My Reading Blog

As a follow up to last week's post,  the first session of our After School Mentoring Program was a SUCCESS! After a slightly rocky start regarding the bus pick up, the rest of the afternoon went smoothly. We had 15 kids attend - five of them repeats from last year - 7 from 4th grade and 8 from 3rd grade. One challenging child (isn't that normal?), but overall, the kids were well behaved, willing to accept our help.  Most of the parents came and stayed for supper and talk.  We had pizza and one young man ask if he could have a pencil and paper so he could find out what kind of pizza everyone would like to have.  I suggested he have 3 choices - cheese, sausage and peperoni.  He did this all one his own and I complimented his parents when I talked with them. The most rewarding moment for me was when I had been working with A (who was new to the program).  We had worked on her science paper and when it was time to move to the next area, she looked at me...

Thursday will be the beginning of the 4th year of our church's After School Mentoring Program.  The first year we tested our feet (minds) with working with 8th & 9th graders.  It was a successful first year, but we had to rethink what we felt comfortable in assisting the kids.  So the 2nd year we opened the program to 8th and 3rd graders.  We felt it too was successful, although we worked mainly with 3rd graders.  We found our knitch.  The 3rd year started off with no one signing up in the fall, but we persevered and tried again in January.  We had 12 sign up, but only 8-10 showed every week. When the kids arrive, we have an "active" activity to play followed by a snack and then off to our mentoring. We revamped our format last year.  In the first two years we worked one-on-one with the students helping with reading, writing, math or whatever they needed help with for a full hour.  Last year we decided to break it up into three 20-25 ...

Last week I wrote about our After School Mentoring Program.  This is a follow up to that slice. Joan and I were still heading up the program this week as Paula is still off her foot until it heals completely.  Hoping and praying that she will be with us this week. The mentors showed up on time, most of them early.  We were chatting and I looked up and the kids were at the front doors waiting to be let it, but it's only 3:30 and they aren't suppose to be here until 3:45.  Randy hadn't shown up yet to give the kids a good workout before settling down.  Fortunately, one of our new mentors took charge and herded the kids outside.  I frantically called across the street to see where Randy was and shortly he appeared.  Thank you Lord! In the meantime, Joan had to go to a doctor's visit and she is my calming buddy.  Where were the kitchen gals?  What do we do for snacks?  Could Randy & JoAnn keep the kids occupied for a little longer?...

The past two years our church has offered an after school mentoring program.  The first year we tried 8th & 9th graders.  It went well, but a lot of us mentors felt like we were out of our league - too many years have elapsed and my how things have changed. Last year we opted for 3rd and 8th grade.  Since we didn't have any 8th graders sign up, we concentrated our efforts on the 3rd graders and found them to be delightful, a little challenging, but overall a good fit for our group. Last August we again started plans for mentoring 3rd graders, but we ran into a few bumps in the road and it didn't take off.  So we decided to try again in January.  We initially had seven kids sign up and decided to go forward.  But then, the weather hit and it got pushed back.  Then they were off of school for one reason or another. Finally, two weeks ago, we got started.  Twelve kids signed up.  We had a mentors meeting and they were excited.  We...

The last two weeks I've been overseeing our After School Mentoring Program and there have been some challenges along the way, but overall it has been a great experience for all of us volunteers.  Most of us are not certified teachers, but we can listen and help. Last week S came to us along with her two older brothers (7th and 10th grade), because Mom wasn't sure that S could handle being with us alone.  Some anxiety issues, some ADD issues, some other issues that I'm still not sure of.  I encouraged her to join in the game the others were playing - she did so reluctantly.  Then Mom & Dad showed up.  We talked with them, found out some of the issues, told them they could stay with her during mentoring or sit in the Youth Room.  They opted to sit in the Youth Room. Since we don't have enough mentors for one-to-one, I placed S with B.  The mentor was a former teacher and I knew that she could manage both (or at least I hoped).  My job as l...

Last January our church embarked on an After School Mentoring Program for our Junior High Students.  It started off with 10 students, which we now look at as a gift from God.  He was giving us a chance to get the program moving in the right direction. Last week, we started our 2016-2017 program.  I have been working with the coordinator to get everything going.  She is out of town for several weeks, so the first two weeks were put on Joan and my plate.  This year is slightly different as we have changed our grades and now work with 8th graders and 3rd graders. Joan and I met with the principals, discussed the focus, met with the transportation department, waited for the enrollment forms to be turned in, talked with the mentors, greeters and cooks and waited for the number of students we would be helping. We contacted the principals on Tuesday - 3rd grade numbers - 12, no wait 15, hold on it's a final count - 19!  Praise the Lord.  Oh, my. ...