YouthFriends is a school-based mentoring effort that links caring adult volunteers from the community with students in schools and is open to all students, grades K-12, within participating school districts. All activities take place on school grounds before, during or after school hours. YouthFriends volunteers typically visit a school for one hour each week to do things like have lunch with a student, help with reading or academic tutoring, share an interest or a hobby or simply listen.
Career Role Model
Share information about your occupation and discuss your career experiences with groups of middle or high school students. This type of activity may occur during lunchtime or at a scheduled career day, job fair or classroom presentation.
Lunch Buddy
Eat lunch in the school cafeteria with an individual student or group of students during their lunch period. During your time together, you may serve as a mentor by playing a board game, reading a story, playing on the playground or working on a special project. This is a time to build self-confidence and let the student know he or she is important.
Mentor
Time with a positive adult role model is something students ask for over and over again. Have fun getting to know a student through a variety of activities, including sharing a hobby, working on an assignment, playing a game or sport or just "hanging out."
Reading Pal
Help students in grades K-7 practice and improve reading skills so they can gain the confidence necessary to be successful readers. Work with students one-to-one or in small group relationships for a minimum of one semester. Classroom teachers or reading specialists usually monitor student progress. Specialized one-hour mandatory, supplemental training is provided free-of-charge.
Tutor
Choose your favorite subject--math, reading, writing, science, social studies, computers, music or a foreign language--and work with a student who needs extra attention in that area. You may choose to mentor your student before, during or after school to help give him or her advice and direction in tasks, such as completing everyday assignments or developing a challenging project.
Special Projects
If we have not listed an activity that appeals to you, let us know. We will be glad to design something that suits your desire to be a mentor to a young person. You choose the time and day of the week that fits with your busy schedule and we'll select the student or group of students who can most benefit from your experience.
January 2010 National Mentoring Month
Renee Hultgren (Mentor and YouthFriends Coordinator, DeSoto School District) and Danielle Bailey (Mentee and 6th Grader, Millcreek Middle School) were at the State Capital to witness the reading of the Resolution on the Senate Floor.
 
 
 
|
