Back to Tutoring Main Page Click here for Teacher Application Form Ltr, dated 8/17/00 From: Northeastern Illinois University To: Faculty Members.   Welcome to the second year of the West Town and Middle School Gear Up Project!   As you know, one of the vital aspects of the Gear Up program is the student/tutor component. Research has demonstrated that students who relate to a caring adult for a significant amount of time achieve more, both academically and socially.   We are pleased with the caliber and variety of skills/talents that the tutors are bringing to this program. We have tutors who are majoring in medicine, computer science, business, history, psychology and of course, education. In meeting and talking with tutors about their experiences thus far, we have been impressed by their degree of commitment to "making a difference" with the students. They expressed the need to be "used well" and to have specific tasks to do with their students. They want to work with students who would benefit most from the tutoring sessions. Teachers who assign specific assignments which can be accomplished in the time allotted, will see the most progress in their students. When a student's needs are greater than what can be appropriately addressed by tutoring, the benefit to the student is minimal. The most effective use of tutors happens when teachers are able to invest time and suggesting activities, observing progress, and communicating with the tutor on a regular basis. Because there are a limited number of tutors and to maximize the positive effect of tutoring by making the best match between tutor and teacher, we are asking you to complete the enclosed application and return it to a mailbox assigned to the tutors by Wednesday, August 30. If your school does not have a specific tutor mailbox, please put it in the principal's mailbox. Your application will serve as information for the tutors as s/he visits the classrooms. When the progress staff has made their selection, they will work out a schedule with each teacher. We hope to have the tutors in the classrooms by September 5, 2000. Thank you for your time and participation! Lauralea Suess Tricia Rosado Mary Anne Quinn