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From: JennieDe@aol.com
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Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:274] RE: What are we doing?
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Dear Gina, I wondered how you got my name, but possibly through some of the
contacts I have with various groups. I wrote the proposal (Federally funded
for my salary and little else), and directed the program for elementary
students here in Virginia. At the time, I was supervising a talented and
gifted program and a reading and math remedial program on a a county level.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with the volunteers. At their request, I
wrote a book on phonics, "Flip for Phonics - for Tutors, Mothers and Others."
They wanted something simple and easy to follow. We used it successfully,
and several years later, I decided to get it published. (It's for sale on
the Barnes and Noble web. Now - that sounds like I'm trying to sell books,
but I'm really not. It was interesting to me that the tutors were the
reason that I wrote "Flip". I'm writing another book for parents to assist
them in helping their children at home. After that, I will complete my book
on guidance for elementary kids - and hope I find publishers for both!
Needless to say, I now spend my time writing and no longer teaching and
supervising!
Now there are many more sources for volunteers here - organizations and
businesses, such as Philip Morris, are releasing employees to volunteer once
a week or so. When my program changed in focus, volunteers were becoming hard
to find as more women went to work. I did insist that the volunteers come
twice a week, but let volunteers work with children if they only had once
a week free. I asked for an hour so they had time to read a short piece, do
a few games with the skill they were teaching, and some reading and writing.
We had good results - and did have pre and post testing, which I understand
some programs are not doing. I wanted to know - really know - if the
children were making progress.
Are you working with adults? I feel you are. I'm interested in how you
find your volunteers and if the students refer themselves or how you get the
tutee? I have definite ideas on working with adults, only from what I hear
from friends who have tutored. I've never worked with adult non-readers! I
trained the tutors continuously - I mean once a month throughout the year. I
also had media volunteers who made games and teaching devices for the tutees
as well as classroom teachers.
Enjoyed "talking" to you - now back to my editing. Think I wanted a
break from my writing! Don't get discouraged! Progress isn't fast, but the
non-reader didn't get that way over night, either. Jennie Jennings DeGenaro
Jenniede@aol.com
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