Tutor

Virtual at Home, Ontario

Length: September 2020-June 2021

Immediate need

Our elementary and high school students have had their classroom time interrupted. Consequences include that some will struggle to keep up the demands of their learning objectives. Ontario is moving forward with part-time classroom work/ part time online curriculum focused work to do at home in September. This is challenging to adapt to and stressful for both parents and children. Tutors will be connected with these students to assist with remaining engaged in learning in their at home classrooms.

These are not trained educators. The expectation is not to teach curriculum. Tutoring entails helping them work on their tasks and model a positive attitude toward learning through this difficult transition for them. We can help take the burden off our education system by keeping students engaged outside the classroom. 

The goal is to provide positivity and encouragement towards learning, not create negative associations with forcing learning outcomes.  

Responsibilities

• Look over the information parents have provided about your learner match. This should include a little about what they like, dislike, and get excited about. It may include some information about their academic struggles but it will not be your objective to overcome these. Come up with some ideas about how to keep them excited and engaged in conversation with you. 

• During the virtual appointment with your learner, model a positive attitude and have an open conversation. How are they are doing? How is school? How has learning at home been? What exciting things are going on in their lives? Children respond to positive attitudes given from adults who show genuine care for them and interest in what they have to say. 

• Build trust with your learner around these interactions.

• Employ strategies learned in training for engaging your learner. 

Education

High School Students or Graduates 

Post Secondary Students or Graduates  

Experience & Competencies

• Friendly, gentle and open.

• Demonstrate an understanding demeanor towards the difficulties working parents and teachers have faced with education of children during Covid-19. 

• Demonstrate a caring attitude towards children and the stress they have faced from the transition to learning at home. 

• Understanding that no matter how indifferent, “rude”, shy or upset a child is during their appointment, they are not acting that way towards you personally. This is never an excuse to act coldly towards a child.  This is due to a learned attitude around negative learning experiences. Allow the conversation to drift and show support and empathy. If you find you are unable to maintain this, we will find a different match for you. 

• Inclusive of everyone:  Can adapt to acknowledge individual difficulties faced. Understanding of racial, class, gender, disability or sexual orientation related barriers are needed. Ability to acknowledge and communicate understanding of these barriers is a requirement. 

• Ability to report information about appointments to training coaches for feedback. 

• Proficiency with information technologies (multimedia) and social media.

• Excellent interpersonal skills,  willingness to work as a team and communicate. 

•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French.

• Proficiency with google drive and google sheets is helpful. 

Languages

English, French  or bilingual  volunteers are needed. There is a high level of urgency in finding French speakers to communicate with the French learners. 

Program Outreach and Awareness Volunteers

Virtual at Home, Ontario

Indeterminate length

Immediate need 

If you are motivated to help and your preference is to work in a self-directed manner, we need individuals to raise awareness for the program by social media posting, contacting schools, parents, and other community organizations.

The objective of this position is to raise awareness of this program so we can begin compiling a database of families to match with tutors. 

Responsibilities

• Distribute resources in partnership with the Public Outreach Coordinator to help answer any questions from educators and parents to direct them to the appropriate contact or resource. 

• In collaboration with the Public Outreach Coordinator, distribute materials and other content to raise awareness of the program in our communities. Research and compile lists of community groups and programs to collaborate with. Contact schools to distribute information and explain where to direct questions about the program. 

• Track the activities, reach, and impact of public outreach efforts. 

Education

Any level of education will be considered provided the candidate is a fit for this position. 

Experience & Competencies

• Friendly, gentle and open. 

• Demonstrate an understanding demeanour towards the difficulties working parents and teachers have faced with education of children during Covid-19. 

• Inclusive of everyone:  Can adapt to acknowledge individual difficulties faced. Understanding of racial, class, gender, disability or sexual orientation related barriers are needed. Ability to acknowledge and communicate understanding of these barriers is a requirement. 

• Proficiency with information technologies (multimedia) and social media.

• Able to compile and organize relevant data. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills,  willingness to work as a team and communicate. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French.

• Proficiency with google drive and google sheets is helpful. 

Languages

English, French  or bilingual  volunteers are needed. There is a high level of urgency in finding French speaking Outreach volunteers to communicate with the French school board. 

Research and Demographic Data Organization Volunteers

Virtual at Home, Ontario

Indeterminate length

Immediate need 

If you are motivated to help and your preference is to work in a self-directed manner, we need individuals to research similar programs and the needs of our community. 

The objective of this position is to research the needs of Ontario families, determine their education plans for September, and to understand how we can best support families in this challenging time. Demonstrating their needs will help us get much needed funding for this important cause. 

Responsibilities

• Research and speak to different families to understand their plans for September, document their concerns, demographic information (if they are comfortable) and the individual difficulties they are facing as a family. Identify any barriers and document them. 

•  Research within your community. Programs of a similar nature to this one should be recorded (e.g. a back to school supply drive, or initiative to help low income families afford computers/internet for their at home classrooms).  Compile their missions, the reach of these programs and their objectives to begin creating a “master resource list” in your community for families, educators and institutions.

Education

Any level of education will be considered provided the candidate is a fit for this position. 

Experience & Competencies

• Friendly, gentle and open. 

• Demonstrate an understanding demeanour towards the difficulties working parents and teachers have faced with education of children during Covid-19. 

• Inclusive of everyone:  Can adapt to acknowledge individual difficulties faced. Understanding of racial, class, gender, disability or sexual orientation related barriers are needed. Ability to acknowledge and communicate understanding of these barriers is a requirement. 

• Ability to research relevant organizations and summarize their objectives, reach and demographic. 

• Ability to compile and organize relevant data. 

• Proficiency with information technologies (multimedia) and social media.

• Excellent interpersonal skills,  willingness to work as a team and communicate. 

•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French.

• Proficiency with google drive and google sheets is helpful. 

Languages

English, French  or bilingual  volunteers are needed. There is a high level of urgency in finding French speaking volunteers to communicate with the French families.