Annie Besant Jon
Do you know a child who wants to learn but can’t afford school? Or a child who has a hard time doing her homework because her parents are illiterate? Your family could help teach such children! This way your children will discover the joy of helping others.
Helping an underprivileged child to learn the alphabet or basic maths is not hard as it seems at first and you’ll be surprised at how eager many children are to learn to write their name in English! Encourage your children to teach and help other children. But remind them not to sound bossy or high-and-mighty. The chances are that underprivileged children could teach your child a skill or two!
Who should you teach?
Your underprivileged student could be the child of somebody who works in your home. Or you could even help your child’s classmate whose parents can’t afford to send her for tuitions. If her student doesn’t know the alphabet, this is where you should start. Get your child to interact with the child first, so that they both feel comfortable, learning together, or learning from each other.
Class materials
The simplest source of lessons is your child’s old school textbooks. You can use everything from drawing and colouring books to used textbooks. To start off, equip your student with unused notebooks, pencils, pen, eraser, etc.
Buy one or two textbooks if needed. As the children build a relationship, you will be able to choose the right books more easily.
Remain committed
Impress upon your family that it’s an important commitment you are making. Select a place and time to meet with your student, and stick to it as far as possible.
Alternatively, you could choose to teach your student in your home after your child comes back from school. Or you can choose to teach her for an hour or two on Sunday afternoons. If you’re helping your child’s classmate, invite him/her home after school and let them do their homework together. Once you establish a routine, do all you can to sustain it.
Testing times!
Give your adopted student simple quizzes and tests every few weeks. Create a snazzy report card which they can take home and show their parents!
Make it enjoyable
Get creative. Use props, music, and even interactive games. It shouldn’t get so serious that your student feels unhappy coming to study! If you enjoy teaching, the student will enjoy learning! Make up lessons where you read aloud together dramatising the text. Switch on the TV when your favourite cartoon is on air and use it as a teaching aid. You could even stage a play together!
