Thank you for the opportunity to introduce Supplemental Instruction to your class. My name is Ted and I will be facilitating weekly study sessions for Chemistry 121. I want to start by emphasizing that SI is completely voluntary and open to all students enrolled in this course. The sessions are designed to help you review course content and practice applying concepts through activities and group work. As an SI Leader, I have taken this class before and received an A. I will attend your lectures, take notes, and do all of the assigned readings so I understand the material from a student perspective. My sessions will be held on Mondays from 1-2pm and Wednesdays from 3-4pm in Humanities 309. We will

1.  SI targets historically difficult courses—those that have
high withdrawal rates, as well as high rates of D and F
grades (~30%)
 SI Sessions are free and voluntary for all undergraduate
students enrolled in the courses for which we offer SI
 SILs (SI Leaders) are the facilitators of the sessions
 SILs have previously taken the course and have excelled
in it (B+ or better)  SI is comprised of students with varying abilities
and we make every effort to get students working
together to assist each other with the content. (No
students should be segregated based on ability!)
 SILs are trained on topics about how students learn
and strategies aimed at strengthening academic
performance
 SILs go through the course again—attend all class
meetings, take notes during class, and read
assigned materials.

2. BEHIND THE SCENES OF SI (CONTINUED)
 SILs conduct three 50-minute sessions, have 3 hours to
prepare session content, attend class for 3 hours per week, are
required to communicate with their faculty member 1 hour each
week, and receive 2 hours of training every Friday.
 Students who attend SI sessions discover appropriate
application of learning strategies (e.g. note taking, graphic
organization, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition,
problem solving, and test preparation) as they review content
material.
 SI Program Specialist (PS) is responsible for identifying
courses, gaining faculty support, selecting and training the SI
leaders, monitoring the quality of SI sessions, and evaluating
the program.
 SI participants earn higher course grades and withdraw less
often than non-SI participants. Also, data shows higher
retention and graduation rates for students who participate in
SI.

3. ESTABLISHING PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS

4. SI Leader
and
Professor
How would you handle these situations?
 Assignment #2: Bring your written responses with you
to the in-person training
1. The professor asks you to lecture for him/her during a
time he/she will be absent.
2. The professor offers to show you some of the test
items from an upcoming exam
3. The professor asks you not to pass out old exams in
SI. A student brings one to the session.
4. The professor asks you to help distribute handouts in
class
5. The professor asks if they can visit one of your SI
sessions.
6. The professor wants to know which students have
been attending the SI sessions.
7. The professor asks for feedback about content-related
difficulties the students are experiencing.

5. SI Leader
and
Students
How would you handle these situations?
 Assignment # 3: Bring your written responses with you
to the in-person training
1. Student asks you for a copy of your lecture notes
because “his or her mom is in the hospital.”
2. A student asks you for the handouts you have prepared
for the SI session but says he or she can’t stay for the
actual SI session
3. A student repeatedly arrives late for the SI session.
4. A handout you have created is on the reading that was
required for the last class session. No one in the group
has done the reading.
5. A student tells you: “I got a 90 on my last test, and I
don’t need to come to SI anymore.”
6. A student confides personal problems (this could be
anything from registration difficulties to domestic
abuse)

6.  Assignment #4: Bring your
written response to the in-person
training
It is our responsibility as
supervisors--Program Specialist
(PS), Assistant Coordinator (AC),
Student Manager (SM)--to assist
you in doing your job as an SI
leader.
1.) What area of the SI Leader
position do you feel you’ll need
the most support with?
2.) How would you like to give and
receive feedback from your
supervisors?
As supervisors our door is always
open for you to bring questions
and/or concerns!
SI LEADERS AND SUPERVISORS

7. YOUR FIRST WEEK OF SI AND
BEYOND

8. The First Day of Class
 Remind the professor that you will need to
make a brief presentation about SI to the
class
 Arrive on time (15 minutes before class
begins on the first day, 5 minutes early every
other day, unless otherwise requested by
professor)
 Write your name and CAPS information on
the board. For example:
Jane Generic- SI Leader Chem121.001/003
Sessions: Mon 1-11:50 am , Humanities 309;
Wed 8-8:50 am, Zim 345;
Thurs 2-2:50 pm, Zim 345;
Caps.unm.edu
505-277-7205
 Introduce SI to the Students
Side note: Don’t take extra class time
beyond what is allotted to you by the
professor.

9. Don’t be like Ted!
We will help you practice your first SI class announcement!