Volunteer tutor Derek Brown Tutoring adults takes patience, kindness and enthusiasm. Often these qualities are more important than anything else. When adult learners step forward to ask for help, we want to be able to respond by matching them up with the right volunteer.
For some people, the task of helping a special needs learner can seem overwhelming, but not for CBAL tutor, Derek Brown. Derek spent decades coaching both local and provincial youth baseball and hockey teams. He enjoyed the times when he had special needs athletes on his teams. As a volunteer with CBAL, Derek has spent the past four years tutoring a special needs learner in Grand Forks.
This year he took on a second student, and things couldn’t be better. “[Tutoring] is an opportunity to give back,” said Derek of why he chose to become a CBAL tutor. “It’s fun watching somebody grow.”
Derek heard about CBAL’s tutoring program while taking a course at Community Futures. After retirement, he was looking for part-time work to keep him busy. Former Boundary Community Literacy Coordinator, Sheila Dobie, inspired him to try his hand at tutoring. He’s been volunteering ever since.
Derek said the most important thing to remember about tutoring special needs learners is to adjust your expectations. “With my learner, I had high expectations of him at first. I learned to be flexible with him and that he doesn’t like homework.” Derek said being open minded and adaptable in how you help your learners is also important.
He likes to make sure his tutoring sessions are practical and based on the interests of his learners. His current two learners are interested in hockey. He often has field trips into the community where they practice reading signs and reflect on safety.
CBAL depends on over 200 volunteers like Derek. Our volunteers tutor, help at our programs and events, and participate in our Community Literacy Planning Committees. Thank you to all of our volunteers who make such a big difference!
Are you interested in becoming a CBAL volunteer? For more information, please visit the Community Programs page on our website.
Erin Perkins
Community Literacy Coordinator – Boundary
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
For some people, the task of helping a special needs learner can seem overwhelming, but not for CBAL tutor, Derek Brown. Derek spent decades coaching both local and provincial youth baseball and hockey teams. He enjoyed the times when he had special needs athletes on his teams. As a volunteer with CBAL, Derek has spent the past four years tutoring a special needs learner in Grand Forks.
This year he took on a second student, and things couldn’t be better. “[Tutoring] is an opportunity to give back,” said Derek of why he chose to become a CBAL tutor. “It’s fun watching somebody grow.”
Derek heard about CBAL’s tutoring program while taking a course at Community Futures. After retirement, he was looking for part-time work to keep him busy. Former Boundary Community Literacy Coordinator, Sheila Dobie, inspired him to try his hand at tutoring. He’s been volunteering ever since.
Derek said the most important thing to remember about tutoring special needs learners is to adjust your expectations. “With my learner, I had high expectations of him at first. I learned to be flexible with him and that he doesn’t like homework.” Derek said being open minded and adaptable in how you help your learners is also important.
He likes to make sure his tutoring sessions are practical and based on the interests of his learners. His current two learners are interested in hockey. He often has field trips into the community where they practice reading signs and reflect on safety.
CBAL depends on over 200 volunteers like Derek. Our volunteers tutor, help at our programs and events, and participate in our Community Literacy Planning Committees. Thank you to all of our volunteers who make such a big difference!
Are you interested in becoming a CBAL volunteer? For more information, please visit the Community Programs page on our website.
Erin Perkins
Community Literacy Coordinator – Boundary
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
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