WHIZ KIDS CINCINNATI

free encouraging notes for Whiz Kids

2011-11-03T14:38:00.000-04:00

I've come across a great assortment of templates for notes, cards, and awards to celebrate your Whiz Kid's victories and progress. You can use them to send/mail home to parents and/or to send to teachers as a way to be an encourager to your student and to grow relationships. Easily run off copies by:
1. Going online to www.LearningA-Z.Com
2. Go to ReadingA-Z.Com
3. Click the Assessment tab at the top
4. Click on "Level Assessments" down left-hand side of screen
5. Click on "Benchmark WOWsers" in top paragraph
If you don't have access to this online program, show this to your site's Coordinator or Curriculum Leader.
Share the joy of reading.
Joyce Mellott, Whiz Kids Area Director

Cincinnati Public Celebrates Tutors

2011-10-10T14:15:00.000-04:00

Cincinnati Public Schools threw a fabulous appreciation party for all the tutoring, mentoring, and other organizations that helped the district achieve its new Effective rating this year. Stephanie Downs and Colleen Scheid attended for Whiz Kids, on Friday, October 7. The district tracked the academic improvement of students with tutors and those without tutors, in reading and math, and reported at the party that tutoring resulted in students making about three times greater gains compared with other students. (A 7.2 cf 2.6 percentage improvement in test scores.) Administrators were adamant that the district could not have moved from Academic Emergency six years ago, to Effective this year, without the work of its tutoring and mentoring partners.

My parting thought (Colleen) was that if any tutoring makes that much difference, how much more can we do for our Whiz Kids, with our 1-1 relationship, our prayers and our commitment to show our children the love of God!

First Session Ideas

2011-09-19T14:04:00.000-04:00

I have a site that is looking for first session ideas in addition to decorating the goodie bags and the "getting to know you" questionnaire. Please share your ideas! Thanks!

Assessment Power Point for Tutors

2011-09-14T14:05:00.000-04:00

Stephanie and I attended a very good training on assessment for tutors recently, and the trainers have made their presentation available for us to use any way we like. Email me, Colleen, at cscheid@citygospelmission.org if you'd like a copy of it. It covers simple, one or two minute assessments in fluency, comprehension, vocab and writing.

Good idea

2011-08-30T14:25:00.000-04:00

Create a "tips to keep kids engaged" sheet to keep in the childs folder for the tutor to glance at when things are not going as smooth as you want them to.

The Goal ...

2011-08-30T14:23:00.001-04:00

I'd rather see a sermon

than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me

than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil

and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing,

but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers

are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action

is what everybody needs.

Blessings to all you WK volunteers who are back in the game!

How to find Whiz Kids site supplies and resources?

2011-08-25T10:20:00.001-04:00

Here are some places in Cincinnati where inexpensive items can be found in the Fall and throughout the school year. Please add other good resources that you've found.

§ Back-to-School Sales everywhere (Walgreen’s, CVS, Staples, etc.)

§ Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar

§ Target’s $1 section

§ Michael’s Craft Center – discount section

§ Staples (sale items)

§ WalMart

§ Home Depot (ask manager for non-profit organization discount)

§ Half Price Books and other book store sale tables

§ School suppliers: John R. Green’s; School Time; etc.

§ Cappell’s

§ Oriental Trading Company (online)

§ Yard and Garage Sales

§ Donated unused items in closets of teachers and volunteers

§ “Ask” for children’s book collection from churches and/or community businesses

§ Have “game day”, asking tutors to bring educational/thinking games from home

Great Supply Info!

2011-08-23T12:03:00.000-04:00

DRY ERASE BOARD INFO: Cheap boards from China which we have been buying from Big Lots and other discounters probably contain lead in the paint and permanently stain rendering them unusable after a year. Please check out this site as a possibility for our coordinators as they have great prices, free shipping, made in USA (Mich), lead free and have many math boards. www.DRY-ERASE.com 1800-dry-erase

CANVAS TOTES: Hobby Lobby has 50% OFF canvas tote bags this week . Otherwise Walmart is still the best price on totes 3/ $5 or $6 :)

Puppet show party!

2011-04-27T16:01:00.001-04:00

Here's a new end-of-year party idea. Put on a puppet show! Get free puppet show scripts from http://www.puppetresources.com/. There is one specifically for the end of the school year, but one could easily substitute "Whiz Kids" for "school."

I'm sharing this resource thanks to volunteers at the Riverview East School/Mt. Washington Baptist Church Whiz Kids site who used an Easter puppet show from here to teach the true meaning of Easter. It was informative, kid-friendly and great fun.

Please share your celebration ideas.
Joyce
WK staff

Year-End Parties

2011-04-07T13:48:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I'd like to start the conversation on year-end parties. What's available for our sites? What are different sites planning? I want to send the info on this blog to my site coordinators but I'd like to see some posts first...

Cherokee is planning on having a cookout at Bethany UMC and inviting WKs families. I think that's pretty cool!

Dale Ann
WK Area Director

Welcome to our new blog!

2011-03-29T16:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the official blog of City Gospel Mission's Whiz Kids! This is a resource for our staff and volunteers to share best-practice ideas, event information, inspiring stories, news articles about literacy and tutoring and much more! The purpose of the blog is to complement our Facebook page, website and newsletters. Please engage in this journey with us! Thank you!

-- Whiz Kids staff