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Catch us on the web!

Scan the code with your smartphone

or go to

www.avc.edu/studentservices/lc.

READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR?

T extbooks, schedules, room numbers, Financial Aid, counseling—the start

of a new school year can be hectic. Whether you are a first time or a re-

turning student, making sure you are set for the term requires organization.

While textbooks, schedules, and fees are often the biggest concerns, the ques-

tion a student should ask is “Am I ready” for the beginning and also for the

remaining 15 weeks all the way up to finals?

Do you know where all the resources on campus are? Do you know where to go

for help when you have a question, problem or concern? What if you get stuck

in class? Need extra help to get through the class? Need a place to study? All of

us have gotten into the situation where we needed help understanding some-

thing in class, needed help with an assignment, or just needed a friendly ear.

The Learning Center is an excellent resource to help you with your courses.

We offer tutoring in reading, writing, math and many other subjects. Beyond

that, we have workshops, 411 sessions, and other services to help you become a

better student overall. Make sure you come in early in the semester to get

yourself on track from the start. Make using us as your resource a priority

from the start!

Learning Center Fall 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New School Year ........ 1

When You Hit the

Books ......................... 1

Palmdale LRC ............ 2

Tutor Scholarships ..... 2

CRLA .......................... 3

Adjunct of the Year .... 3

Want to be a tutor? .... 4

Campus & LC Maps ... 4

WHEN YOU HIT THE BOOKS AND THEY HIT

BACK!

H ave you ever had the feeling that you were not getting the most out of your class?

Didn’t seem to have enough time to take care of homework, family, work and

yourself all at once? Does it seem as if there is never enough hours in the day to get

everything done? Are your notes disorganized and not helpful when you study? Then

maybe your study skills are not as good as they need to be.

Study skills are essential skills we use in our lives as students. They are like the tools in

the box of a construction worker who is building a house. A house needs a good foun-

dation, and similarly being a good student is built on a foun-

dation of good study skills.

Come and check out our academic skills workshops and 411

sessions. Time management, note-taking, and setting priori-

ties are just some of the topics we can help you with. Work-

shops and 411 sessions are quick and educational ways to

kick your study skills up a notch.

LEARNING CENTER

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“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin

I n May 2008, the Osher Foundation made a historic pledge to the Cali-

fornia Community Colleges, giving an unprecedented lead gift of $25

million to establish the endowment, and committing additional match dol-

lars for amounts raised by the system (Foundation for California Commu-

nity Colleges, 2014). With the financial assistances from Walt and Ginger

Woltosz, and the Financial Aid Office, the Learning Center was able to es-

tablish two Osher Scholarships in the amount $1,000 per academic year to

award to tutors in the Learning Center. The scholarships help students off-

set educational costs, making it possible for them to stay in school

(Foundation for California Community Colleges, 2014).

2013-2014 Recipients

Susie Brooks – Antelope Valley College Tutor Scholarship (Osher)

Stephane Bailey – Walt and Ginger Woltosz Tutor Scholarship (Osher)

Elinda Parkinson – Walt and Ginger Woltosz Tutor Scholarship (Osher)

2014-2015 Recipients

Ana Escalera - Antelope Valley College Tutor Scholarship (Osher)

Timothy Grahek – Walt and Ginger Woltosz Tutor Scholarship (Osher)

Photos & Article courtesy of Stephanie Bailey & Raquel Trejo.

Have You Been to the Palmdale LRC?

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

D o you take classes in Palmdale? Have you visit-

ed the Learning Resource Center there? Like

the Learning Center on our main campus, the

Palmdale LRC is a great place to receive support for

your classes. Hours vary, but a full range of services

including tutoring, workshops, and individual ap-

pointments with a learning specialist are available.

The Palmdale LRC is located in SV3M by the coun-

seling and library offices. Tutoring and learning spe-

cialist hours vary each semester. Schedules are post-

ed in SV3M and on the AVC website. Writing and

Math tutors are available on a drop in basis; Reading

and General Tutoring require appointments. For

further information, come visit us or call 722-6300

ext. 6885.

Palmdale

Center

1529 E.

Palmdale

Blvd.

Palmdale,

CA 93550

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LC Q&A Does tutoring cost anything?

No, as long you are enrolled in a class

during the current semester tutoring is

free!

What classes do you tutor?

We offer tutoring for ESL, reading,

writing, math, science classes, commu-

nications, nutrition, and many others.

Note that availability of tutors is subject

to change.

Contact the individuals centers for

more information:

ESL: 661-722-6300 ext. 6228

General Tutoring & SI:

661-722-6300 ext. 6233

Math: 661-722-6300 ext. 6232

Reading: 661-722-6300 ext. 6229

Writing: 661-722-6300 ext. 6228

What other services besides tutor-

ing do you have?

