Showing posts with label tutor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutor. Show all posts

Thursday, April 14, 2011

A Child's Smile

Happiness is...

A child's smile.

Yesterday while I was tutoring she was giggling, even. When I asked her what was so funny she replied that she simply loved reading. This was a great moment, astounding really... just a few months ago I had to fight with her to get her to continue to the next page. And now, when she reads the words right she claps her hand. Making a difference, and man does it feel good.

Today a student approached my desk and just hovered. I asked her what she needed and she said, "Nothing... you're just my favorite." I would never have known.

It's the simple moments. Really.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Happy they're happy

Happiness is...

Being appreciated for the work I do. The life of a volunteer coordinator is filled with highs and deep lows, and often I can get bogged down. I take things seriously. I get very invested and very discouraged by the regular ebb and flow.

I take a lot of responsibility for recruiting, training, supervising, and retaining my volunteers. When it doesn't work well, it pretty much sucks.

But then there are the volunteers who make a point to tell you on their way out the door, "it has been such a pleasure working with you, you have a great program here and I am having fun!" Things that make the work worth it: people who see what you have done for them and are happy that you took the time. Without them, I just wouldn't. So, thank YOU for continuing to come, and for brightening my day while you're at it!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Vocabulary

Happiness is...

Working through words with six-year-olds. Take, for example, my evening. I was reading with one of my favorites and the book starting to get difficult...

When asked what a spider is: "a really scary thing with 600 legs and two big eyes."

When asked what strange is: "when the couch was supposed to be there, but now the toy box is there and the couch is here---man that's strange..."

When asked what beautiful means: "you're beautiful and a boy wants to kiss you on the lips!"