Contact Name:
Ellen Quinn (equinn@wordsworth.org)

Address:
Camp Hill Rd. & Pennsylvania Ave.
Fort Washington, PA  19034

Telephone Number:
215-643-5400

Organization Overview:
www.wordsworth.org

Wordsworth Academy's Day Special Education Program provides hope and opportunities for children and adolescents who have special learning and/or social and emotional adjustment needs.

Number of volunteers needed:
up to 6

Duties required of the volunteer:
Help monitor students in the classroom.  Interact with students offering individual help and support for academics (levels Pre-K to 3rd level skills depending on the classroom). Be a role model for the students about the importance of making good choices and working hard at school.  Interact with the students during "specials" (gym, art, music, computer class, library) and during socialization times.  Anything that the students want to do to broaden the horizons of our students would be welcomed if your students have a particular interest in some area that they would like to share. Your volunteers would be ancillary staff, but would not be left alone with our students at any time.

Special skills that will be helpful for a volunteer to have:
A good sense of self, high level of self-esteem.  The ability to not take things personally if our students were to make an inappropriate comment to them. Having a sense of humor is always helpful during situations that occur to help de-escalate a student that may be upset about something.

Typical hours of employment:
The students are here from 8:45 until 2:55 for the basic day. I know sometimes volunteers need to leave for sports team commitments, or seminars, and we are fine with being flexible with scheduling of times.

Additional Information:
The majority of our population are SED students who have had difficulty in large group school settings.  Our structured, safe, therapeutic environment enables the students to function in a manner that allows them to be successful.