Needs From: Volunteer Leon

 

MathPals:

The transition from middle school to high school is a critical time in a student’s life. Mentoring in middle school in the form of intervention can often decrease the number of students who drop out during that tough transition. For those students who dropped out, passing the End-of-Course exams was often the largest hurdle, in particular the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam.

 

Only 27% of Leon County Schools’ 2013-2014 level one students passed the Algebra 1 End of Course Exam.

 

This year, to work to increase the Algebra I passing rate in Leon County, United Way of the Big Bend is implementing the MathPals program at two local middle schools. MathPals will match caring volunteers one-to-one with middle school students who are struggling with the Algebra 1 skills needed to pass the End-of-Course exams. The MathPals curriculum will encourage students to master the Algebra 1 skills through exploration of math in the real world, collaborative learning, and independent practice.

 

Become a MathPal and make a difference in our community:

Volunteers are matched one-to-one with a middle school student Volunteers choose the school or the day that best fits their schedule (Tuesday or Wednesday, 4:00-5:00pm) Volunteers report during the after school setting for one hour a week during the school year Volunteers utilize a mathematics curriculum created by LCS District that is tailored to students’ needs Volunteers receive training from UWBB,LCS District, and Big Brothers Big Sisters (includes Level II background and fingerprint screening)

 

Visit MathPals – UWBB

 

 

 

United Way of the Big Bend is changing this statistic. ReadingPals is continuing to work to improve the reading skills of students in Gadsden, Leon, and Madison Counties.

 

ReadingPals relies on hundreds of volunteers every year to read one-to-one with students who have been identified as struggling readers.

Mentors are matched one-to-one with students in kindergarten, first, or second grades

Mentors report during the after school setting for one hour a week during the school year

Mentors choose the school and the day that best fit their schedule

Mentors utilize a curriculum created by LCS District and UWBB that is tailored to children’s reading needs

Mentors present each student with a brand new book every week

Mentors receive training from UWBB and the school district (includes background screening)

 

For more information and to register to become a ReadingPals volunteer,please contact Rhonda Cooper at 850-487-8091 or rhonda@uwbb.org.

 

Getting Involved

Interested but aren’t sure you can give a full-time commitment? Here are other ways to get involved with ReadingPals:

Be an Alternate– A ReadingPals Alternate serves as a “substitute” when a full-time ReadingPal cannot be there to read with their student. Alternates have the flexibility to go when it fits in their schedule. Deliver books– Each week, ReadingPals students take home a brand new book. We need help getting the books from our office to the different ReadingPals sites. Put sponsor stickers on books– Each take-home book has a personal label that allows the student to write their name in their book, as well as see all the sponsors who make ReadingPals possible. Every book (last year alone we gave out over 3,000 books!) must have a sticker in it! This is a great opportunity for large groups/companies. Assemble holiday and special projects– During special times of the year, students receive small projects/kits as gifts for their hard work (i.e. holidays, end of the year, or just because). This is another great opportunity for large groups/companies.

 

For more information about becoming a ReadingPals  visit ReadingPals – United Way of the Big Bend (uwbb.org)

 

Receive free training to become an IRS-certified tax preparer – then volunteer a few hours per month to prepare taxes.

This volunteer opportunity features:

Flexible Hours Special training for individuals with no previous tax experience Everything provided – software, computers, supplies and taxpayers

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), part of United Way of the Big Bend’s Income Initiative, offers free tax preparation at sites throughout the Big Bend from January to April each year.

This fast and free service helps residents avoid predatory income-tax preparers and costly refund-anticipation loans.

VITA volunteers work to ensure that eligible families take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can increase a family’s annual income up to 15 percent.