Volunteer FAQ
Here are routinely asked questions about ASM's programs
Which schools are supported by All Students Matter?
ASM volunteers will support teachers and students at all non-charter schools in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. The Ravenswood District schools include three which are grades Transitional Kindergarten through 5th at Belle Haven School, Costaño School of the Arts, and Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy, and grades 6th through 8th at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TUTOR RAVENSWOOD STUDENTS?
ASM welcomes all volunteers who are at least 18 years old. Volunteers must be able to give at least one hour per week, regularly each week, throughout the school year, during school or after school hours. All volunteers must complete the Ravenswood School District required paperwork and Livescan fingerprinting testing for volunteers (provided by ASM).
DO I NEED TO HAVE PRIOR TUTORING OR TEACHING EXPERIENCE?
No. Volunteers come with a wide range of backgrounds, but all enjoy working with children and have a desire to support their learning. We provide initial and on-going training, monthly informational coffees, on-site liaisons, guest speakers and more.
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL I TUTOR?
Volunteers typically support students in very small
groups or a one-to-one as directed by the classroom teacher. All Students Matter
does not introduce curriculum, rather we support existing district curriculum and
follow teacher direction.
groups or a one-to-one as directed by the classroom teacher. All Students Matter
does not introduce curriculum, rather we support existing district curriculum and
follow teacher direction.
- Most volunteers support students in literacy through a technique called Guided Reading after attending an ASM training session.
- Math support is also an option, determined by teacher request. Volunteers supporting math will receive training in Common Core techniques in order to best support classroom curriculum.
- Some teachers may request help with Writers Workshop, and if so, volunteers receive training from ASM to better support students in the writing process.
- At Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy, some volunteers support students in a bilingual setting.
- Select volunteers may opt to volunteer in a structured Literacy Intervention program targeting students just below grade level, directed by the district. This volunteer placement is a two-hour commitment each week, and volunteers must be particularly reliable.
- Volunteers supporting 6-8th grade middle school students will assist in English Language Arts and writing, working with students one-to-one under teacher direction.
DO I NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH?
No. Nearly all classrooms are taught in English. However, if you are Spanish-bilingual, please let us know on the application form.
MAY I COMMIT FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR OR SPLIT THE COMMITMENT WITH A FRIEND?
No. It is critical for the students and teachers to be able to depend on the consistency of seeing the same volunteer each week at the same time as they build trust and an emotional bond with our volunteers. This weekly time also helps foster a stronger learning environment as sessions build on each other throughout the school year.
what does an hour volunteering virtually with asm look like?
Volunteers are placed in one classroom for the full school year and help every week for at least one hour. Each teacher has approximately three ASM volunteers throughout each week.
- Time with students(s): Because we follow the lead of the classroom teacher, every volunteer has a slightly different daily routine. However, volunteers will typically work with small groups (3 or fewer) or 1:1 for about 10 to 30 minutes per group/student, depending on grade level and student ability, typically focusing on literacy skills. Volunteers will rotate to new groups of students as time allows. Volunteers often form strong bonds with the students, and we find that the emotional support our volunteers offer is as important as the academic support we give to the students.
- Structured programming: The Literacy Intervention program is our most structured volunteer opportunity. Note that this placement is a two-hour morning commitment weekly.
- Less structured programming: TK through 5 th grade support is highly dependent on each classroom teacher’s style. Some teachers give volunteers a wide range of flexibility when working with students, and some provide a greater degree of structure.
Will tutoring be in-person or remote for 2021-22?
We hope to return to in-person tutoring support in the fall of 2021, but this will depend on vaccinations and community transmission. We will likely still offer a remote tutoring option even when in-person tutoring resumes.
