As a mature, experienced adult, you do not need any special Training to become a successful volunteer. You can select a role that you enjoy and apply what you’ve learned from your career, hobbies, family or other interests. The match between your interests and abilities and the needs of the students in the school(s) you choose to serve will determine your contribution to the education process.

Students become more motivated to learn and less likely to give up or drop out when they have opportunities to work with volunteers. As a volunteer, you, in turn, can find personal satisfaction in helping members of the younger generation. You can provide support for teachers, help students feel good about themselves, and offer guidance that can become a powerful force in shaping the future of America’s youth.

If you volunteer as a partner in the education process, there are many things you can do.

Assist a teacher with instructional activities or projects
Be a tutor, mentor or role model for one or more students.
Become a student’s friend as you read together.
Offer your services as an occasional classroom presenter by signing up with whatever you would like to share.
Encourage and reinforce a student’s self-esteem by personal attention as a one on one tutor.
Offer that extra pair of hands that frees a teacher to work with the rest of the class.
Explain a hobby, describe travel experiences or discuss history as you’ve lived it.
Help foreign-born students become fluent in English.
Assist in the school media center – help gather information on study topics, supervise individual or small-group activities, assist with checking out materials.
You may volunteer before, after school, during the lunch hour or during the school day.
Teachers need assistance with cutting and creating bulletin boards. Volunteers could assist the teacher in many ways.
Assist students with cooking.
Teach students how to knit or crochet.
Play board games with students after school.
Work on the computer together.
Would you like to speak on a specific topic?
You may want to suggest how you can assist in a classroom. We look forward to hearing from you.

“…children still want some adult in a clear-cut role of somebody who feels it is fun to watch them learn.” Author Unknown

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