Eighth graders Josiah and Catarina have been working with Breakthrough since February 2009. Each student volunteers two hours per week, tutoring Breakthrough students and helping in the office.
An Introduction
Tutoring at Breakthrough rocks! The Breakthrough after-school program starts every afternoon with All Community Meeting, where students and tutors come together to practice public speaking and share their academic success. After the meeting, Breakthrough students break up into groups of two or three to work with a tutor. These tutors come from all around the city: from San Francisco Day School, the University of San Francisco, local high schools, or other places. They all come for one purpose: to help Breakthrough students with their homework, to challenge them, to stimulate them, and to push them to the next level. Tutoring makes up the majority of the after-school program. Next in the after-school program schedule is recess, where Breakthrough tutors and students can be seen together shooting hoops, playing four-square, or scoring a goal up on the roof. The Breakthrough students then participate in an academic course (such as Speech and Debate or Math for Geniuses) or a non-academic class of their choice. Extended tutoring is another option. The Breakthrough schedule is a fantastic combination of work and fun for both the tutors and the tutees.
Catarina’s Perspective
NicolNicole, a fifth grader at Bryant Elementary, is one of Cata's tutees at Breakthrough's after-school program.
My name is Catarina, and I go to San Francisco Day School. Since my school is the location of one of the Breakthrough programs, Day School students have the opportunity to be tutors to Breakthrough students. Breakthrough is, of course, all for the students. However, this does not mean the tutors don’t gain anything. I first tutored with Breakthrough in my second semester of seventh grade. At the time, I figured it would be an interesting thing to try. Now I realize it’s much more than just interesting. At Breakthrough, you’re not just tutoring a random student whose name you barely remember. I probably know my tutees better than I know some of my classmates. The fact that the tutors and tutees are friends is a huge part of Breakthrough. It’s not just listening to an adult lecture you about long division; it’s having a friend give you some extra help and tips on your homework. And it’s not just the tutees who learn things. Working with the Breakthrough students on their homework makes me understand the concepts I have learned in school at a much deeper level. I have enjoyed interacting with different girls from schools across the city, both in the classroom and on the roof, where they often beat me at tetherball and on the four-square court. My experiences at Breakthrough have changed my perspective on so many things. Breakthrough has taught me how to teach. Breakthrough rocks!
Josiah’s Perspective
Before I became a tutor, I was always curious about the Breakthrough community. I heard glowing remarks about Breakthrough (then called Summerbridge) and knew from the start that I wanted to be a part of the Breakthrough community. When I joined the community, I was not disappointed. When I started tutoring, I didn’t know what a good tutor looked like. I was immediately struck by the students. They shared values like mine: a love of learning, a thirst to learn more, and a dedication to their academics. More importantly, the kids wanted to have fun in the process and saw learning as an opportunity to challenge yourself and see the world in a different way. As a tutor, I try to encourage my students to take learning to the next level, to find deeper meanings in what they are studying. I try to push them to understand “why” they are dividing this number or “why” this part is the main idea. I try to challenge my students with riddles and mind-bending problems.
Looking back on my Breakthrough experience, which hopefully is nowhere near over, I have gained many important lessons. I have learned to appreciate different backgrounds and perspectives in a learning environment as well as in friendship and companionship. Furthermore, I have learned to be open to all different kinds of people. I have learned to see the world through my tutees’ eyes, always looking on the bright-side, always looking to have fun. I have learned how to keep younger students engaged as well as how to teach. I have learned how to be a part of a vibrant and energized community. Tutoring with Breakthrough has been an inspirational and enjoyable experience that has taught me much more than the math concepts or verb conjugation that I work on with my students; I have learned the importance of teamwork, respect, tolerance, and having a good time in whatever I do.
Closing Thoughts
Tutoring at Breakthrough has been such great experience for the both of us. We are here for the students, but have learned so much ourselves. We both hope to stay connected with Breakthrough even after we leave the Day School, because while we have been learning valuable life lessons, we have had fun in the process.
