Who Should Apply

You are a Black youth, Ontario resident, and you will be enrolled in any of Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 in September 2022. As well, you are interested in improving your academic performance via one-on-one virtual tutoring.

What

The SummerUp 2022 Study Buddy tutoring course is an online tutoring service that serves the learning needs of Black students. It enables students to receive one-on-one tutoring and mentoring in specific courses – all based on Ontario education curriculum guidelines. Basically, here’s how this service works:

• All eligible applicants will be invited to an orientation session. This session provides each applicant with a deeper understanding of the tutoring service. With information, the student is in a better position to ‘commit’ to the tutoring service.
• A menu of high-school subjects for which tutoring is available will be presented to enrolled students. This menu is limited by the availability of tutors.
• The enrolled student selects the high school subject they wish and engages the subject-related tutor. An online learning platform is used.
• Both student and tutor collaborate to schedule tutoring appointments and in determining the style of tutoring that is most effective. This means the learning schedule is personalized.
• What follows is one-on-one virtual interactive learning sessions where the tutor guides the student through the relevant subject material. Essentially, the student is provided with a personal academic tutor for a specific subject as well as an academic mentor who can guide the student’s reflection on matters such as study habits, noting taking, time management, student-teacher relations, and exam preparation.
• Good news! The student who enrols for SummerUp 2022 tutoring will have the option to continue receiving free tutoring services during the coming academic year 2022-2023.

The Study Buddy program is administered by the Diversity Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University. Tutors are individuals with an understanding of the Ontario curriculum. Many are teacher candidates from the faculty of education of participating universities such as Ontario Laurentian University and Queen’s University.

Why this Matters

– Tutoring has proven to improve academic outcomes. In October 2020, an article featuring the research of University of Toronto professor, Dr. Philip Oreopoulos, noted that “one-on-one and small group tutoring consistently improves academic achievements, offering important insight into ways to assist students struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

– Tutoring can help students catch up, stay sharp, and get a head start on courses they will enter in September 2022. Want to get a head start on the math or science course you are due to start in September? Want help with your writing skills? Want to reinforce the learning you had in the 2020-21 academic year? For these situations and others, one-on-one tutoring works.

– Tutoring – Study Buddy tutors aim to teach, to educate, to coach, to train, to direct, to guide, and to groom. This means tutoring can go beyond teaching specific course content and branch off into critical study skills such as planning study sessions, organizing notes, setting priorities, time management, and self-confidence.

The student who acknowledges a need for tutoring support is the student who buys into the concept of continuous improvement in their academic work.

– The Tutoring – Study Buddy course runs during the months of July and August, 2022. While this SummerUp course will end on August 31, students who are active in the service during August will have an opportunity to receive free tutoring services during the upcoming 2022-23 academic year. Therefore, it pays to get on board now by registering for the Tutoring – Study Buddy course and be eligible for a year’s worth of free tutoring.

Tutoring Study Buddy – List of Courses

Below is a list of high school subjects for which tutors are likely to be available. This list is subject to change. When you complete your SummerUp application, you will be invited to an applicant orientation and this is the first step for enrolling in tutoring.

Grade 9-10 Math
Grade 9-10 Science
Grade 9-10 Computer Science
Grade 9-10 English
Grade 9-10 French
Grade 11-12 Math
Grade 11-12 Science
Grade 11-12 Computer Science
Grade 11-12 English
Grade 11-12 French

Admission Details

Who: You are a Black youth, Ontario resident, and you will be enrolled in any of Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 in September 2022. You are keen to improve and accelerate your academic achievement in specific subjects and you want the advantage of a personal tutor. You have a suitable computer and reliable Internet access. A mobile phone is not suitable for this online service. You are willing to commit to attending all scheduled tutoring sessions.

Admissions Process: All eligible applicants will be considered for admission. Refer to application deadlines at https://llileaders.com/summerup/ Applicants will be required to attend an online orientation session. This orientation will be co-hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University and the Leadership by Design program.

Start/Stop Dates: The SummerUp Study Buddy tutoring program will start in the second week of July and will end around August 31. As previously noted, students will have the option of continued enrolment into this service during the academic year 2022-23.

Meeting Pattern: The tutoring schedules are personalized. Sessions are scheduled by the student in consultation with the tutor.

Mode: Virtual. An online learning platform is used. Students must have a suitable computer device and reliable internet access.

Faculty

Aaron Smajda – Study Buddy Program Manager

Aaron Smajda has been an in-class senior sciences and technology teacher for 16 years. He has a Master of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) degree and is a credentialed specialist in the integration of information technology in instruction. He is the manager and one of the founders of the Study Buddy program.

Special Note:

SummerUp is a program designed to serve and support the personal and professional aspirations of Ontario’s Black youth. The program is developed and presented by the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI), and it is primarily funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education. The quality of the SummerUp experience is assured by the contributions of a diverse group of individuals, educators, institutions, and corporations. All are committed to championing the well-being, development, and advancement of Black youth.

The Lifelong Leadership Institute also offers the Leadership by Design program which provides extensive leadership-development opportunities to Black youth.

The SummerUp 2022 program is primarily funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education.