helping the students who need extra support by providing free services to families who cannot afford to pay for a tutor. Our volunteers want to make a difference by serving the community,” shares Dr. Shin.
For Marlene Torres, one of the volunteer tutors, this experience has not only been highly rewarding, but also helped to further her skills as a future teacher. “This service is allowing me to get practice working with students while simultaneously giving back to the community. It is truly a gratifying experience.”
Judith Barriga has been a tutor in other capacities for the past two years and she brings this experience along with her academic work as a credential student to support the students she’s working with now in this program. “I have primarily worked with ELL students because the demand is high and being bilingual, I am able to help them. I always tell my students, 'It does not matter where you come from, you will succeed in life and I will do my best to guide you.' Even if I am with my students one month or [one] year I do my best to help them as much as I can with their schooling…”
For volunteer tutor Christopher Thompson, the responsibility to use his experience as a credential student to further support area students is a motivating factor. “Everybody is hurting. I‘ve seen firsthand how difficult it is having a child or two or three in elementary school during fully online distance learning. It’s crazy to expect these students to perform at the same level as if they were physically at school for six and a half hours a day. Because parents often don’t have the time or funds to fully support their children’s education this free service makes all the sense in the world. I know that I can help so I feel a responsibility to do so.”
The success of this program can be seen through the dozens of volunteers and the over 60 families that are being supported through this endeavor. While currently a pilot program, the Department of Teacher Education hopes to further expand upon it in the spring to serve even more students in the community.