We have several things for AVC stu-

dents.: Workshops taught by LC faculty,

411 sessions led by tutorial specialists,

videos on various topics, handouts, and

the LC website. Make sure to check it

for more information about our services

as well as resources you can access from

anywhere. www.avc.edu/

studentservices/lc/

How can I get proof of attendance

for my extra credit?

24 hours after you attended a work-

shop, a 411 session, and/or a tutoring

session, you can receive a student re-

port showing your attendance in the LC.

Just ask at any of the desks LC staff will

help you with this process.

Do you have computers in the LC?

Yes, we have a computer lab that’s free

to use when you sign in with your stu-

dent ID card.

Can I print my paper in the LC?

Yes, we have one of the new printing

stations going into service this Fall.

CRLA AWARDS

T he College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) is a professional or-

ganization whose members are dedicated to improving the reading and

learning of college students. The AVC Learning Center is certified through their

International Tutor Training Program. At the 20th annual ceremony of the Col-

lege Reading and Learning Association, fifteen certificates were awarded to stu-

dents who successfully completed learning assistance tutor training courses in

2013-2014:

Regular Tutor:

Ana Escalera

Timothy Ford

Ashley Garza

Stephanie Gilmore

Eberlein

Amy Kraemer

Jennifer McDonald

Tyler Shepherd

Ali Velasquez

Advanced Tutor:

Stephanie Bailey

Maria Groth

Alex Horstman

Gordon Smith

Master Tutor:

Stephanie Bailey

Maria Groth

Alex Horstman

ADJUNCT OF THE YEAR

A t the AVC Faculty Recognition Day last May, Wendy

Rider received the award for Outstanding Adjunct Fac-

ulty, an honor well deserved because of her work as a learn-

ing specialist and English instructor. In addition to teaching

writing workshops and meeting individually with students in

the Writing Center, Mrs. Rider teaches Introduction to Tu-

toring, Managing Writing Anxiety, and English 101. Students

may also know her from Learning Center orientations and

visits to their classrooms.

Since 2008, Mrs. Rider has committed significantly to Learning Center programs

and services by collaborating actively with other learning specialists as well as in-

structors from different departments on campus to promote students' writing skills

across the curriculum. In addition, Mrs. Rider has been a presenter many times at

AVC faculty professional development events and conferences as far away as Wash-

ington D.C. on topics related to writing center pedagogy and On Course strategies,

those designed to create success in college and in life.

The Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award is presented each year. Mrs. Rider was

nominated for the award by Dr. Magdalena Caproiu and Prof. Diane Flores-Kagan,

full-time learning specialists who have observed firsthand Mrs. Rider's scholarly

work and contributions to the Learning Center.

Mrs. Rider is married to Van Rider, Reference Librarian, and they have three

children. As a family, they enjoy traveling, hiking, and discovering good restau-

rants.

Students, you can request an appointment with Mrs. Rider via Email for help with

building writing skills (wrider1@avc.edu), or you can come to the Writing Center to

do so. Be assured that the help you receive will be outstanding!

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AVC Learning Center Mission

Statement

The mission of the Lancaster and

Palmdale Learning Centers is to sup-

port classroom instruction by providing

assistance to students with a variety of

services aimed to promote their success

in college. These services include: In-

structor-led workshops and one-on-one

sessions, individual and small group

tutoring by trained peers, supplemental

Instruction, access to computers and

online programs, academic support,

study skills, learning assistance, and

tutor training courses taught by faculty

learning specialists. All of these services

are designed to reinforce course content

and to emphasize good study habits.

Learning Center instructors and staff

members are committed to providing a

friendly, nurturing, and stimulating

environment that encourages our di-

verse population of students to become

independent, lifelong learners.

BE A TUTOR!

Did you know that all of the Learning Center tutors are students at AVC? We

work on a peer tutoring model and are always looking for new tutors.

Is there a subject you that you like, that you got an A or B in? Do you have at

least a 3.0 GPA? Love working with people and helping them get better at

being a student?

Apply to be a tutor! Check the AVC College Central Network website (http://

www.collegecentral.com/avc/) to see what positions are currently open. Or

come by the Learning Center and talk to one of the tutorial specialists.

Lathrop, Michele—Writing & ESL

Lopez, Tammy—Reading

Raper, Tasakyna—Math

Trejo, Raquel—General Tutoring & Supplemental Instruction.

Antelope Valley College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, gender, race,

color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, can-

cer-related medical condition, or genetic predisposition. Upon request, we will consider reasona-

ble accommodation to permit individuals with protected disabilities to (a) complete the employ-

ment or admission process, (b) perform essential job functions, (c) enjoy benefits and privileges

of similarly-situated individuals without disabilities, and (d) participate in instruction, programs,

services, activities, or events.

Learning Center

3041 West Avenue K

Lancaster, CA 93536

Phone: 661-722-6300 ext. 6458

For information about the newsletter, please

call or e-mail:

Michele Lathrop

Phone: 661-722-6300 ext. 6984

E-mail: mlathrop2@avc.edu