Los Ayudantes is committed to working with those students, aged 9 - 13, in the Redwood City public schools who most need to strengthen their English language skills. The particular students with whom we work are individually chosen by the Redwood City school teachers and administrators who know them best.

When deciding which students to place with us, teachers and administrators consider a range of concerns: Has the student been difficult to reach in a typical classroom setting when one teacher is charged with about 30 students? Has the student recently arrived in this country and very new to the English language? Has the student been in the United States for a longer period of time but somehow has not gained English language skills at the same rate as his or her peers?

And finally: will the Los Ayudantes system of creative small group engagement with English language texts through the use of English language speaking and English language writing help the student progress to the next level of their English language development?

Although we primarily work with those Latino students in most need to help with their English language skills--specifically recent arrivals as well as not-so-recent arrivals who have failed to gain English language skills at the same rate as their peers--we also work with students somewhat more skilled in their use of English so as to help bring them up to grade level proficiency.

According to standardized tests, most of our students read and write at 5 - 6 years below grade level. But many are around 2 years below grade level. In all cases, our goal is to do all we can to help raise them up toward grade level proficiency as readers and writers of English.

We believe these children are an important part of the future of our community here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as citizens of this community it is our responsibility to do all we can prepare them for that future.