TP #1: Mel

 I met Maria last Monday. It just so happened that our first meeting landed on labor day. A few hours before our scheduled meet up time I realized that the Goldstein library where we were supposed to meet was closed. We decided to meet a the Starbucks on Tennessee, not the most desirable location with the loud music and cramped space, but we managed. Maria is twelve years old and just moved from the Ukraine a few months ago. Although she was born in the U.S. and lived here till she was six her language skills are at an intermediate level. At first she was a bit shy, but I talked to her mother and really learned were she had the most trouble. Her reading comprehension and vocabulary are definitely the toughest for her. She brought a book that she had picked out for an upcoming book report and while I know she really liked the idea of the teenage girl and her horse, I thought the book had many tricky vocabulary words. She needed me to go over every paragraph just to understand the main idea. Once she was obviously bored with reading, we looked at pictures from a national geographic and I had her make up some stories. I also made up some stories and had her summarize in writing what I said. I also got to know her a little better and went over a tentative tutoring plan with her mother for next week. I suggested that Maria changed the book she picked out for her book report to something with less colloquial diction. Before we left, her mom asked if I could help tutor maria in math also. I told them to bring the hw next week and I could clarify instructions for her. While I learned a lot about where Maria was with her English skills, I also realized just how much preparation I need to do for next weeks tutoring session. I really enjoyed meeting them, they are oh so lovely and very nice.