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The Volunteer Tutor What Does It Take To Be a Volunteer? |
The SOAR Program at Booker T. Washington School in Champaign utilisizes enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who want to work with children. Volunteer tutors work from 3:00 to 5:00 every Tuesday through Friday at the B.T. Washington School, which is located in Champaign. Volunteers are asked to tutor regularly at least one day a week during the academic year.
The primary purpose of the after school program is to provide homework and reading help to children in grades kindergarten through seven who are most in need of some extra support. Currently, approximately forty children, mainly Latino/a and African American, attend the free program.
The BTW SOAR Program provides volunteers with many opportunities:
-gain experience in a K-8 tutoring and literacy setting-provide a much needed and appreciated service to the local community
-develop a close mentor relationship with a child
For more information visit the SOAR website at (add site address). Volunteer orientation sessions occur at the start of each UIUC academic semester. The orientation is generally one, two-hour session held Tuesday through Friday from 3-5pm, the same hours/days as the turoring program. Orientations are held at BTW School at 606 East Grove, Champaign, IL.
If you would like to volunteer contact Laura Lowe (LauraLowe826@gmail.com).
Volunteers gain many skills and valuable experiences as tutors. Volunteers who participated in the SOAR program recently cited the following benefits to their involvement: -Real life practice of Spanish language. -Practice of leadership skills. - A break from usual routine of college life. -An opportunity to become involved in the local community. -Enjoyment of working with children. -Gained patience and understanding. -Experience in dealing with and building relationships with children. -Making great memories. -Learned how to teach children. -Learned how to elvaluate each student’s strengths and weakness in math and reading. -Watching each students’ academic growth. -How attached the children became to me. -How to discipline children, that I can be strict, but kind as well. -Hearing the stories of the children. -How to work with younger level students as a “teacher” and that patience is a big part of teaching. -It really makes a difference in each of the student’s lives and you can really tell through their enthusiasm. -Being reminded of what it’s like to be a child. -I have gotten better at explaining things. -Gotten to meet brilliant children. -Learned how to handle difficult situations with children. -Liked seeing a different side of Champaign and the community that you can’t get just going to class. -Learning the culture of the students. -What an impact we have on these chi;drens’ lives and how important a good elementary education is. -Being able to help them learn is a great feeling. -Learned how to deal with them better and manage between play and work time. -Gained quite a bit of additional respect and knowledge of children. -Increased my comfort level with children. -Tons of fun playing with the children. -Learned how to connect with Latina and African American girls. -How to keep children focused and somewhat motivated.
Morey, October, 2007