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Matthew Billings
Program Director
Welcome to Inspiring Minds
Ryan Kelly
Outreach Coordinator VISTA
Volunteer Orientation Agenda
*Who We Are
*Policies and Procedures
*Success Strategies
*Opportunity Description
MISSIONInspiring Minds’ mission is to provide Providence public
school students with the educational support services and personalized help they need to grow academically and
socially.
VISIONInspiring Minds’ vision is that all Providence public school students have an equal chance at academic success. We
see Inspiring Minds as being the provider of superior tutorial and mentoring services, educational resources and individual
attention which truly affect academic outcomes and build skills for the 21st century.
Our Place In The Community
*Inspiring Minds was founded in 1963 as Lippitt Hill Tutorial, to address the inequalities born out of school desegregation
*Oldest and largest academic volunteer program in RI
*Inspiring Minds currently places more than 1,200 volunteers, who tutor approximately 3,000 students
*Network of Volunteers
*Unique Intervention
Elementary Classroom* = 1400Middle School Classroom* = 200High School Classroom* = 200Reading & Math Buddies = 900IM Tech Center = 150Kids Bridge = 35
* approximate small group support
Inspiring Minds: Students ServedTotal: 2885
Inspiring Minds Volunteer Programs
IM Tech Center
Tutoring/ELL/Engineering
Reading Buddies & Math BuddiesTargeted Intervention
Classroom SupportHelp at the point of learning
Power Lunch!Cooperate
partnership
URI Science Campsexploring science
Kid’s BridgeKindergarten transition
Reading & Math Buddies * Research based Literacy Intervention Program.
* Once weekly during the school year, for a one year commitment.
* Volunteers work with small groups who rotate in and out of a literacy station.
* Volunteers participate in ongoing trainings conducted by Providence Literacy Coaches.
* Reading & Math Buddies are currently running
in 14 schools serving over 600 students
IM Tech Center
*Supporting the social and academic needs of high school students, primarily from the High Schools across the street
*Math and Science based tutoring and academic support.
*Monday-Thursday from 3:00PM to 5:30PM.
*As little as 1 day a week, to 4 days a week.
*Engineering and ELL classes
Individual and Small Group Academic Support
*Once a week during the school year, for a one year commitment.
*Partnering with Literacy Coaches, and Classroom Instructors.
*Provide academic support, in a one-on-one or small group setting.
*Parents and teachers have noted that students who receive academic support have a higher attendance rate, increased class participation, and more positive attitudes about learning.
Inspiring Minds and The Providence Public School Department
*Our partnership with the Providence School Department allows Inspiring Minds to deliver services to students.
*Interconnectivity between volunteers, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, department staff, and Inspiring Minds.
*We rely on your good judgment and decision making.*What we ask of you is the same as what the school
department asks of their employees.
Shape ID
Color ID
Syllable ID
Onset Rhyme
Produce Rhyme
Initial Sound Fluency
Sight Words
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2010 Kids Bridge Pre and Post Test Results
Pre Test
Post Test
Skills
Messe
r Sep
t
Messe
r June
Messe
r
Flynn Sep
t
Flynn June
Flynn
West
Broadway
Sept
West
Broadway
June
West
Broadway
Kennedy Sep
t
Kennedy June
Kennedy
Windmil
l Sep
t
Windmil
l June
Windmil
l
Woods Young Sep
t
Woods Young June
Woods Young
Kizirian
Sept
Kizirian
June
Kizirian
West
Sept
West June
Classroom Control
0.09
0.28
NaN
0.16
0.66
NaN
0.21
0.13
NaN
0.35
0.53
NaN
0.29
0.18
NaN
0.14
0.13
NaN
0.27
0.45
NaN
0.45
0.71
Students in Reading Buddies
0.27
0.79
NaN
0.23
1 NaN
0.11
0.55
NaN
0.37
0.71
NaN
0.08
0.6 NaN
0.16
0.54
NaN
0.33
0.71
NaN
0.22
0.9
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
95%
Reading Buddies 2010 Percentage Proficient in Reading Benchmark
Percen
tage P
rofi
cien
t
Messer Flynn West Brodway Kennedy Windmill Woods Young Kizirian West
Classroom Control 100 21 38 69 14 27 13 61
Students in Reading Buddies 100 100 82 100 100 100 100 99
5
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
Reading Buddies 2009-2010Percentage of Students that Retained Benchmark
Per
centa
ge
Policies and ProceduresA Inspiring Minds volunteer must never be alone
with a student.
Do not contact students outside of school.
Never administer medication, or medical treatment to a student.
Do not give money to a student.
Discipline is always administered by the classroom teacher.
Always follow the rules of the school.
Confidentiality*A strict code of confidentiality is designed to protect the privacy rights of students and families.
*Do not discuss your students with people other than your teachers, or appropriate school staff.
*Any concerns with a student’s safety must be reported to the school or Inspiring Minds.
*If a secret is told to you in confidence, and it is not harming the student, or anyone else, you can keep it a secret. When in doubt ask the teacher or staff.
Success Strategies
* You are in the classroom as a result of a request made by the teacher
* The teacher is the lead in the classroom at all times
* Follow the teacher’s cues, language and dress Continuity and consistency is key to learning
* Exchange contact information with your classroom teacher: Keep the lines of communication open
* Establish how you and your student would like to be addressed
Positive Relationships
* Share some of your interests
* Praise when appropriate
* Start each session with a conversation
* Relax and be patient
* Establish a trust dynamic. Students should be able to ask questions, without feeling “stupid”
* Take time to talk, and get to know them
* Tell them why you are in their school, and let them know how often you will be seeing them
* Show that you are interested, and take the time to listen
Effective Communication * Student might be an English
Language Learner
* Do not just assume that a student understands, ask follow up questions
* Avoid rapid fire questions
* Don’t force eye contact
* Speak slowly and deliberately
* Volume is not comprehension
* Take your time: PATIENCE
* Stop talking
* Focus on the student as they are talking
* Let students finish what they are saying
* Ask open ended, and follow up questions
* Stop yourself from one upping or comparing
* Be non-judgmental
* Listen with empathy not sympathy
Your First Day
*Arrive Early! Find the front door, and go to the Main Office
* Identify yourself as a Inspiring Minds volunteer
*Place your Sign In sheet in the Inspiring Minds binder
*Arriving early might give you a chance to chat with the classroom teacher
* Ask the teacher what she/he expects you to accomplish, and what they want you to work on
* Ask about classroom materials
Attendance
* Inspiring Minds volunteers are asked to commit to serving 1 or 2 hours a week, for an entire school year, depending on the program.
* Be consistent with your commitment and time.
* Call the teacher or school if you are going to be late or absent.
* If your classroom teacher is absent, ask if you can still meet with your students.
* Signing in/out is critical to the program’s success. It is how we report on hours, students and volunteers
* Sign In Sheets are placed in the Inspiring Minds binder at the main office of the school
* You may also be required to sign in with the school as well, which is separate for signing in with Inspiring Minds
What You Can Expect From Inspiring Minds
*Response to challenges, and check-ins.
*Sharing the results of our findings.
*Support through out your time at Inspiring Minds.
*Information about other activities going on within the organization.
Find, Join and Spread Inspiring Minds
www.inspiringmindsri.org
