Help Elementary School Students SOAR

It's very exciting to check in with our community partners and see what their plans are for this upcoming semester and what they have been doing during the break.

I just heard from Lila Moore with SOAR, and she sent along good information about that after-school program.

You don't have to be in a community-based learning course to work in the community, so consider signing up to work with this program whether you're in SPAN 232 or 332 or not.

S.O.A.R. @ B.T. Washington Elementary

The S.O.A.R. after-school tutoring program at B.T. Washington Elementary is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to provide homework and reading help to students in grades K-5 who are most in need of some extra support. Currently about 45 children, mainly Latino and African American, attend the free after-school program. The S.O.A.R. program is a collaboration of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, the College of Education, and Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club.

S.O.A.R. (Student Opportunities for After-School Resources) operates from 3:00 to 5:00 every Tuesday through Thursday at B.T. Washington Elementary School. Volunteers are asked to commit at least one day a week for the duration of the program to working with a child.

The S.O.A.R. program provides volunteers the opportunity to

-help children from different backgrounds and cultures with their homework and reading,

-practice Spanish-speaking skills in a real-life situation,

-provide a much needed and appreciated service to the local community,

-gain experience in a K-5 tutoring and literacy setting, and

-develop a close mentor relationship with a child.

Orientation/training sessions begin the week of January 27. Tutors will attend one training session on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (Jan. 27, 28, or 29) from 3:00 – 5:00 (the normal days and hours of tutoring) in the library at B.T. Washington Elementary. I will provide additional information in an e-mail to those who plan on volunteering with the S.O.A.R. program.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like information please contact Lila Moore at tutor@education.illinois.edu .

Click here for a flyer that you can put up to encourage others to sign up as well.

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