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Jackie R.
WISE America Reads Senior Volunteer
Tutor
Jackie R. volunteered this year as a teacher's assistant
for a first grade class at John Muir School in Santa
Monica. She is looking forward to continuing.
"It's
the best volunteer situation I've ever had.
The kids give you instant feedback."
"Teacher's aide, that's what I
love. It's the best volunteer situation I've ever had.
The kids give you instant feedback. The challenge is
that teaching is so different today than when my kids
were in school. They're farther ahead now, so I had
to catch up.
"It's fun. Sometimes I made brownies for the kids.
My son says I'm not serious enough in life, but it comes
naturally for me to smile. It works for me. It's easy
to be nice to people.
"I'm serious enough when I need to be. You can't always smile and be fun every minute if you want results. I'd noticed that Tiffany (the teacher) knew just when to be firm. There were two little students, for instance, whose attention wandered constantly. When I talked to them their eyes were all over the room, so I'd look at them and say in a serious tone, 'Now pay attention to this', then I would repeat things if they needed.. Some of it must have sunk in because they ended up doing well when they were tested. Toward the end, I could see they were paying more attention. If Tiffany and I were reading to them, they'd look more interested than a few months before.
"On the last day of school the class gave me a journal. Each one had drawn a picture and written me a little note. Some drew hearts, or said things like, 'You're the best'. We were all a little sad we wouldn't be seeing each other for a while.
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