A new perspective

After my trip to California, I began documenting a volunteer tutorial program that I have participated in for a while and took on an additional student from my former middle school.  Working with students one on one offers a perspective that teachers don't always pick up on when teaching the group.  Both students that I started working with are African American students of low SES.  Although I am not amazed by their potential, I am excited as they feel comfortable sharing some of their hopes and aspirations.  When I think of these students, I can't help but place myself and my own children in their shoes.  If not for my parents committment to my education and the support of church and other family, would I be in the position that I am in.  As for my own children, I love to brag on them, but they are not rocket scientists at 2 and 6 (but maybe they could be one day).  They are well adjusted, smart kids because I know how to advocate for their education.  Are kids who don't have that support system any less worthy of what I desire for my own children?  Of course they aren't.  Although I already knew this, I am reminded of how children from backgrounds similar to my little mentees crave relationship.  They want to know and experience their teacher on a deeper level.  These relationships formed are so important.  As we worked through math, I began to ask the student I am working with about his family and his future aspirations.  This broke the ice and better facilitated our work in math and gave him the confidence to ask me questions when he did not understand.  Some schools have mentorship programs where students are assigned such an advocate.  Possibly, more programs like these would help some studnets become more invested in their schools and help them position themselves along higher continuums of perceived ability.  I go to visit my student again tomorrow and will update further.