Wednesday, July 31, 2002
|
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 |
|
Oak Grove recruits record number of reading tutors and mentors Business leaders and community members throughout Fayette are finding the personal satisfaction of knowing that they helped a child by volunteering to participate in the Fayette County Schools Literacy and Mentor programs. Oak Grove Elementary realizes the need for students to develop strong reading skills as well as the fact that sometimes students just need a friend that will listen and encourage them to do their best. This is why the school started an aggressive campaign last year to recruit additional reading tutors and adult mentors to work with students at the school. By soliciting volunteers from Flat Creek Baptist, Peachtree City Presbyterian and Peachtree City United Methodist churches, Oak Grove increased its number of reading tutors and mentors from three to 32. The volunteers come to the school once or twice a week to meet one-on-one with their assigned students. "This is the most volunteers we have ever had," said teacher Suzanne Bienert. "The teachers are reporting that they have seen a positive difference in students' social skills as well as an improvement in their reading skills. This program has helped to improve the morale of both our students and teachers. I hope that our new volunteers will want to come back year after year because they are making a difference in our school." Although the school has added a lot of new volunteers, there are several community members who have been donating their time at the school for a number of years to help Oak Grove's students. Ian Tracy, a Delta pilot, is in his third year of working as a reading tutor. When he decided that he wanted to volunteer his time for a good cause, he thought helping out at the school would be one of the best things that he could do for his community. "I chose to do this for a combination of reasons. I feel that I am doing some good in the world. Reading is the most fundamental element that a school can teach. Without the ability to read, you can't be very successful," Tracy said. Due to Tracy's sometimes hectic and changing schedule, he has the ability to be flexible in the days he chooses to volunteer. That is one of the factors that has kept him coming back each year as a tutor. "This is a good easy way to give back to the community without having to go through a lot of obstacles. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good community effort," Tracy said. Joan Sords, a real estate agent, has been volunteering as a reading tutor at Oak Grove for six years. A former teacher and substitute teacher, she knows all too well the importance of developing strong reading skills at an early age. "I got involved in the program because I have always liked reading and helping students, that is just my thing. I have grandchildren but I don't get to see them often to read to them so I thought I could help other children by getting involved," said Sords. Sords goes to the school two days a week, 30 minutes each day, to tutor her student. She says she takes time to get to know her students' interests and then picks books that are related. "It is so rewarding to see children get enthused about a story and hardly able to wait to see how it is going to end. I wish I could do this more because reading is so important," Sords added. Participating in the literacy or mentoring program requires a one-year commitment to work one hour a week. All tutoring and mentoring takes place at the school on a one-on-one basis. Donna Worcerster, the coordinator of both programs, provides training sessions for tutors and mentors before they begin working with students. Tutors and mentors must successfully pass a background check before they can participate in either program. Anyone interested in becoming
a tutor or mentor can contact Worcerster at 770-460-3535, ext. 173 or
email worcerster.donna@fcboe.org for more information on the programs.
|
||