It’s NOT JUST About Getting Better Grades – Part 2: Empowering Children!

By Jim Wambach | December 22, 2018

Perspectives article by Jim Wambach, Executive Director

Part 1: Volunteer Tutor: It’s NOT JUST About Getting Better Grades!

Empowerment: “The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights” – Oxford Dictionary

Dear Friends,

Earlier this week, I was speaking to a woman who is passionate about helping young girls overcome a false, but still too-common stigma, that “girls are not naturally good at math” – and the ongoing obstacles to professional success that can result from that assumption.

You provide personal support to each student every week, empowering them to learn in math and reading.

This caused me to look more closely at the children who are currently enrolled in our Path2Math program. Path2Math is specifically designed to help struggling second graders become “math literate”, while strengthening overall critical reasoning ability. By doing so, these children are able to more confidently and capably improve their math skills and ability in middle school, high school and beyond.

Guess what? Two-thirds of our Path2Math second graders are girls! This is NOT because they have less math aptitude! Instead, as my new friend explained a couple days ago, girls are historically more likely than boys to be less encouraged or supported in math … and this can be exacerbated by expectations rooted in culture and history.

Our wonderful tutors provide personal support to each student every week and help the children develop both their enjoyment and foundational understanding of math. Importantly the young girls and boys are also:

Growing their confidence and self-esteem
Developing more independence
Building personal resilience
Developing self-respect
Becoming better learners

You are empowering children to dream of the future.

In short, we have an opportunity to be a part of empowering children to better engage in the world around them in a more meaningful way. This is why we do what we do!

Everyday, I’m reminded of how important it is for all of us to come alongside more struggling children who are at the very real crossroad of promise and risk. Please share your talent, time and love – or donate to help us say “Yes” to empowering more and more of these children.

For the Children,

Jim

YES, I CAN help transform a child’s life. Let’s talk!

 I want to be a tutor or mentor this school year. Tell me more!

 I want help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs.