August 3, 2015

RSVP: Lead With Experience

By Julie Ross
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Eastern Iowa and Western Illnois

Education Volunteering:
It’s Not Just for Retired Teachers

Mary-K-and-3-pals Did you know that RSVP of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois puts great emphasis on finding volunteers to support educational activities? Many of our volunteers donate many hours working with children in schools—sometimes they read with a child one-on-one, sometimes they may listen to a small group of children read passages from books. They may help children memorize math facts or assist them in completing worksheets. Some of our volunteers help in after-school tutoring programs, too.

Volunteering in such a capacity is vital to the success of classrooms and for the academic success of children, kindergarten through high school–but tutoring is only one way
to improve educational outcomes. Did know mentoring is equally as important?

What’s the difference between tutoring and mentoring? Tutoring is assisting a student to specifically improve academic skills: reading, math, memorizing facts. Mentors, on the other hand, act as advisors, counselors, cheerleaders for students that give emotional support. Mentoring can take many forms. For example, many of our members are “Lunch Buddies,” which involves the simple act of eating lunch with a child as little as twice a month. The purpose of these pairings is to give a child some special attention, give them a special adult mentor to talk with, play a board game, read, or simple share stories and jokes. Several of our volunteers spend time with at-risk teens.

Many schools also have a “WatchDog” program—specifically designed for male volunteers to interact and role model behavior for boys. WatchDogs may supervise and socialize at lunchtime, lead playground activities, etc.

And many of our volunteers are active “Writing Mentors” by participating in our very popular Pen Pal Program.

A good number of our volunteers also assist at one-time special events that support education, including school Fun Nights, Davenport’s Youthfest, Rock Island’s “Ready to Rock the School Year,” and the Children’s Literature Festival.

Tutoring and mentoring does not occur only with youth. Adults also need educational assistance, and many of our volunteers provide it. Some adult students want to earn their high-school diploma, but others just want to learn to read well enough to help their children with their homework or read to their own children or grandchildren. Some adults want to gain skills that will help them gain better employment. And some adult students are new arrivals in this county and just want to gain English skills.
RSVP has a close partnership with adult literacy programs at Black Hawk College L.I.F.E. (Literacy Is For Everyone) and Scott Community College WDC (West Davenport Center). Throughout the academic year, we collaborate on monthly “Tutor Talks” Generally the third Friday of each month. We alternate meetings sides between CASI in Davenport and the Butterworth Center in Moline. Our first talk of the year will be at the Butterworth Center on Friday, September 18th at 1:30 p.m.

Scott Community College is also having a meeting for new and prospective adult literacy tutors on Saturday, August 1st, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon West Davenport Center
2950 Fairmount Street, Davenport

Finally, RSVP is coordinating a Tutor Training for new and prospective tutors and mentors for school-aged students
at CASI in Davenport on Wednesday, September 9th from 9 a.m. – noon.

All of these trainings are free and open to the public.

RSVP members also mentor adults through programs like “Dress for Success” which prepares women who have been out of the work force enter back into it. We also have several volunteers that are working with Opportunities for Quad Citians, acting as mentors to individuals working to rise out of poverty. Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR) is another organization RSVP works with. Our members help newly arrived residents assimilate to our community and gain self-sufficiency. Finally RSVP members who are retired engineers mentor students in WIU’s Engineering program.

We have over 500 volunteers that help in at least 128 different ways that help educate and mentor individuals of all ages with a variety of goals. Would you like to get involved? Give us a call at 309-793-4425 or email us jross@wiaaa.org

Filed Under: Personal Growth

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