Outreach Observations Tutoring First-Grade Children

Outreach Observations

Tutoring first-grade children with reading difficulties: My experiences with community outreach

When determining an appropriate way for me to engage in a community outreach program, I remembered the difficulties I had in reading during my early years of schooling, and the enormous benefit I received when the sixth-grade class would come and pair up with our first grade class to help us make our way through our books. I decided that returning the same favor to a child in first grade that was struggling to read themselves would be an excellent, enjoyable, and very appropriate way for me to give back to the community I lived in. I arranged to help several students with their reading at a local elementary school during an after-school program. The first thing I noticed was how much quieter the three children at my table were; they were not engaged more in their reading than the other children were with their homework, but seemed almost depressed and definitely dejected by the task at hand. Their difficulties when it came to reading had left them without the same capacity to enjoy themselves as the others.

This had a huge effect on me not because I recognized their emotional response as similar to my own, but for exactly the opposite reason. Though I can remember having difficulties reading, I don't remember it ever getting me down the way it obviously did with these kids. This caused me to reflect on the other aspects of my life during the years when I seemed behind my peers in reading. My family and teachers were all incredibly supportive, and tough I knew I had to work a little harder than the others to get my reading to fall into line, their encouragement left me with a great deal of confidence that I would eventually catch up to everyone else. Seeing how depressed these kids were made me think that they might not have the same support system I enjoyed.

This possibility has had a profound impact on the needs that I think the community -- especially these school children -- possesses. Being a tutor implies a certain type of behavior and activity; tutors instruct their students in academic areas and help them solve specific issues and/or problems one at a time. I think that what this particular segment of the community needs is more accurately described as a mentor. In addition to extra assistance with academic instruction and learning, the children I observed during my time as their tutor really need a regular influence in their life to help them build confidence and self-esteem along with helping them improve their skills. Becoming dejected about their perceived shortcomings will only make their problems worse, and the more discouraged they become about their reading the less likely they will be to progress even with the help of a tutor. Someone who continues to encourage them regularly, however, could possibly bring them to their own grade level in just a few months if they are good at motivating the students they are mentoring.