More and more grandparents are volunteering in the classroom, and the result is beneficial for both the volunteers and the children. “There is a special bond that develops between these two generations,” says Jyllian Halliburton, Manager of Avenidas Volunteer Corps, a private, non-profit agency that has been helping Mid-Peninsula seniors live well, learn and maintain their independence for 35 years. “There are important benefits for older volunteers: working in the classroom gives them a sense of purpose and independence, an increase in socialization, and an overall improvement in their health.”
Duane Stauffer, a grandfather and founder of the Avenidas Early Literacy program, completely agrees. Twelve years ago Stauffer learned that there was an urgent need to help children who were not reading at grade level. He wrote a proposal for a tutoring program, tested it in a school and now has over 100 volunteers helping children in grades K–3 improve their reading levels.
One of those volunteers is Vic Althouse, a grandfather of seven. Five years ago after retiring, he volunteered for the Early Literacy program. After a year in the program, Althouse realized how much he enjoyed working with young children but wanted the opportunity to know more than one child at a time. His daughter, Leslie McClellan, was just beginning her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at Theuerkauf Elementary School in Mountain View. She was feeling a bit overwhelmed by her first class, which had 18 students who were just learning English. She put out a frantic call to her dad for help in the classroom. Four years later, he’s still volunteering in her class three days a week and says it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
McClellan says her father is a godsend. “He bought all the children lab coats and safety goggles and used his background as a chemist to show them simple experiments that make science come alive.”
Now that the new school year is underway and teachers have gotten to know their students, they’ll begin to identify which ones need extra attention. That’s when they’ll put out the call for classroom volunteers, says Diane Levinson, a retired elementary school teacher who is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to volunteer in her granddaughter’s kindergarten class. Levinson says her mother volunteered in her grandchildren’s classroom 30 years ago and she wants to continue the tradition.
There are many opportunities for grandparents to make a difference in young children’s lives. “There’s an important bond that develops in this intergenerational interaction that teaches children there are kind and caring adults, surrogate grandparents, who will be there for them when they may not have their own grandparents for support,” says Susan Taylor who has been volunteering in her granddaughter’s kindergarten class at Nueva School in Hillsborough for a year. The children call her the Kindergarten Grandma, and ask her for Grandma Hugs and tell her stories about how they miss their own grandmas. She helps the children with reading, writing and whatever creative projects they’re working on.
Ted Pappas, 86, has 5 grandchildren and found his volunteer position through RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program). He’s been tutoring second graders at Horrall Elementary School in San Mateo for over ten years. A retired accountant, he loves reciting math sequences to the children and watching them solve the calculations in their heads. He remembers math games from his grammar school days and enjoys passing them on to this new generation.
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of young children, consider volunteering at one of the agencies listed below. Volunteers should possess the following qualities according to Sue Sartor, Assistant Principal at Las Lomitas School in Menlo Park:
- Show up on time
- Be willing to work with all children
- Respect the confidentiality of the role
- Be cheerful, positive, and encouraging
- Be willing to do all kinds of activities
- Bring enthusiasm, offer to your share talents and expertise
Opportunities
Avenidas Early Literacy Program in Palo Alto
Contact: Michael Kass, Program Coordinator (650) 289-5419
The Early Literacy program, founded 12 years ago, serves 200 children in grades K – 3 who are identified as not reading at grade level. Each child is paired with a trained volunteer adult who works twice a week for one hour.
Experience Corp of the Bay Area
Contact: Janet Oh (415) 759-3690
Volunteer service program that recruits adults 55 years and older to tutor and mentor students in underperforming schools in one-on-one reading or teaching special interests that the volunteer may have such as knitting and crafts.
Foster Grandparents
Contact: Donna Campi (650) 696-7662
The program was founded 40 years ago but has only been serving San Mateo County since 1999. It provides low-income seniors aged 60 and over a tax-free stipend to work with low-income second language learners in programs like Head Start. Volunteers spend a minimum of 15 hours per week in the classroom helping children aged 3 – 5 develop social skills and pre-reading. The children often do not have grandparents near by and develop a close bond with the volunteers. They often call them “grandma” or “grandpa,” according to program director Donna Campi.
Jewish Coalition for Literacy
Contact: Jennifer Advani (650) 940-1229
The mission of the JCL is to reverse the trend of illiteracy by mobilizing volunteer reading tutors, organizing book drives, and developing advocacy for public education. Reading volunteers attend one 2½-hour training session and are placed in a public school or after-school program. Volunteers work one-on-one with a child in grades K – 3 and/or provide read aloud sessions for classes or small groups. The commitment is one hour per week for the school year.
RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) of San Mateo
Contact: Deborah Owdom, program director (650) 696-7661
This recruitment referral source matches the skills of older adults who want to volunteer with the needs of 140 different non-profit organizations.
