How to Train Homework Club Volunteers

Program overview

Learning objectives of module:

To review the goals and structure of the program
To review tutor roles and responsibilities
To examine the learning philosophy of the program (e.g., Student Centred Individualized Learning)

Time: 30 minutes

Materials:

A Tutor’s Guide: Reading and Writing with Children and Youth (pages 4 and 5)

Step One – Program structure

Give a brief overview of the program structure during the tutor training. Outline the program’s location, schedule, matching process, supervision structure, resources, etc. You can either do this yourself or ask a returning volunteer to provide the information. Ask tutors if they have any unanswered questions.

The volunteers may have already learned about the structure of the program through the orientation process. However, this overview is useful as it ensures the tutors have a common understanding and gives you the opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings.

Step Two – Volunteer roles and responsibilities

Use one or two of the suggestions below to clarify volunteer roles and responsibilities. Use flipchart paper to record all responses.

You can summarize the roles and responsibilities of the tutors.
Ask a returning tutor to describe their responsibilities and the activities they did with their students.
Divide tutors into small groups. Ask each group to brainstorm their roles and responsibilities. After they have had several minutes to discuss this question, ask each group to state one role or responsibility until all of the points have been raised.
Refer tutors to pages 4 and 5 of A Tutor’s Guide: Reading and Writing with Children and Youth.

Step Three – Learning approach

A learning approach guides tutors in their work with students. Learning approaches can be based on values such as inclusion, anti‐racism or empowerment through knowledge. The learning approach that Frontier College uses is called Student Centred Individualized Learning (SCIL).