Students preparing to become educators after college are finding valuable hands-on experience in elementary and middle school classrooms thanks, in part, to America Reads.
The Student Entertainment Awareness League has promoted reading and comprehension in the Whitewater School District. The district is made up of three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.
Caitlin Dobson, SEAL community service intern, coordinates where each student will be a volunteer or tutor. Dobson has held the job since last fall because she wanted to get involved with the surrounding community.
"I hear great stories about how kids learn from the program," Dobson said. "We coordinate with the coordinators of the schools, and to hear a student that was struggling before pull up their grade is great."
There are more than 102 volunteers in the America Reads program at UW-Whitewater.
The program is open to all majors and can help students meet community service requirements needed for their major.
Junior Mark Ehlen, secondary math educator major, is a math tutor at Whitewater Middle School. Ehlen is required to get 350 hours working with kids and has been a volunteer for five semesters.
"I feel like I am making a positive impact on schools and kids lives," Ehlen said. "I learn new ways to explain to kids and I get to be known in the school for a reference when looking for a job in schools."
Dobson said this is a worthwhile experience because tutors get to connect with students beyond just getting their required community service hours.
Ryan Kekula, the Americorps VISTA for America Reads, is only in the position for one year to help teach the university how to serve the community.
"The experience you get … you may not get in the classroom," Kekula said. "If you follow through, you will learn important skills."
Ehlen said he learned patience, communication skills, time management, a passion to work with students, and real life application of skills.
"I get satisfaction out of helping students and I think it is important to have at UW-Whitewater since this is a big education school," Ehlen said. "I hope that I continue to feel like teaching is really something I want to do."
America Reads also opened the door for Ehlen to practice his foreign language skills. With the rise in Spanish-speaking immigrants in the United States, Ehlen is prepared for the possibility of having a student that speaks only Spanish.
Students interested in obtaining invaluable hands-on experience while changing the life of a child for the better can find more information on the America Reads Facebook page.
"You get out what you put in," Kekula said. "If you have a blah attitude you will have a blah experience."
To get involved with America Reads: Contact Caitlin Dobson (920) 687-9162
Next information meeting: January 23, 2010 Warhawk Involvement Center
Work study available to eligible students
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