Whittier Elementary - Karen Robinson
Abstract:
For each of the 3 academic quarters this year, our partnership has provided tutors for at-risk students at Whittier. Tutors are Otterbein students enrolled in Educational Psychology. Course requirements involve the tutoring of two children for 10 weeks. The Otterbein tutors spend an hour each week, with each child. For most of the children, the academic content involves their working on literacy skills; in some cases, the children need help with mathematics. Many of the children are Hispanic or Somali, and are in need of assistance because English is their second language.
In addition to the tutoring component, our partnership has sponsored an after-school program for Whittier fourth and fifth graders. Once a week, for two hours after school, the children worked with Otterbein students doing homework, physical activities and games, and other recreational and service projects.
Partnership and Collaborative Development
In the tutoring program, many of the tutors reported success with their goals for the children. Typical goals included: mastering the names of the letters of the alphabet, increasing the fluency score in a child's reading, mastering math facts, etc.
For the after-school program, a major milestone occurred after the fall quarter: some of the student participants had demonstrated behavioral problems during the sessions, such that there was concern on the parts of the Otterbein program volunteers as well as the school staff. At one point, there was discussion that the program would have to be disbanded. Instead, we convened our Advisory Group, sorted out the issues that needed to be addressed, and included a training course for the Otterbein students, so that they were better prepared to address behavioral problems. Teachers assisted, parents were informed of expectations, programming changes were made, and the problems were eradicated.
/ Also see...
Current Opportunities
/ Center for Community Engagement
The CCE is located in the Mikesell House, 82 W. Main St.
Office Hours
M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (summer)
Contact p / 614.823.1270