Being an Effective RE-SEED Volunteer

Five Observations That Can Make Your Volunteer Time More Productive

Teaching is a “Good” Job in Boston

• Teaching is hard work, but salaries are $60-$90K which is high for someone with a BS

• Teachers don’t want to lose these jobs or be transferred to a “difficult” school

• Teachers are not usually interested in new and untried approaches that have not been approved by the administration

Administration is a “Better” Job

• School principals make $100 - $150K in Boston. They want to hold on to these jobs.

• Principals have enough problems without RE-SEED volunteers adding to them.

Help First – Make Small Changes Later

• Don’t try to cure medical problems• Show the students how to use the (modern)

internet to answer questions• Correct pronunciation gently• Support efforts in small ways financially• Support services are frequently chaotic.

Teachers may not have time to get materials needed for lecture.

Careful! Students Are Tricky

• STFU – Students love power over authority figures

• Beats headphones• West Texas Experience

The Best Friends You’ll Ever Have

• Mondo story

Students can be the best friends you’ll ever have.