Volunteer Tutors: NW Meets SE

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By Angela Iovino, aiovino99@aol.com

forging one-on-one relationships benefits both student and adult. Photos courtesy of Communities in Schools.

forging one-on-one relationships benefits both student and adult. Photos courtesy of Communities in Schools.

We all know how important it is to have caring adults in a child’s life—adults who show they are the child’s buddy while modeling good behavior and good decisions. A child knows instinctually you are on his or her side and will study harder, to please you. All the while their social skills are being sharpened, the children’s growth increases rapidly, both emotionally and academically.

Through the Arlington-based organization Communities in Schools, I tutor reading and writing to four wonderful children in the poorest ward of DC at their school. I am joined by 12 other tutors from Virginia and DC. (We Burleithians carpool from my home at 35th and S.)

The children eagerly wait for us with huge smiles knowing they have a reading buddy for 30 minutes once a week.

The children eagerly wait for us with huge smiles knowing they have a reading buddy for 30 minutes once a week.

But we need many more tutors. If you have an afternoon free and wish to change the life of a child in his or her formative years, please email or call me at (202) 337-1898 for further details. We will have an orientation meeting at my home this month.

Volunteerism is a cultural quality of which we Americans can be proud. I promise you, the love of these kids will transform you, and they will never forget your voice, your caring, and how you believed in them.