UEI2013 Blog Entry; 1.12.13
Location: Milwaukee Rescue Mission; Second Grade
Classroom; Wifi Active Location; Short, Student Chair.
Today is
Saturday, January 12, 2013, our fourth day in Milwaukee. The Mission, Cross
Trainers Academy (CTA), and the community are becoming familiar and almost home
(er ... home-like). This morning we worked as tutors for Saturday School at
CTA, the first time the school offered this option for students. Approximately twenty-five
CTA students participated from grades first through sixth. We were impressed
with the interest and commitment on the part of the students and their
families: many of the students got on the bus at 7:30 am in order to be a part
of the program. Who says that kids from the urban community are not interested
in learning?
Our group
of twelve (Jill Stegink joined us Thursday evening and will be with us until
Sunday afternoon) was part of a cadre of volunteers who worked throughout the
morning. In additional to us, eight other volunteers worked in Saturday School.
These folks, ranging in age from high school students to ah ... mature adults (much
like this writer), responded to requests from the school for assistance as
tutors. While we don't remember names, it was great to meet these folks who,
like many others, give their time and energy for the important work of CTA.
We began
our day with orientation at 8:45 am and the students came at 9:00 am. The students
arrived full of enthusiasm. Each
volunteer chose a content area and general age level in which she/he wanted to
tutor and we tutored for three sessions, finishing at 11:00. After tutoring, we
ate an early lunch with our students, followed by an activity time.
This
tutoring time was a nice success. We worked individually with a student during
each session. This afforded us the opportunity to give some concerted academic
and personal attention to multiple students throughout the morning. We helped
students review and practice writing, reading, and mathematic skills. It was
amazing to work with students who did not complain about coming to school on a
Saturday. They seemed pleased to see their friends, their teachers, and to work
through the tasks to which they were assigned.
We
continue to be impressed with the dedication and the effort of the CTA staff.
Several teachers were involved with Saturday School, organizing it and working
in it with those of us who volunteered. All staff contributed by identifying
student needs and helping to plan activities/interventions.
Just to
keep us going non-stop, we took part in several activities in the afternoon.
Soon after the conclusion of Saturday School, we toured the Sprecher Brewery,
which, in addition to making beer, makes several really interesting sodas (root
beer, grape, blue berry, cherry/cranberry, ginger ale – with real ginger, and many others). Some of the sodas were
way over the top, but some were really excellent. Of course, some of us made
the faux pas of asking for another “pop” at the tasting desk and were corrected to say, “soda.” Okay then. Later that
afternoon we saw the Milwaukee Wave, a professional indoor soccer team, beat
the Baltimore Blast in an exciting overtime game. After the game, we had only
enough energy to grab an interesting supper at the Comet Diner, return home, and
make a slow retreat to bed.
Take
care. More later.
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