Onsite Opportunities
There are a lot of opportunities to support the Mi Escuelita program both onsite and offsite. Listed below are a few opportunities that can be done by individuals or groups. Contact Caroline Smiley at csmiley(at)miescuelita(dot)org or 214.526.0220 ext. 20 to find out how we can work with your schedule and interests.
Readers/Adopt a Classroom
Come and read to a classroom of 18 adorable and loving preschoolers for thirty minutes! This usually takes place from 12-12:30, and you can come as many time as twice week or once a month, whatever works for you. We have various companies and groups that adopt a classroom and share the commitment, usually forming teams of four, each team member coming once a month. Also, some groups come all together for just one day, or day monthly, or one day quarterly, and divide up between the classrooms to read to all the children of the center. Reading to the kids encourages in them a love for reading and helps them with pre-reading skills. Exposing the kids to various people and accents deepens their understanding of English.
Requirements:
Time: 30 minutes a month or week or every other every other week.
Skills: Patience, ability to read in English
Classroom Assistants
Spend time in a classroom, usually in the mornings, working with the kids in the different centers, reading books with them, playing on the playground, or helping the teachers. Exposing our kids to more English, new faces, and giving them more one-on-one attention helps them learn more. It is also an encouragement to the teachers.
Requirements
Time: Between 30 minutes and three hours weekly, preferably in the morning.
Skills: Patience, love for kids, or props and good plan if you are teaching a lesson.
Teach a Lesson
Have a special talent or skill or knowledge? Did you grow up in another country? Others have done presentations on teeth brushing, hand washing, nutrition, different countries, musical instruments, safety with animals, and a variety of things relating to the lesson plans. This would involve usually around a 30 minute or so activity in each classroom. Kids at this age are like sponges. They soak up new information, so lessons about nutrition, etc., help them start good habits early.
Requirements
Time: Between 30 minutes and two hours depending on how many classrooms you want to present to.
Skills: Whichever one(s) you want to sure.
Host a Party
Help the kids and/or the teachers celebrate a birthday or holiday by hosting a party in a classroom. It's a great way to do something special for the kids and teachers.
Requirements
Time: About an hour.
Skills: Ability to bring party supplies.
Organize a Donation Drive
We need supplies of all kinds. Donate your old arts & crafts materials or organize a drive for age-appropriate books in English and in Spanish, toothbrushes, bandages, school supplies, backpacks, etc. Check out our wishlist for more ideas. It saves Mi Escuelita money and time that we would have to spend buying or asking for donations of these materials. It also keeps the classrooms bright and fresh and the kids healthy.
Requirements
Time: Flexible.
Skills: Driven personality.
