The tutoring program is designed to match college students one-to-one with students or as classroom support with elementary, middle and high school students. Tutors meet with their students once or twice a week during the school day on school grounds. They help students get caught up with school work, reinforce concepts they’re learning, and listen and talk with students about their concerns. Although we target college students, you do not have to be a student to volunteer as a tutor.

How are students referred to the program?

Students are referred by teachers or counselors for one or more of the following reasons underachieving academically, exhibiting low self-esteem, irregular attendance, needing an adult role model, and/or having few positive peer relationships.

Who can be a tutor?

You can be a tutor if you have a genuine interest in youth, a flexible schedule, good listening skills, time (preferably one hour twice a week between 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.), commitment (you must be able to continue to the end of the semester and come at your scheduled time), and transportation to the school

How do tutors benefit?

Tutors get hands-on experience at a local school, have a chance to impact the community’s youth, and return to college campus refreshed and energized

How do I become a tutor?

• Fill out an application form. Return completed applications to the school in which you wish to volunteer or if you do not have a school preference, send the form to Urbana Middle School attention District Mentoring and Community Involvement Coordinator, Angie Armstrong. 
• Attend a quick 10 to 15 minute orientation with the Coordinator at the school you will be volunteering at and complete a background check.
• Agree to come to your tutoring session consistently and to stay with the tutoring relationship for one semester.

Parents, grandparents, and other community members can offer their time as Classroom Volunteers. The specific tasks that Classroom Volunteers do are fitted to the needs of the teachers and the interests and abilities of the volunteer. Common tasks for classroom tutors include:

• Tutoring students one-on-one
• Helping students get organized
• Helping absent students catch up
• Taking notes beside student during teacher presentation
• Setting up materials for special art/science activities
• Doing clerical work, copying, covering books
• Creating bulletin boards, making games
• Teaching enrichment units
• Sharing knowledge and skills pertinent to curriculum

How do I become a classroom volunteer?

1. Contact the coordinator at the school in which you wish to volunteer.
2. Fill out an application form, release statement and a criminal background check form. Return completed applications to the school in which you wish to volunteer or if you do not have a school preference, send to Urbana Middle School.
3. Commit to a regular volunteering time
4. Participate in a volunteer orientation
5. Start coming to school