Welcome to the weekly Tutor Tuesday blog!
This week we have a literacy lesson on phonemic awareness and a read aloud of a classic story. We hope you enjoy both!
Literacy Learning
This week’s literacy learning lesson is about phonemic awareness and it’s significance in the early stages of learning how to read. Lori Deubner, Oasis RSVP Coordinator and Reading Specialist will further explain phonemic awareness and suggest some activities to do with your student in the video. Please watch the video below.
To the right of the video (or below the video if using your mobile device) there are several downloadable resources and links to use with your student.
Facilitator Shout Out
Oasis School District Facilitators are important partners in the Oasis Tutoring Program. Each week we will highlight one of them.
Today we recognize Kelly Gordon, Community Relations Specialist and Secretary to the Board of Education in the Pattonville School District. Kelly has been serving as an Oasis School District Facilitator for 10 years. We asked Kelly what her favorite aspect of the Oasis Tutoring program is and she had this to say:
What I most appreciate about Oasis is the benefits that it has to our students and our tutors. The program is mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Students are receiving the extra dedicated help, support, and interaction and experiencing the relationship-building they need to be successful in life, not just educationally but also socially. Tutors have an opportunity to give back and also benefit from seeing their students grow and knowing they’ve made an impact on someone’s life in a very positive way. As wonderful as the program is organized and the Oasis staff are, I think the impact on everyone involved is what makes Oasis that much more special.
Like many of us during this time of social distancing, Kelly misses being with people. She misses co-workers, tutor meetings and calls from people in the community. She believes one of the great things about the Pattonville School District is the community and how the residents of the community take care of each other. They have also learned to work differently using technology in order to work together.
How is your district keeping connected to your students and volunteers during this trying time?
Kelly went on to share that the district is working to remain connected with students and families. Teachers and principals have been connecting directly with students during this time. Pattonville has a one-to-one initiative to allow all students access to technology so they can continue learning and also continue relationships with their teachers. It is a new process, but all the district staff has transitioned to make it work. Pattonville is also making an effort to provide Oasis Tutors with information on district closures by email and automated phone calls. You may also receive a call from Kelly as she is trying to reach tutors with emails and letters. Kelly had this special message for Oasis Tutors:
You are not alone. All of us, from myself to administrators to teachers to staff like bus drivers, are missing our students. I hope everyone can stay positive, and I know we are all looking forward to the time when we can connect in person again. Also know that you are not forgotten, and that we will continue to keep you updated as we learn more about what’s happening in the community.
Book Section
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” – Watty Piper
“The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper is a classic story with a lesson emphasis for children to keep trying, to persevere when something is difficult. Perhaps this is a lesson we all need to continue learning over and over again in many life situations.
A session plan and activities for the book, “The Little Engine that Could”, is available to Oasis Tutors on Tutor Power. Tutor Power is an online resource for Oasis Tutors and School District Facilitators. A “MyOasis” account is required to utilize Tutor Power and available for all Oasis Tutors volunteering in a school district actively partnering with Oasis.
Please watch the below for a celebrity reading of the classic story “The Little Engine that Could”.
To listen to more stories for all ages, click on the link from the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. It includes information and a schedule of online storytelling sessions featuring some of the best storytellers in the St. Louis area. You might be inspired to share your own stories with your students!
Download the St. Louis Storytelling Festival PDF
Covid-19 Time Capsule
The following is a link for you or a family member to capture your experiences during social distancing. https://www.kiddycharts.com/assets/2020/04/Covid-19time-capsule.pdf
Healthy Mind and Body
Take a break and relax. Watch this video of “Flowers Can Dance”. This is a time lapsed video of blooming flowers set to relaxing music.
Now listen to beautiful relaxing classical music.
This a reminder of the online Tai Chi class Oasis is offering while Oasis centers nationwide are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oasis proudly offers is a FREE online Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention program facilitated by none other than Craig Miller, Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Senior Trainer.
Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese tradition, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. Learn Sun Style Tai Chi utilizing a series of slow, focused movements and deep breathing to relieve pain, reduce stress, and decrease fall risk while improving balance, muscular strength, coordination, confidence and mood. In this class, you will learn the Basic 6 and Advanced 6 forms.
You can participate by registering for class Oasis #1445, and we will email you instructions for immediate access.
Share with friends and family. Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.
Oasis is committed to staying connected. So, let’s keep moving and learning together!
Check out the St. Louis Oasis website for more information on Tai Chi instructor Craig Miller or for highlights on Oasis happenings, st-louis.oasisnet.org
Virtual Volunteering eOpportunity
If you’re passionate about education and interested in history, science, or anthropology, the Smithsonian Institute has some great opportunities. Virtual volunteers help with two main projects: transcribing historical documents and updating relevant Wikipedia pages.
The Oasis tutoring staff is enjoying hearing how you are utilizing the Tutor Tuesday resources both now with your grandchildren and in the fall with your students. Please keep the comments and suggestions for future content coming!
See you next week!
Oasis Tutoring Team
Another great Tutor Tuesday! Lori’s simple, practical tips are so helpful! I also enjoy the read aloud portion. Dolly Parton had a hard act to follow after Melissa’s rendition of Hair Love last week. Thank you for staying in touch while we’re all staying at home!
Pat, thanks for reading the blog every week. We appreciate you.
Enjoyed today’s time with Lori. She always has so many ideas for us tutors to use with our students.
I find it so hard to understand why on the phonetic awareness level you would teach a child to sound out multi-syllabic words before you would teach the child on the phonetic awareness level to sound out one-syllable words. What do you think?
Joanne,
This week’s learning was on phonemic awareness which only has to do with sounds, not the letters associated with any sounds. We’ll address phonetics/phonics in the near future. You are correct that using the phonetic principal for multi-syllabic words is a more advanced skill!
Lori