Tutoring in Autumn with Literacy DuPage

Volume 60 | September 24, 2022

Tutoring in Autumn

Greetings,Tutors!

It's that time of the year again when the hours of daylight become shorter for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. As the sun begins to sink lower in the sky and the night becomes chilly and dark, before we even notice the changing colors with our eyes, our other senses tell us that the energy of summer has come to an end in the northern half of the world.

This year, the Autumn Equinox arrived on September 22^nd. Many welcome this change of seasons with traditional celebrations, symbols, and festivities. And with that come plenty of vocabulary words and activities that you can share with your student.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help with tutoring strategies. Be well and take care.

With gratitude and hope,

Carol Garcia

Your Tutor Support Specialist

Tutor Engagement

TUTOR TIPS

Activate your student’s current knowledge about fall

Show your student a picture that captures the fall season.
Start with a simple question, such as “What season comes after summer?” to begin.
If they have experienced a fall in the United States, ask what they’ve noticed that is different about this time of year.
Encourage your student to share what is special about the fall season in their country.
If your student comes from a country without four distinctive seasons, ask about what they know about fall from reading books, watching TV, or seeing movies.
Introduce and review specific vocabulary on a fall theme.
Incorporate the five senses of fall.

Brainstorm fall activities

Discuss what people commonly do in the fall.
What traditions did they follow in their own country and culture?
In what fall activities do people in other countries/cultures participate?
Fall activities to introduce to your student include:

collecting autumn leaves

walking through leaves

going on a fall foliage drive

visiting a pumpkin patch or carving a pumpkin

raking leaves

discussing Halloween and Thanksgiving

falling back to end daylight saving time

getting a flu shot

Resources for Your Student

Day of the Dead

White Oak Library District, the Stanford Latino Alumni Association Chicago Chapter, and REFORMA have partnered to create a Community Altar at the Crest Hill Branch Library to commemorate the cultural significance of el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

English flyer

Spanish flyer