In recent years, the goal of schools and support institutions has been to give each child access to a computer. Although an educational software such as Children's Creative is an innovation in the educational market—it develops both sets of skills—the focus is still on technology training. Yet, it is equally important that “no child be left behind” in developing traditional literacy skills.
With educational and social services budgets overburdened, volunteers bridge the gap with remarkable programs that deserve support.
What is Literacy?
“Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society.” — UNESCO
The following organizations are four examples of what is done by volunteers, and can be replicated anywhere, to help children in need of educational support.
1/ KidSafe Writers’ Room in Vancouver (Canada)
Vancouver KidSafe Project Society innovates with a Writer’s Room at Queen Alexandra Elementary School with the partnership of the Vancouver School Board’s Van Tech Community School Team and the York House.
Initiated last summer with the Neighbourhood Stories Project (children’s pieces are currently displayed on transit shelter ads in their neighbourhoods), the KidSafe Writers' Room was modelled after 826 Valencia (see below), and is coordinated by Sarah Maitland.
From Monday to Thursday after school, KidSafe's Writers’ Room provides a “nutritious snack, homework help, and fun literary arts games and activities, such as settings for stories by making collages with images from magazines,” Maitland explains by email.
Volunteers include grade 11-12 students from York House who tutor 6-7 children by assisting them individually on homework and guiding extra support assignments from teachers.
According to Kristi Rintoul, Manager of Programming and Development, it has been a learning experience not only for the kids, but also for their young tutors. Other volunteers are publishing and arts professionals who tutor grade 1-7 children.
By receiving one-on-one tutoring, children can complete projects to the best of their ability, which boost their literacy skills and their self-esteem. By writing stories, they validate their wishes and fantasies, a powerful tool to goal setting. Furthermore, the conclusion of the creative process through publication is a motivating factor for revision and proofreading.
“My future is being an artist because I like to draw. My other future is to be a fish because I can be under water.” —Andrew, age 9*
All KidSafe programs serve children from low-income households and rely on donations and grants. The Society is currently seeking partners and funding for the spring term.
2/ Page Ahead Organization in Seattle (USA)
Founded in 1990 as Books for Kids, the Page Ahead organization highlights that the lack of basic literacy skills in childhood often ends in delinquency, substance abuse and welfare dependence in adulthood. Furthermore, teen pregnancy perpetuates the poverty cycle.
According to Page Ahead “Studies have shown that being read to as a child and having books in the home are the two most important indicators of future academic success.” In Washington State, Page Ahead serves some 55,000 children every year by providing new books for children, literacy support for families, and reading resources for communities.
To help Page Ahead, other than monetary donations and book donations from Amazon or Powell Books’ wish-lists, anyone can join the 500 volunteers who, last year, spent 3000 hours:
- Sorting and packing books
- Reading to children
- Preparing bulk mailings
- Organizing book drives
- Designing the website
- Updating the database
3/ 826 Valencia Organization in San Francisco
Founded in 2002, the non-profit organization 826 Valencia is named after its street address in the Mission District of San Francisco. It is dedicated to help 6-18 year-old students with their writing skills, and to help teachers inspire them to write.
Here again, the belief is “that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success and that great leaps in learning can happen when trained tutors work one-on-one with students.” Teachers report that tutored students come to class with a confident attitude, with their homework done, and with motivation for another day of learning.
Other than donations of time and money, the organization is funded through its Pirate Store (opened on the street front so that 826 Valencia can operate (in the back!) in this space zoned for retail).
4/ Assistance League with 70 Local Chapters
As a national non-profit organization that “puts caring and commitment into action through community-based philanthropic programs.” Each Chapter program is run and funded by volunteers, and funds are allocated according to their communities’ specific needs.
Many of these Chapters focus on literacy programs such as the Buena Vista Auxiliary Early Intervention Reading Program of Diablo Valley Assistance League (California). This tutoring program pairs elementary schoolchildren who read below grade level with credentialed teachers.
Assistance League programs are funded through donations to their local thrift shops, donations to wish-lists, and monetary donations. Buena Vista Auxiliary is funded by the annual gala fundraiser A Toast to Tutoring held annually in April. Supporters have several opportunities during the year to visit the school and see the benefit of their goodwill.
What Experts Say about Good Writing and Reading Skills for Children
According to author and educator Gail E. Tompkins encouraging children to write stories not only stimulates their imagination, it clarifies their thinking and helps them assess their identity.
According to Professor Helen Cowie, story writing benefits the linguistic, cognitive, social, and emotional aspects of a child’s development. It is helpful for problem solving and for the resolution of emotional conflicts.
According to a study at Stanford University:
- Children who are poor readers in their early years of school are assessed by their teachers as more aggressive later on.
- Children who have good social skills in kindergarten and first grade are more likely to be good readers in third grade.
Sources
- * Published with the permission of KidSafe Writers' Room and parents' consent to display texts in public places
- Stanford University. "New study links reading, social skills in children". Lisa Trei. 2006
- University of Surrey, North England. Helen Cowie
Marie-Claude Arnott - Marie-Claude Arnott writes about topics that interest her, from experience and with passion.
