by: Nicoline Hansen
This week’s Human of Parkland is 20-year-old, Claire Mallare. Mallare is currently enrolled at both Parkland College and the University of Illinois and is studying Kinesiology. When she is not studying, Mallare volunteers as a tutor for the Garden Hills Homework Club.
According to the Parkland College website, the Garden Hills Homework Club meets twice a week at Garden Hills Elementary School. “Volunteers tutor students in a one on one setting to improve literacy and reading skills while building personal relationships,” the website stated. According to Mallare, the volunteers who help with the 3– 5 graders mainly consist of Parkland students, faculty and staff.
Also, Mallare has a special connection to the homework club. She participated in the program herself more than 10 years ago when she was just 8 years old. The homework club helped Mallare with math and with developing confidence in her reading abilities. “I chose to be a tutor to pass on the knowledge and encouragement my tutors gave me,” Mallare said. “The homework club gave me the motivation I needed as a third grader struggling with missing assignments. The positive environment provided me an outlet where I could celebrate my academic successes.”
According to Mallare, part of being a tutor is observing how the child you are paired with for the semester learns the best. Knowing whether the child learns the best through visual, auditory, or tactile examples is beneficial when explaining more difficult concepts. The tutor also mentioned that another technique is to incorporate the child’s interests when teaching them about the more challenging aspects of their homework. Mallare shared that this will make learning more enjoyable for the student.
Being a tutor is not only about offering help with the student’s homework, but also about forming a relationship and connection with the child the tutors are paired with. One technique Mallare uses to connect with the children is understanding how they might be feeling. “I think it is a special connection to share with the students that I was once in their exact position,” Mallare said.
“Oftentimes, I find myself learning from the students. They teach me about hard work, patience, and determination.”
On a typical afternoon at the homework club, the children start off by enjoying a snack and socializing for a while. Time is then taken out to practice mindfulness. “We watch ‘jusTme’, a popular hip–hop artist and mindfulness instructor,” Mallare said. “It allows the students to de-stress after a long day at school. I appreciate this time with them because it teaches the kids about self-love and positive affirmations through meditation.”
When asked what she would tell someone who is considering becoming a tutor, Mallare emphasized the rewarding feeling as well as the ability to celebrate the children’s successes along with them. “Every aspect about being a tutor is rewarding,” Mallare said. “Oftentimes, I find myself learning from the students. They teach me about hard work, patience, and determination.”
If you are considering becoming a tutor or wish to learn more about volunteering opportunities, please visit the Parkland College’s Center of Community Engagement in room C134.
