Teacher Appreciation Week

In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to create the first National Teachers’ Day. Then in 1980, Congress officially declared March 7th as National Teacher Day. Then, and five years later, in 1985 the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May.

The National Education Association calls this, “A day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives.”  

 In celebration of the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, here are some stories and advice from some of our Andson tutors and teachers who provide free after school tutoring at Clark County Libraries in Las Vegas.

“My favorite thing about tutoring for Anson is getting to meet new students and watching them learn something new. I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time helping students grow and learn. My day job is working with students with autism for the Clark County School District. When I’m not tutoring, my favorite thing to do in Las Vegas is to go out and try new restaurants and find fun new things to do around town. My advice to students when they come into tutoring is to be ready to learn. The team and I are here to help you grow and we are excited to watch you succeed in your educational goals and challenges.” – Kim at Whitney Library

“I have been tutoring with Andson for over 6 years. I love being able to work with a wide variety of age groups and needs representing a large number of different schools. It’s interesting to see the expectations of one school versus another at the same grade level. I also love seeing the growth in students who have been coming to us since our site opened. What a difference knowing that our Whitney staff has contributed to this student growth is very rewarding!” – Pam at Whitney Library

“I’ve been with Andson for 4 and a half years. I like teaching students using real world situations and memes. Our team is the best team I’ve ever worked with. They’re supportive, cooperative, and most of all, empathetic.” – Angela K. at Rainbow Library

“I enjoy the interactions with the youth. I've always appreciated working with young people. Tutoring mathematics also keeps me "with it." I enjoy the challenges that come to my table! When I’m not tutoring, my favorite thing to do in Las Vegas is to go to concerts. I love music. My advice to students is to come prepared to think and work. Bringing notes from class is helpful for the upper grades.” – Tamplyn at Centennial Hills Library

“I’m a retired preschool teacher and director and I feel lucky to be on such a good team at a very good library. The team is always nice and nurturing. My advice to students is to do your best work. We are here to help you and guide you.” – Bobbi at Rainbow Library

Don’t forget today is the last day to enter the SSSCU drawing for a chance to win $1,000! In honor of #TeacherAppreciationWeek our partners at Silver State Schools Credit Union are doing a Visa gift card giveaway to 3 lucky Southern Nevada teachers! You do not need to be a credit union member to enter the drawing. Submit now for a chance at $1,000!

And here’s a list of hundreds of discounts offered to teachers on school supplies, clothing, food, and more! 

#HomeTogether: Fun & Easy Science Projects

We’ve got you covered for educational and artistic resources in all subjects! Create at-home science experiments with your kids using these entertaining and Easy Science Projects.

• Check out this recipe for a homemade alternative to play dough, Oobleck dough. All you need is dish soap and corn starch!

• In this activity kids will build a functioning heart model out of items around the house. This is a great biology lesson about how the heart functions and heart health. For your model you’ll need:

  • 3 x Pop bottles (710 mL) with caps, labels removed

  • 4 x Bendy straws

  • 3 Cups of water

  • Food colouring

  • Tape
    Modeling clay or play dough

  • Drill (or other sharp pokey for making holes in the caps)

• Easy Anemometer Kids Can Make to measure wind speed! You will need:

  • 4 cupcake liners (or small paper cups)

  • 2 plastic straws

  • pencil with eraser

  • thumbtack

  • tape

• And don’t forget about Earth Day at the end of the month on April 22. You can plan for some of these natural experiments here: Earth Day Science Activities

#HomeTogether: Art Projects for Kids

Are you looking for creative activities to do with your family during Spring Break? Well we’ve complied this list of our favorite at home art projects using minimal materials that are already around the house!

Check them out here:

• Make slime at home with this quick recipe!

  • 1/4 cup white school glue

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 1/4 cup liquid starch

• Become your own art teacher with an easy Drip Painting using:

  • Food coloring in several colors

  • Water

  • Baking soda

  • White Vinegar

  • Bowls, one per paint color

  • Spoons (one per paint)

  • Thick plastic sheeting or plastic bag to protect work surface

  • Thick white paper

• Try this classic Melted Crayon Stain Glass. All you’ll need are:

  • crayons

  • cheese grater

  • wax paper

  • an iron

  • sharpie markers

At Home Learning: Free Educational Resources

Our mission remains to provide resources to educate, inform, and inspire youth through our original programs and partnerships. Andson would like to continue providing support during this time by gathering some of the resources available to extend learning and actively engage students while at home.

Online Learning & Digital Classrooms

• Curriculum and Lesson Plans by Scholastic, “Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin!”

• Make Any Room a Classroom! BrainPOP is here to help you and your curious learners stay informed and on-track with free access during school closures.

• Check out this shared list of FREE educational subscriptions: Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings

• This Reading Mama is a blog meant to “provide encouragement by way of hands-on learning activities and helpful tips and resources” for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers with students preschool-elementary school.

• The Best Online Math Resources for All Grade Levels

• Free Audiobooks and Videos: 

  • Storyline Online

  • Loyal Books

Enrichment and Entertainment!

Are your kids missing out on field trips and other enriching experiences right now? Go on an adventure from your living room with these Virtual Field Trips below!

• Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre

• Walk through the Boston Children’s Museum and other Museums with Virtual Tours 

• Tour Yellowstone National Park to see Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs, and so much more! Or visit San Diego Zoo for amazing videos, activities, and games!

  1. HOOPLA by LVCCLD is a digital media service that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! Titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. Borrow up to ten titles per month with your Las Vegas-Clark County Library District library card.

