The children living at the orphanage go to school at the orphanage as well. Rows of desks sit outside under the overhang of the orphanage itself. When I first got to the program I told the head master of the school that I would love to be able to help with teaching and he immediately put me in "class one" to help. The children in this class were 5-8 years old. I realized early on with teaching that these children loved exercising their skills in school and felt so proud when they accomplished the tasks given to them. I thought I fully understood how much these children wanted to learn until my fellow volunteers and I spearheaded a tutoring program.
Myself and a few other volunteers got a folder together that had alphabet letters in it, along with papers that had sight words and sentences on them. We would go to the orphanage during school time and pull the kids out of class one at a time and we would see what letters and letter sound they knew. They would then move on to the next paper if they had a good handle on the previous one. After the children went through the papers with us we would have a good idea about what each individual needed help with the most when it came to reading. We would then write down the child's name and what to tutor them on.
We first started testing the younger kids, working our way up to the older students and by our third day of testing we had finally made it to two of the highest grades. Some of the students were a bit apprehensive to come with us because they were unsure of what we were going to have them do. Once we explained it they would loosen up a bit and begin to show us what they knew. One particular 17 year old boy I was quizzing did a great job but I knew that he could use some practice, just as everyone who reads on this planet does. I was a bit nervous to ask him if he would like to read with the volunteers regularly because I didn't want him to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable because I was only a few years older than him, but I asked anyway. I have never seen a quicker reaction to a question. His head shot up and down and he said "yes, yes, yes," he looked so extremely excited. It was the complete opposite reaction I thought I was going to receive from the young man. I could see in his eyes just how bad he wanted to read with anyone that would take the time to listen to him.
On the last day of our testing, I walked into the back classroom to get a student for quizzing. I heard someone call my name and I looked up at the young man who said it. I had tried to talk to him a few times before this particular day but never really got anywhere and honestly I was surprised he knew my name. I would put my hand out to him and he would shake it and walk away without ever seeming interested in having a conversation with me. I looked at him and waited for his next words to come. "What is all of this?" he asked about the test he had just done with another volunteer. He sounded guarded, like he had just had to do something that he wasn't cool with. I replied saying that it was just to see what everyone knows, to see where everyone is at with reading. I could see that his faced changed a bit, it seemed softer. I said "did you like it?" He coyly looked down and nodded his head. I got a smile on my face and said "well then would you like to read with us again sometime?" He looked back up at me with a smile on his face and nodded his head again. I replied saying "alright awesome." It was awesome. To see these boys and girls nearly my age wanting to simply read to someone. All they want is for someone to take the time to sit with them one on one and not say a word. Just to be there and listen.
Now that I am home, I realize how fortunate I have been to have my loved ones encourage me all the way through my school years. There were times I would cry over homework because I didn't want to have to read 20 pages out of a book I didn't love, and here are these kids yearning to read anything they can to someone who will take the time to sit with them. They have inspired me to learn as much as I can about everything that I can and most importantly to not take for granted the people around me that make me feel proud of the things I have accomplished.
*If you have a story that this entry reminds you of and you would like to share it, please feel free to email me. I would love to hear your story, whoever you may be. [email protected]
Myself and a few other volunteers got a folder together that had alphabet letters in it, along with papers that had sight words and sentences on them. We would go to the orphanage during school time and pull the kids out of class one at a time and we would see what letters and letter sound they knew. They would then move on to the next paper if they had a good handle on the previous one. After the children went through the papers with us we would have a good idea about what each individual needed help with the most when it came to reading. We would then write down the child's name and what to tutor them on.
We first started testing the younger kids, working our way up to the older students and by our third day of testing we had finally made it to two of the highest grades. Some of the students were a bit apprehensive to come with us because they were unsure of what we were going to have them do. Once we explained it they would loosen up a bit and begin to show us what they knew. One particular 17 year old boy I was quizzing did a great job but I knew that he could use some practice, just as everyone who reads on this planet does. I was a bit nervous to ask him if he would like to read with the volunteers regularly because I didn't want him to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable because I was only a few years older than him, but I asked anyway. I have never seen a quicker reaction to a question. His head shot up and down and he said "yes, yes, yes," he looked so extremely excited. It was the complete opposite reaction I thought I was going to receive from the young man. I could see in his eyes just how bad he wanted to read with anyone that would take the time to listen to him.
On the last day of our testing, I walked into the back classroom to get a student for quizzing. I heard someone call my name and I looked up at the young man who said it. I had tried to talk to him a few times before this particular day but never really got anywhere and honestly I was surprised he knew my name. I would put my hand out to him and he would shake it and walk away without ever seeming interested in having a conversation with me. I looked at him and waited for his next words to come. "What is all of this?" he asked about the test he had just done with another volunteer. He sounded guarded, like he had just had to do something that he wasn't cool with. I replied saying that it was just to see what everyone knows, to see where everyone is at with reading. I could see that his faced changed a bit, it seemed softer. I said "did you like it?" He coyly looked down and nodded his head. I got a smile on my face and said "well then would you like to read with us again sometime?" He looked back up at me with a smile on his face and nodded his head again. I replied saying "alright awesome." It was awesome. To see these boys and girls nearly my age wanting to simply read to someone. All they want is for someone to take the time to sit with them one on one and not say a word. Just to be there and listen.
Now that I am home, I realize how fortunate I have been to have my loved ones encourage me all the way through my school years. There were times I would cry over homework because I didn't want to have to read 20 pages out of a book I didn't love, and here are these kids yearning to read anything they can to someone who will take the time to sit with them. They have inspired me to learn as much as I can about everything that I can and most importantly to not take for granted the people around me that make me feel proud of the things I have accomplished.
*If you have a story that this entry reminds you of and you would like to share it, please feel free to email me. I would love to hear your story, whoever you may be. [email protected]