| Did you ever need a little extra help with a school | | | | somebody do something?" Somebody can. You. Join |
| subject? At some point or another, almost all of us | | | | Our children - Our Future, the new Memphis City |
| have. Whether it's been something like handwriting or | | | | schools volunteer tutor training program." It is a |
| learning letters to diagramming a sentence or | | | | wonderful initiative that is being undertaken by the |
| geometry, we've all had times when we've struggled in | | | | Memphis Schools system, and one to be copied by |
| school. (This does not mean the struggle we had | | | | other school systems throughout Tennessee and the |
| staying awake in early morning classes!) While | | | | nation. |
| classroom teachers are doing everything they can to | | | | When participating in the program serving students |
| help their students and facilitate learning, they can't do it | | | | attending Memphis Schools, volunteer tutors work with |
| all. They need help. The Memphis Schools school | | | | K-6 students for 30 minutes once or twice a week, |
| board leaders struggled with this issue. Here's one way | | | | and 45 minutes once a week for those in 7th - 12th |
| they're trying to help these struggling Memphis Schools | | | | grades. Times for tutoring sessions will be individualized |
| students (and their teachers). | | | | for all Memphis Schools, and will include times before, |
| The Memphis Schools system has created a | | | | during, and after the school day. Individual schedules of |
| department to handle the recruitment and organization | | | | volunteers will be considered when scheduling tutoring |
| of community members who are willing and able to | | | | sessions. |
| donate time and effort mentoring students. As stated | | | | Volunteers at any of the Memphis Schools will receive |
| on the Memphis City Schools website, "helping one | | | | approximately 2 ½ -3 hours of training, as well as |
| child learn helps us all. Children must master basic | | | | all materials they might require when working with their |
| reading and mathematics skills to succeed in life, and all | | | | student. Tutors can pick the age of the child they work |
| of them can. But some need a little extra help and a | | | | with, as well as what subject (either Reading or Math) |
| little extra time. Some of them need you." | | | | they want to help in. Volunteer tutors must have a high |
| Memphis Schools are calling on the entire community | | | | school diploma, and have a strong concept of |
| to help tutor students, and will give volunteers all the | | | | algebraic concepts if tutoring in higher math. In addition, |
| training and materials needed to do the job. Adds the | | | | all volunteers must agree to a background check, in |
| Memphis Schools website, "All you have to invest is a | | | | order to ensure the safety of all Memphis Schools |
| little time. And when this investment grows, everybody | | | | students. |
| profits. It's time we stopped asking, "Why doesn't | | | | |