Junior Jennifer Morrisey loves the challenge of her work as a tutor with DC Reads, and says the kids she works with always present her with situations that are new and different.
As one of more than 100 tutors trained so far this year to work with children around the D.C. area, Morrisey takes time out of her schedule to help children who are struggling with academics, especially reading.
DC Reads is the umbrella community service organization that AU works with to provide students with opportunities to get involved in D.C. communities and help solve a literacy problem in an area where 30 percent of third graders do not pass standardized reading tests.
There are 10 different sites and seven different programs that AU students working with DC Reads are involved with. They are typically located in Southeast D.C. and the Columbia Heights area and the programs have different focuses.
Heads Up, a program in Southeast D.C., provides after-school tutoring that takes place mostly in larger groups, with multiple tutors per group.
Facilitating Leadership in Youth, known as FLY, is a mentorship program focused on tutoring and youth development. It's one-on-one and the tutors try to help kids build their academic skills through something that they enjoy, such as analyzing lyrics in rap songs in the way that students analyze literature. There are hip-hop and spoken word poetry classes, and AU students also do fun activities with the kids on weekends.
Sophomore James Misner worked as a tutor with FLY last year and is now running the tutoring program.
"[The kids in the program] have a vision and a desire to change the world but nobody listens to them," Misner said. "I have a lot of respect for them because they have such simple ideas that will actually work."
The Latino Student Fund also provides one-on-one tutoring and works with teachers to find children's weaknesses and then the tutors assist in finding activities to address those problems.
Morrisey works with this program as well as the Children's Studio School. This will be her second year as a tutor and first year as a team leader.
"I think everyone should do it," Morrisey said. "It's only four hours out of your week and it really impacts their lives."
Morrisey is a design major, but switched her minor from communication to education after her experience with the program. She is now thinking of becoming an art teacher.
"You never stop learning from little kids," she said. "They are really fun to work with and make you appreciate the little things in life."
She says her program is particularly good to get involved with because they are so flexible with students' schedules.
Karen Hopkins, a junior in the School of International Service, worked with Calvary Bilingual Multi-Cultural Learning Center for more than two years. In this program, college students are matched up with one of the children and they have the opportunity to develop a relationship throughout the year and even into the next year.
"I love it," Hopkins said. "The kids there are so great and through knowing the kids and their parents you get a feel for what the community is like."
D.C. Reads typically takes 250 tutors every year. Most are paid through federal work-study, but some are volunteers.
"Students say they are excited to be off-campus and get a feel for community involvement," said Robin Adams, the DC Reads coordinator at AU. "It's a chance for them to work with children in a very meaningful way."
Adams said that they are still looking for tutors and are accepting applications until Oct. 15.
"We want the best AU has to offer," Adams said, mentioning that they look for quality study skills and diversity in the students they choose.
Students commit to tutoring four hours a week for at least one semester. Most do two days a week, for a total of eight hours every week.
Adams recommends that students interested in participating in DC Reads should drop by the Community Service Office in Mary Graydon Center.
