“More than anything else—even more than money—the time a volunteer spends with students is needed. The extra support is immeasurable.”
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Teacher Profiles
Teacher Interviews…in their own words
Isabel Ebert, Second Grade Bilingual Teacher, Cleveland Elementary
Number of years at school: 9
How have volunteers made a difference?
Volunteers have really augmented the learning process of the kids; they help individual students to promote their learning. [Having volunteers has] really has enriched my life here and I have some great volunteers. I am really very happy with that.
What is the best way to build relationships between volunteers, students and the teacher?
I am always open to have volunteers come and speak with me. I don’t just bring them in to the classroom and tell them what to do. I talk to volunteers about what they feel comfortable with, which gives me an idea of what their strengths are and what they want to share in the classroom. Volunteers and students build relationships as they work with together and as they get to know each other. I also have them introduce themselves to the whole class and have them say something about who they are.
What would you say to a volunteer who is hesitant about working in a classroom?
I let the volunteers decide how much they want to do. Each person has his own niche to fill. I would ask them to come and take a look at how the classroom is run and see what the kids are like.
