This Week we Celebrate Education Volunteerism!
In cooperation with United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley
How do education volunteers make an impact?
- Kids spend 20% of their waking hours in school, so extra support beyond the class room is essential in providing children with the help they need to succeed in high school.
- Bob Balfanz, a noted researcher at Johns Hopkins University, says that we need a "second shift of caring adults" to support children, because kids spend 80% of their waking hours out of school.
- Research also shows that caring adults working with kids of all ages - from the early years through high school - can help boost academic achievement.
- Experts say that engaging our children - meeting them where they are, in their own learning style - is critical. Reading, tutoring and mentoring can play an important role in increasing academic success and engagement in learning. Throughout their school careers, connecting them with as many well trained, supportive adults as possible, both in and out of school, can nurture their strengths and make sure help is directed where it is most needed.
- Disadvantaged children come to school at least two years behind their peers in pre-reading skills and it is hard to catch up. Together, we can do something about this. Experts say that engaging our children - meeting them where they are, in their own learning style - is critical. Reading, tutoring and mentoring can play an important role in increasing academic success and engagement in learning.
Congratulations to this week's "Patriots Difference Maker" - Arlene Sano
Arlene Sano, is a stand-out volunteer for United Way's Literacy Reader program. Through her volunteer work, she reads to young children at early childhood programs throughout the region, fostering a love for books and reading that will help kids enter kindergarten ready to learn. Arlene is a committed volunteer that makes a big difference, and is a leading example of giving back. Arlene has been involved as a star volunteer with United Way's women's initiative for many years. She started with United Way as an employee at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts she served as a Vice Chair for our annual Women's Leadership Breakfast and invited most of the senior women to attend each year. Upon her retirement she became involved in our Healthy Childhood Development and Families involvement. She has been an early reader to pre-school kids for the past year and half and just received an award from our partner agency for her early literacy advocacy and her weekly volunteer work. She has also volunteered to collect and sort books for our books drives, planned educational events and volunteered her spare time to help kids and families in need.
What educational volunteer opportunities can I pursue?
Opportunity: United Way Early Reader - Young Readers
Time Commitment: 1 hour every other week (or every week!) for at least 6 months, beginning in mid September.
Locations: Boston (Back Bay, East Boston, South End, Chinatown), Lynn, Salem, and Somerville.
Description: Can you spare an hour every other week to share your love of reading with a needy child? As a United Way Early Reader, you will be trained to read to toddlers and preschoolers in early childhood programs and help to build their pre-literacy skills. You don't need any special skills or experience to participate. You just need to like spending time with little kids and sharing your love of reading. We have opportunities in Boston and in the surrounding communities and we have options to participate on many different days and times.
For more information or to volunteer: https://volunteer.truist.com/boston/user/events/one.tcl?event_id=10471318416&utime=1312906927074854
VOLUNTEER WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH:
Opportunity: Learning Partner- SOAR 55 (for volunteer age 55 and over)
Time Commitment: One hour a week for a year
Location: Ashland, Wayland, Newton, Wellesley and Framingham, MA
Description: As a Learning Partner you will work one on one or in small groups with an elementary school student(s)and help improve their math and reading skills.
For more information or to volunteer: Jan Latorre-Stiller, Senior Director, SOAR 55; Phone: (617) 244-1404 x 227
Opportunity: Afterschool Homework Helper
Time Commitment: Two afternoons per week for a school year.
Location: Newton Community Service Center - Newton, MA
Description: Become a Homework Helper for the Afterschool Program (grades 2-5). No particular academic experience is necessary - just patience and an encouraging demeanor.
For more information or to volunteer:: ckashuck@ncscweb.org or call (617) 969-5906 x 210
VOLUNTEER WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH:
Opportunity: Afterschool Homework Helper
Time Commitment: Opportunities are available Monday through Thursday, from 6:00 PM to 7:00(30) PM, at six different sites in Cambridge.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Description: As a volunteer tutor, you will be individually matched with one student based on academic needs and personality. Volunteers provide general homework assistance as well as subject specific help. Many volunteers often become trusted role models and mentors and continue tutoring their students for the remainder of the year and years to come.
For more information or to volunteer: www.tutoringplus.org.
VOLUNTEER WITH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH:
Opportunity: Education Volunteers
Time Commitment: Opportunities are available Monday through Thursday, from 6:00 PM to 7:00(30) PM, at six different sites in Cambridge.
Location: Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston
Description: Do you have a background in any of the following subjects - Chemistry, Biology, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, English, History, or Foreign Languages? Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is seeking education volunteers to assist with one-on-one homework help with teen members. Other opportunities include working with our Career Prep and College Club programs. By providing such support, volunteers will help members gain a sense of mastery and accomplishment, vital to success in school!
For more information or to volunteer: http://www.bgcb.org/profile_programs_teen.cfm. Additional information and our online application can be accessed on our website at www.bgcb.org.
VOLUNTEER WITH OLDER, OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH:
Opportunity: Curriculum Coach
Time Commitment: In person, by phone, or by email - 2+ hours per week for 3-6 months.
Location: Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
Description: Work one-on-one with students learning technical skills (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and HTML). For more information or to volunteer: Stuart Childress , schildress@yearup.org , 617-542-1533 x1012
Participate in our Children's Book Collection - at the Patriots versus Chargers game on Sept. 18
The Patriots Charitable Foundation would like to ask YOU to donate new or gently used Children's books as part of the Celebrate Volunteerism campaign. Collection bins will be outside Gillette Stadium prior to the start of the Sept. 18 Patriots versus Chargers game and in the Pro Shop on an ongoing basis. Books will be donated to local schools and organizations.
Examples of books to donate: Preschoolers: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey
Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Ages 4-8: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Stellaluna by Jannell Cannon
Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Ages 9-12: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
The Giver by Lois Lowry
James and the Giant Peach: A Children's Story by Roald Dahl
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
Young Adult: The Hobbit (Illustrated) by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Holes, by Louis Sachar
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M. T. Anderson
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Nation by Terry Pratchett
The Patriots Charitable Foundation is proud to work in conjunction with United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley for "Education Week"
One of the region's largest nonprofits, United Way's work ensures that children enter school ready to learn, youth stay engaged in school so they graduate with options for the future, and parents attain financial stability. No other single organization has the scope, expertise, and influence to bring together hundreds of human services agencies, government, businesses, private foundations and dedicated volunteers around a common vision of creating maximum impact and achieving long-lasting results.
www.supportunitedway.org.
