Help Wanted
2-Way Relationships- Advice, anyone?
By Danielle Miles | Friday, April 24th, 2009
I work with a group of 30 kids. They are in Kindergarten and First Grade. They’re rad little people. I have had ups and downs with most of them, but there is one kid I have not been able to connect with all year.
When I try to discuss things with him, it is usually to help him process something he has done that hurt another kid somehow- physically or emotionally. He has sexually harassed other kids, hit other kids, or just pushed their buttons until they freaked out. When I am running “Circle Time” - a 15 minute daily group meeting- he will interrupt me so many times that I have to ask him to leave almost daily. When I ask him questions, he just shrugs and says “I don’t know. Can I have a snack?” or “I’m just kinda tired… can I go now?” I have not found any way to connect with him on a human level.
Some background info- he was adopted at an early age (his mom seems super cool), and was born drug-affected. I have worked with many “at-risk” kids, but I just haven’t been able to find a way to connect with this little guy.
Any creative ideas?
Topics: Help Wanted, Kids at Risk, Questions | 2 Comments »
Please Help: A Student’s Plan and What She Needs to make it Happen
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
NP, a student in the online course is seeking help and resources for a Somali child. She has asked me to post this request for help.“I would like to be better able to communicate with student who I am currently observing in Kindergarten class right now. He is from Somalia. He doesn’t speak or understand much English, and his parents speak very little too. As a newcomer, he doesn’t understand the rules or culture of his new community. I notice that it is hard for the teacher and students to communicate to him, and I can imagine how frustrated he must be inside. I also notice that he is slowly picking up little things here and there, and he does respond to the signals from the teacher.I would like to find ways to help this boy communicate and become more comfortable in his classroom and new culture. I have generated a list of ideas in this course, but I need help finding resources, suggestions and people who can help me help him. Histeacher is working hard to get a translator in the class so this student and parents can begin to understand what is going on. I know this will help, but so far no translator has arrived.
He enjoys playing basketball at recess, and is learning the rules of by watching the kids and participating in the game. So, I think it would be great to see him get involved in a basketball league. I know he is just in Kindergarten but I think this can really help socializing him with the other kids.
Another great resource he could benefit by (hypothetically, because I don’t know if there is such a thing) would be to send him to an after school program where they speak Somali.
In the perfect world, there would be a place where he could go after school to learn the basics, a center where he could go and relate to other students and mentors in his community. It would be wonderful to have a place where the language and culture are familiar, and where he could meet other kids who are struggling in the same situations. Is there such a place?
Another idea would be to a have a buddy system (again in the perfect world) where someone older than him, someone also from
Somalia could help him in his studies and socialization. It would be wonderful if hehad someone he could relate to and ask questions.
Please, Please, Please any suggestions or comments are welcome…this is something I have been struggling with because I want so badly to have endless ways to help him (and other kids too of course) …but I don’t know where to go for help and resources. Please post ANY ideas and suggestions below. Thanks in advance.
Topics: Culturally Competent, Help Wanted, Questions | 1 Comment »
mentoring question
By eburcart | Friday, July 18th, 2008
I am wondering if anyone has advice on how to re-connect with a former student who I used to have a close mentoring relationship with. He is now 16 and not as interested in spending time with a former teacher, but I dont want to just let him be when I know that he is going through a lot now and making some really bad decisions. Is there anything I can do?
Topics: Help Wanted | No Comments »
Open Meadow Mentoring Program
By Michele Taylor | Thursday, March 6th, 2008
I am currently recruiting mentors for Open Meadow’s Project ESTEEM (Empowering Students Through Educational Employment Mentorships). It begins in February and ends the first week of June. The time commitment is 4 hours a month – two hours on two Monday afternoons.
Below is some information about Open Meadow Schools and the mentoring program. Thanks in advance for sharing this information with people who you know would be good mentor candidates and interested in volunteering.
Open Meadow Alternative Schools:
Open Meadow is a private, non-profit, educational organization located in North Portland, Oregon. In 2007, Open Meadow celebrated 36 years of re-engaging youth in education. Our programs provide education and support services to students at risk of disconnecting from school or who have already dropped out. All services are delivered in small settings.
Open Meadow is focused on providing a broad-based middle and high school education, preparing students for transition to post-secondary education and career opportunities, and instilling a sense of life-long learning.
Our programs provide intensive support services designed to re-engage young people in their education and assist them in addressing barriers that have previously interfered with school success. Open Meadow also provides employment readiness, youth development, transition services, academic support, and job placement services. Many Open Meadow students become the first in their family to achieve their high school diploma.
Project ESTEEM (Empowering Students Through Educational Employment Mentorships
There are also fun events along the way that people can join in on when their schedule allows. The requirements for being a mentor are an interview, passing a fingerprint background check, and the ability to commit until the beginning June (which is when the program ends).
Michele Taylor 503-488-5176 A career based mentorship program where students work with an adult mentor to gain competency in basic business practices. These include skills such as interviewing, resumes, how to write a thank you note, etc. Open Meadow supplies materials and guidance as a road map so the mentoring pair knows what they are working toward.
4 hours a month commitment (most mentors end up wanting to do more).
There is structured time offered on every other Monday from 2:15 – 4:00.
Topics: Help Wanted | No Comments »