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HEATHER HILL
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Tutors consider the intergenerational connections made with the students to be the most rewarding aspect of the program. |
| Submitted Photo |
The Portland metro coordinator for the OASIS tutor program, Colleen Shannon, manages seven participating school districts of Portland, including David Douglas, where tutors over 50 mentor students grade K-4 whom the teachers have identified as struggling with the material, self-esteem or attention issues.
“Teachers refer kids who need extra one-on-one help ... more attention, some boost in their self-esteem and help with reading strategies,” Shannon said. “There are many kids who need extra help. It crosses all economic boundaries.” All tutoring takes place on school grounds during school hours. OASIS and educators select one hour of a specific weekday that least interferes with the child’s academics.
Barbara Rommel, the superintendent of David Douglas, is very supportive of the program. “OASIS provides a wonderful structured opportunity for older community members to help students develop essential literacy skills,” she said. “We’re happy to welcome OASIS tutors in our elementary schools. Our students benefit and, from what the volunteers tell me, so do the community members. It is inspiring to see the students and the seniors working together.”
Employing OASIS materials, tutoring sessions compound reading, writing, communications and phonics. “We have numerous packets of notes and materials, and I find the new tutors will use those, but as they get going they like making up their own.” Shannon went on to describe one strategy in which the tutor encourages the child to create a story. Either the tutor or the child transcribes it, and then they read the story back together. “There’s a really important connection right there that your thoughts can go into words and someone can read it,” she said.
In addition to providing materials and monthly support meetings, OASIS trains all incoming tutors in children’s learning styles, reading strategies and the structure of today’s schools. Shannon emphasized the program’s shared purpose of creating successful readers while raising self-esteem through mentoring. “We encourage the tutors to get to know their student first and, based on their interests, pick books and make session plans.” Though flexibility is key, OASIS tailors the program to meet district goals and reading benchmarks. Shannon described it as an “enrichment program” to supplement class studies. “Our program is all about making the reading connections that add up to being a reader. To have someone read [with them], write a story together and be interested in their story, all that is really important. It has made a difference in the child’s life that this person wants to see them every week and thinks they’re pretty great.”
The volunteers, according to Shannon, “all say their biggest reward is working with the kids. I often hear, ‘I don’t know who gets more out of this — me or the child.’ It’s really amazing.”
She cited the intergenerational understanding as the most constructive facet of the program. Many seniors have little exposure to young children and vice versa. One hour a week can help bridge understanding over the age gap.
On the community level, Shannon has observed, “These seniors are now the best advocates for our schools.” Politically active as a group, seniors have the power to influence public policy decisions based on their own perceptions of the current system. “Before they were really in the schools, they just didn’t see all the good things that are happening. Now they understand; they see how hard the teachers work and how amazing the schools are these days.”
As a nonprofit organization independent of the schools, OASIS is not privy to students’ test scores, and progress is hard to quantify. The OASIS Web site www.oasisnet.org cites teacher surveys that place academic improvement for tutored students at 89%.
According to Shannon, “Teachers have said attendance has changed because the boost of self-esteem ... or they say they never miss Tuesday because the OASIS tutor comes.”
Though the Portland metro region has a total of 270 participating OASIS tutors, recruitment remains uneven among districts. Currently, the David Douglas district, which operates in Menlo Park, Ventura Park, Gilbert Park and Gilbert Heights elementary schools, shares only 14 tutors. “I would love to grow the program in David Douglas,” Shannon said, but enough volunteers must enroll to run a winter training program in the district. Shannon invites those interested in the program to call 503-833-3636 for more information.
Shannon emphasized, “There are plenty of kids out there waiting for tutors.”
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