Enrichment

One of our partners wants volunteers for a reading enrichment program rather than one-to-one tutoring focused on performance. How can we create a meaningful and effective program focused on enriching students' appreciation of literature?

Enrichment activities (e.g., field trips, special projects, service-learning, creative arts activities) can provide valuable learning opportunities for students and tutors, and several coordinators find they give participants the chance to express their creativity in ways not previously possible. It's important, however, to help students and volunteers focus activities and draw links to literacy concepts and skills. "The trick for us," Nora says, "has been in structuring enrichment activities just as we would for reading tutoring. In other words, all the same rules apply: one-to-one or small group tutoring, a year-long experience, matching the same enrichment tutor with children throughout the year, and pre/post assessments."

"The compiled stories can go into a results packet that you give or send to volunteers, teachers, principals, legislators, etc.-if you're not doing a results packet, you should!"

Enrichment activities also open the door to experiential learning for students. Nora gives one example from Montana Campus Corps (MCC): "Children learning about multiculturalism will visit with a guest speaker from another country. After this, they read a story on the same theme. Then, they might end the theme by writing their own story or creating a recipe book."

David sees the freedom afforded by enrichment activities as an opportunity to create a student-centered program. "Ask students what they want," he suggests. "What would you like to read about? What fascinates you? Who would you most like to meet? If you could go anywhere, where would it be? Let the learners choose the topics, and have volunteers go along for the ride, as fellow adventurers who ask good questions."

Enrichment lets students expand their understanding-and experience-of literacy. "It's more than just reading and writing; any activity you do, or place you go, that builds on prior knowledge and helps children make better sense of the world counts!" David says, and he cites one program that "links literacy with photography, allowing students to tell stories through both the image and the word." Whatever program format your students choose, let their interests, creativity, and passions guide you.