[kittygilchrist]

Call him Jake. First time I tutored, jake hugged me outright. he pretended to not know math or english except when working with me. Teacher frustrated, knows he is smart. she calls aloud for me to to affirm Jake is indeed a smart boy.

Session two.. Teacher assigns me solely to Jake. He buzzes with motivation, excited, executing all blanks on math and english, flying, finishing early, reading me books in down time.
Checking the clock, Jake says, you have eight more minutes till you have to leave..and then, it is one minute to 12. You have to leave in one minute. Can you hold my hand when we walk out?

Volunteer to tutor, please!
I am at wildwood elem..need is overwhelming.

[duffysmom]

Blessings to you Kitty.

[Bonnevie]

agree with Kitty. much help is needed. unfortunately, all not as precocious as her student, but all do have that desire for some attention. I had a kindergartener who would not focus, and sucked his thumb when frustrated. another who withdrew and would not speak or do anything. He looked exhausted and once told me his power had been turned off. it's my hope with repeated visits they can improve, it's happened in another class. it's heartbreaking to realize they have no one at home doing letters and numbers or reading to them. today, there was a call for more help in the newspaper for more people to tutor at Wildwood Elementary with Tutors for Kids. I hope others will join us there. they are great kids who just need some help so they can succeed.

[OBXNana]

Helping in the classroom is a blessing to the teachers and the students. You will find after a day with a child, you're the winner.

If you aren't in The Villages I guarantee there is a school that would open their doors to a helper. It doesn't have to be where you live and the need may not be as great, look at your surrounding areas that may not be the home life we may have had or those of our children. With budgets cut, two parents working, the kids may be falling through the cracks. That hour or two a week someone can volunteer, can open the eyes of a young children to the love of learning.

[jbdlfan]

God bless you for helping in our schools. Please also consider the older students in middle and high school. All these kids need positive role models in their lives.

[Laurie2]

Do the schools have a way for volunteers who are not in TV for the entire school year to help?

I have thought about this, but would not be able to be a constant and not sure if that would be the best thing to have happen for those kids who need constants in their lives. I have wondered if perhaps being willing to work with a small group rather than one-to-one would be a way to work that out. That possibly would change the dynamics somewhat so time-to-leave might be easier for all concerned.

Can the tutoring be done during school hours rather than after school? If kids have to be picked up after school that can be a problem that cannot happen if tutoring is done during the school day.

Also, I hope the schools have some orientation in place for volunteers and that the classroom teachers have the final say in what is needed.

And, yes, those big kids need help, too. Are there any programs in place at the secondary level?

[Bonnevie]

the tutoring I do is in the classroom during school hours. I do one hour twice a week. there's also a need in the media center. Tutors for Kids has a website and contact information there. you can send them an email and ask.

Home

[jbdlfan]

Here is the link for Marion County volunteer page: Marion County Public Schools :: Volunteers

[DougB]

...

[DougB]

Just like the young man in this poem, Those who volunteer at schools are making a difference in a child's life.


STARFISH POEM

One day an old man was walking down the beach just before dawn.* In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.*
As the old man approached the young man, he asked, "Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"
The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.*
The old man exclaimed, "But there must be thousands of starfish.* How can your efforts make any difference?"*
The young man looked down at the starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said," It makes a difference to this one!"

[Bonnevie]

an update on my tutoring experience. didn't want to go to tutoring yesterday because it has been discouraging and I questioned my helpfulness. but the little boy who once said nothing to me the whole time was open to reading a book instead of just sounding out letters. after reading one really easy book he asked if we could do his library book. So we did and at one point he actually read the words. When I told him he read the words, he looked at me as if in disbelief. When I assured him he had indeed read those pages the look in his eyes was so rewarding. I don't know if the other kids tease him for not being able to read the words, but I know he felt bad about not being able to do it. So just knowing that he could at least read some, meant so much to him. I don't know how much I can really help. but who knows, maybe he won't fall thru the cracks and become the 5th grader reading at 2nd grade level because once a week someone gave him their undivided attention.

Tutoring is one of the best and easiest volunteer opportunities to do. You can do as little as one hour a week. but in that hour you can mean so much to a child. Please consider doing it. www.tutorforkids.org