  2. And be sure to keep an eye on this Google Doc for more virtual field trips!

TUTOR TEAM HIGHLIGHT: HOMEWORK HELP AT EAST LAS VEGAS LIBRARY

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has 25 individual branches with 675,000 library cardholders! Andson offers free after school homework help and tutoring at 8 LV-CCLD locations. In August 2019 we began our first year of programming at Las Vegas’s newest library on 2851 E. Bonanza Rd. The East Las Vegas Library is equipped with a plethora of services, amenities, and workshops. There is a cafe, a used bookstore, study rooms, a career center, a tech lab, a toy lending program, an art gallery, and a homework help center, which is where Andson tutors offer free homework help every Monday-Thursday from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

We want you to meet Rhonda, John, and Ruben, our all star tutors heading up our brand new Clark County Library District location at East Las Vegas Library! 

Ruben has been tutoring with Andson for six years and works as a Special Education Instructional Facilitator for the Clark County School District. His favorite part of being a tutoring is helping kids and their families. He likes the new and modern design of the East Las Vegas Library and says the staff is always friendly and accommodating. When he’s not tutoring he likes to bet on sports games! His advice to students is to, “Come to tutoring with homework. Attitude is everything. We love helping you, but you have to want to receive the help.”

Rhonda has also been tutoring with Andson for six years and teaches third grade at Sunrise Acres Elementary School. She’s been a teacher for 16 years! Her favorite part of the new library is the special Homework Help Room that is designated for tutoring. It’s equipped with laptops, whiteboards, and other supplies to help students with their homework. Her advice to students is, “Just try your best. If you at least make an attempt, then we can show you the correct pathway to success.” When she’s not tutoring her and her husband love to hop around different casinos and try out the themed slot machines with cute characters and bonus rounds. 

This is John’s first year with Andson. He is an Education major at UNLV and likes that he gets teaching experience while working as a tutor in the libraries. When he’s not tutoring he loves going out with his friends and trying all of the diverse foods Las Vegas has to offer like Hawaiian, Asain, Mexican, and buffets! His advice to students is to, “Put effort into learning what is happening during tutoring and take that knowledge home.” His favorite thing about the new library is that this location serves an under-served part of the community since many Latinx and Spanish speaking families come to the East Las Vegas Library. He thinks it’s great that they get to help bridge the gap for students with the support of the library staff.

Come down to the East Las Vegas Library and get A+ help from this awesome team of tutors!

Tutor Spotlight: Tonna Oparaugo

His bright, welcoming smile is hard to miss, but that’s not what caught our attention. His passion to help as many students as best as he can is reflected in how his students look up to him as a mentor, and it is for that reason that Andson’s Tutor of the Month for April is none other than Tonna Oparaugo!

Originally from Nigeria, but raised in America, Tonna has lived in Las Vegas for 17 years. He currently lives with his mom (a nurse and psychological sciences student) and with his two brothers (students at the University of Nevada, Reno). He himself graduated from UNLV with a degree in kinesiology, which is how his passion for “getting [his] education and helping others in the process” really developed.

While he spends his weeknights at Centennial Hills Library, Tonna’s day job is as an administrator at Good Choice Pediatrics, handling patient documents, medical records, and referrals

In his spare time, he likes to relax at home, watch documentaries on Netflix, hang out with friends, play video games on his computer, and take scenic pictures on his camera during his travels. This summer, Tonna is headed to the Bahamas on a cruise in the hopes of taking some snapshots to join the pictures he’s taken in Mexico and across the U.S. His goal in life is “to travel to various places around the world and take pictures along the way.”

Tonna’s biggest motivation for teaching is “bettering others and preparing them for higher education and advancing their future careers”. The wisdom he feels is “the most important would be to never give up and work their very best, and in doing so they can achieve greatness,” and it is that advice which he leaves with every student.

In his opinion, “[Andson’s] impact is that the kids leave knowing that what they struggle in class with is made clear for them when it comes to their assignment or upcoming tests. [He] does [his] very best to make sure that the kids [he] tutors understand the material they learn in class and get any questions they have or are unclear to them answered, leaving behind positive reinforcement for them.”

Michael Okazaki - Tutor of the Month

Michael Okazaki is a star, whether he’s tutoring students for Andson at Whitney Library or playing table tennis at the US Open and US Nationals. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michael has lived in Las Vegas for eighteen years and is currently seeking a bachelor’s degree in business at UNLV. His passions include studying (math and statistics problems are his favorite), tutoring, and table tennis (which he says is a fun sport for all ages).

Michael is part of “one big happy family”, including six siblings, two nieces, and three nephews. He is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whom he served a two-year mission in El Salvador for after high school. He found traveling to another country is imperative for “those who wish to broaden their horizons. Being able to meet different people and cultures and eat different food is truly amazing”.

Advice he likes to leave his students with is “to not sell [themselves] short. If you desire to go to Harvard or Yale or become a doctor, scientist or veterinarian it is possible. As long as you work hard and always stay diligent you can succeed! It doesn't matter where you are in life but rather where you want to go”.

Michael “believe[s] that Andson truly helps children complete and understand the homework they are assigned. [He] also believe[s] that Andson can help children develop good study habits at a young age which will continue to help them throughout their lives”. It is for that reason that he loves tutoring; “when kids come to Andson with their homework thinking that the work is either boring or dumb (which is many}, and tutors can help the student understand and even begin to enjoy simple subjects such as math, reading or writing”.  

We are so grateful for outstanding tutors like Michael. To learn more about Andson’s tutoring program and how you can help, visit https://www.andson.org/academics/.