The Newsletter of Project L.O.V.E. Fall 2000 P.O. Box 2000 Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8
Telephone & facsimile 368-4695. E-mail: love@isn.net Home Page: www.nald.ca/lovehmpg.htm
Project L.O.V.E. is a member of the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance. Support for Project L.O.V.E. comes from the National Literacy Secretariat and PEI Department of Education. Project L.O.V.E. is a Registered Charity, No. 88820 6237 RR0001

Boasting about this thing called L.O.V.E.!

Project L.O.V.E. stands for Let Older Volunteers Educate, and is our elementary school project. BOAST stands for Bringing Older Adults and Students Together, and we find BOAST volunteers in high schools.

In 28 schools across PEI, more than 200 very committed (mainly retired) older volunteers help students with their school work in various areas. In the elementary program, help is usually in that most important area, reading.

L.O.V.E. Volunteers go to their school once a week, spending between an hour and a whole morning or afternoon in the school.

They usually help one student at a time, listening and coaching them with words, reading aloud to model good pronunciation and expression for them, helping with classroom projects or to get caught up on missed assignments.

BOAST Volunteers are more flexible - some visit the school once a week, while others work on short-term projects, which may involve more visits over a shorter period of time. The volunteer work is usually focussed on specific areas of expertise of the volunteer.

Teachers whose students work with the Project L.O.V.E. volunteers all agree: Their students benefit greatly from this help, gaining self-confidence through the interest shown in them by the volunteers.

Straight from the Heart - a Seminar for L.O.V.E. Volunteers

In November, all volunteers in both L.O.V.E. and BOAST are invited to a seminar to learn and share ideas with each other.

In a survey in June, volunteers identified subjects about which they would like to know more. These topics, and others, will be presented at the seminar, with lots of opportunities for questions, informal discussions and feedback.

Here are some of the topics upon which there will be more information: Learning Disabilities, Reading Recovery, early brain development, maintaining attention, family literacy, adult literacy, computer literacy for seniors, and a look at the new Volunteer Handbook for L.O.V.E. volunteers.

Your teacher-coordinator will have more information about the conference in the coming weeks, or you can call the office at the above number for more details.

Every volunteer is eligible to attend, and we hope that many of you will take advantage of this opportunity to get together with your colleagues, sharing and learning together!

A Teacher's View of L.O.V.E.

At our 2000 Annual General Meeting at the Carrefour on June 17, teacher Margaret Gill of Vernon River school spoke to the volunteers present on behalf of the teachers of Vernon River school. This is what she had to say:

"I am very pleased to be here today to represent the many staff and students who benefit from this great volunteer program. As a teacher I truly appreciate a level of commitment which enables volunteers to show up faithfully and punctually even in what must be, at times, challenging circumstances. Your cheerful presence and occasionally shared story also brightens many a day.

"When I asked the "real experts" (the students themselves) how they feel about the program, they had many definite responses.

"On the FEELING level I was told:
-They ask you about yourself.
- You can share your feelings with them.
-They can tell if you're sad, happy or mad.
-They make you feel proud of yourself. They always tell you you're doing well.

"ACADEMICALLY:
-They help you with reading.
-They help you understand BIG words.
-They make sure you understand what you're reading because you have to TELL them about it.
-They always make you feel you're doing it RIGHT, and
-They make you feel happy that you leaned something different.

"All in all, it's WEIRD how they know so much!
- She knows EVERYONE in my family.
-She even reminds me of Nanny.
-It's really hard to believe that she knows my dad."

Mrs Gill continued: "I guess we all realize the importance of role models in our lives, but we don't always stop to think that we can BE that role model for someone - especially a child. We talk about the negative influence of TV programming, unsavory information on computers, and about how BUSY we are. We all talk but not everyone is willing to give unselfishly of his/her time as you are doing.

"We, teachers, appreciate your help academically, but more importantly, we recognize how children need your presence as role models and sympathetic listeners. We thank you and encourage your continued success in this extremely worthwhile program."

Thanks, Mrs. Gill, for your kind words. Your support, and the encouragement of you and your colleagues, means a lot to us!

Lunch in June - a working session!

Many thanks to all who participated in out "Mixer" session at the June luncheon. Your thoughts, insights, and suggestions were inspiring, and will help us a lot in plotting future directions.

One of the nicest parts was when we asked for highlights of your year as a volunteer. Here is what some of you recorded:

• One child in Grade One couldn't read on his own - at the end of the year could read a grade one book on his own.
• Worked with a grade two child who couldn't get letters straight - by the end of the year could read print really well & got letters right.
• A little girl before bell asking if they had L.O.V.E. today.
• Explaining [my] hearing aid to a little girl - enjoys explaining things to children.
• The children are so eager to learn and read - when you go to the classroom all hands go up.
• being with a child from England who had difficulty with enunciation.
• from intense to happy and relaxed and easy-going.
• Interaction in story-sharing.
• Valentines to children.
• Sat on rocker - kids gathered around and gave (her) a bouquet.
• Get together for volunteers.
• Basket of cookies for kids.

Thanks for sharing your heartwarming moments!! We'll share more of what we learned from you in future newsletters.

Anniversary brings praise

Long-time Parkdale School L.O.V.E. volunteers Mary and Rollie Horne celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary in June.

At the point in the evening when friends and well-wishers were "sharing stories" about the Hornes, Cheryl Dalziel, one of Parkdale's teachers, came up to tell about how much they are appreciated - by the children and the teachers - at Parkdale School.

She noted that for the teachers, Thursdays are known as "Happy Horne Days" because of the treats Mary always brings in for them!

Congratulations, Mary and Rollie - and everyone else celebrating special anniversaries this year. And thanks, too, for doing such a great job for Project L.O.V.E. at Parkdale!

Welcome back to school! And thanks again for the work you do for the school-children of PEI!