Grandmas teach reading, laughter
The grandmas work in four classrooms, spending 40 minutes in each
When Debbie deHoog put out the call for some extra hands on deck to enhance the students’ learning experience, she was delighted to find four of the six people who volunteered were grandmothers.
“Who better to work with children and make each one feel special?” said the classroom support teacher at George Pringle Elementary School.
Sophie Maars, her sister, Janneke Speckman, Jean Bridden and Shirley Stanek have been dedicated volunteers for the school’s guided reading program since the beginning of the school year.
Some come once a week, others are at the school most days.
While deHoog was just hoping for volunteers to come for one hour a day, the grandmas arrive at 8:30 a.m. and stay until lunch hour.
The guided reading program focuses on teaching students from kindergarten to Grade 2 to recognize 225 recommended sight words, common words found in everyday print.
“You can’t read without the sight words,” said deHoog.
The grandmas work in four classrooms, spending 40 minutes in each.
Their secret weapon to teaching the sight words is playing sight word games one-on-one with the students.
“They think they’re just playing games,” said Bridden.
The sound of giggling and dice rolling echoes down the hall of George Pringle Elementary School as Stanek plays the Roll a Sight Word game with Grade 2 Isabella Lance.
“The kids need help and I love to be with all of them,” said Stanek, who has added volunteering at George Pringle once a week to her numerous volunteer commitments in the community.
Lance not only has to recognize the sight word, she also uses it in a sentence.
Students have responded tremendously to the individualized attention with some working their way through 12 levels since the beginning of the school year.
“We have made a difference of some kind to those kids. It’s neat to see that,” said Maars, who is at the school most days. “And they’re still enthusiastic to learn more.”
The grandmas and students aren’t just building vocabulary, but also relationships as both the grandmas and the students enjoy the time they spend together. “It’s lots of fun,” said Speckman. “Who doesn’t want to be with their grandma at school?” added deHoog as the students and grandmas share a chuckle.
The students keep the grandmas on their toes as well. They have to change up the games or the children get bored.
“It’s a good way for older people to stay mentally active,” said Maars.
The kids ask the grandmas all kinds of questions, including “Aren’t you a little old to be playing these ga
The school could still use some volunteers for the program, especially those who speak French as George Pringle Elementary is a French Immersion School.
Volunteers can come in as little as one hour a week.
“We believe at our school that it takes a community to raise a child,” said deHoog. “In our case, about 500.”
If you are interested in volunteering for George Pringle Elementary School’s reading program, call the school at 250-870-5103.