We had two new students attend LIST this week, and a new volunteer as well. Next week, we will have even more new students and two more volunteers join us. For most of the week, I spent my time contacting parents whose students are on our waiting list. The process is taking longer then I expected and I am using my teaching contacts to track the parents down. I sent a list of the names of the students to every teacher asking them to pass along the message I now have openings. Some of the phone numbers I have are incorrect. I also face a language barrier since I do not speak Spanish; in person it is a bit easier to communicate since I can usually find someone to translate. Over the phone, it is a bit more difficult. Also, while subbing this week, one of the students on my list came to the room I was subbing in for the ELD class and I was able to pass on the message that way; now he and his cousin (who was also on the list) will start coming next week. I am hoping by the end of next week, I will have the schedule firmed up.
One of the new students that came is a cousin to a student that is already attending. He is a third grader who is doing well in math but is struggling with reading, specifically comprehension. The first 15-20 minutes of our session, he was slumped over, nearly laying on the table as I assessed his skills in reading. He also kept mentioning how he is not very smart and bad at reading. I needed to get a good understating of what his skills are, so I had to keep pressing on, but I soon recognized that this was not working. So, after I had the assessment I needed, I asked him if he would like to play a math game. I got out my addition flashcards and he ran through the 80-100 cards in a matter of minutes. Even more amazing, his posture changed completely. He was no longer lying on the table, but sitting up and willing to communicate. He no longer was whispering as before, but was talking and interacting with myself and the volunteer that was there. The difference was truly amazing! At the end of the session, I told him he would be coming twice a week and that while we would have to work on reading skills, at the end of each session, we will play some math games. When his dad came the student excitedly announced to his dad that he would be coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays! I think, with this 45 minute first session, we were able to win our first battle. As this student continues to come to LIST, my goal will be to not only help him with his comprehension skills, but to also build up his confidence so that the engaging young boy I worked with at the end of our session is the same young boy in all areas of his life.
