Summer Programme in pictures

15 days, 198 booster classes and 3 trips later, the ReachOut! Summer Programme 2012 came to an end last Friday with our Final Day Presentation.  It was another fantastic year with new activities and record numbers of volunteers!

Here are just some of the pictures we collected...

Icing Cupcakes! 

TOTKO workshop

Maths lesson...

Making parachutes in Art!

Parachute launch

Year 9 filming workshop

Showtime!

Poetry workshop with year 7

Rap-off

More maths...

Me, I know! 

English lesson, year 5

Junior Mentors 

English board games!

Artictic creations

 Face-painting! 

ReachOut! flag designed by Korede Y5

 Playground

 Races

 More races

CEO speaking at the Final Day Presentation

TOTKO comes to the Summer Programme!

Three weeks ago, in preparation for the start of the Summer Prgoramme, teachers and volunteers took part in a day of training. This year we welcomed an additional workshop from an organisation called TOTKO (Takes One To Know One).

TOTKO’s Learning Disability Awareness workshop was a fascinating insight into learning disabilities (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD) told through first-hand experiences of the challenges that learning disabled people face. Despite its delicate subject, the workshop focused on positive aspects. Did you know that learning disabled people are more likely to have a higher IQ?
We learnt of the importance of early diagnosis, that Steve Jobs and Richard Branson are learning disabled and about its links to depression, unemployment and crime levels. We also discussed stigmas: in particular, the ways in which our teachers could ensure equality in their lessons. Above all, the idea that learning disabilities can be partly supported through more accessible and varied teaching techniques was really refreshing. We also found that focusing on the different ways in which we all learn, incorporating visual, audio and kinesthetics into our teaching could help to engage a learning disabled child.

Last week we invited TOTKO back to run a workshop with the children. The session was titled ‘When I Grow Up’ and asked the children to think about the things they are good at. 

Below is some of the feedback from the children:

“I learned that I can achieve anything in life as long as I push myself and have confidence in myself.” - Zahannah, 12.

“Today I have learnt of amazing people who problems with English and Maths, who have overcome their disability and not let it hold them back. This has shown me that I can be anything I want and all I need is inspiration.” - Belle, 11.

“I learnt there is nothing wrong in being dyslexic.” - Harriet, 12.

ReachOut! helps prospective teachers on their way!

Nearly 20 teaching and coaching staff have helped run the ReachOut! Summer Programme this year.  The amazing team is made up of students, graduates, local residents and qualified teachers, some for the fourth year in a row! 

Vaithergei Vijayathas is a Maths teacher on the ReachOut! Summer Programme this year, an experience which is helping her on her way to becoming a teacher.

'The Reachout! Summer School is an extremely beneficial and rewarding opportunity for those who wish to pursue teaching as a career. It helps one look out for aspects of teaching and practice in preparation to be able to lead and facilitate a class of students. Lesson planning involves looking at national curriculum requirements for a particular year group, and differentiation in order for children of all abilities to acquire knowledge from the classes. 

It is fascinating when one listens to the children’s quirky ideas, and the joy of when they understand and excel in a task is indescribable. This is when a teacher knows that they have been successful in imparting and communicating knowledge to the pupils. Not a day passes when a teacher does not learn something new or realise that some techniques are less effective so they would have to modify their skills. 

I personally feel far more confident about studying a PGCE after teaching on the Reachout! Program as it has made me realise that I do in fact have what it takes to be a successful teacher and I cannot wait to further my learning.'

Mentoring mentors: The Summer Programme Junior Mentors

During the ReachOut! Summer Programme another scheme has been working alongside it, the ReachOut! Junior Mentors scheme. The ReachOut! Junior Mentors are young people in years 10 -11, most have previously been involved with the Summer Programme when they were younger, and who volunteer and work alongside the senior mentors. This is the fourth year there has been Junior Mentors project.

There are three types of Junior Mentor; academic mentors who assist senior mentors with maths and English classes; sports mentors who assist during sports activities and finally the business and events mentors who are in charge of a lunchtime tuckshop and will help organise the award ceremony at the end of the Summer Programme.

A week before the Summer Programme started, the Junior Mentors  did a week's training where they took part in team building exercises , leadership and role model workshops, where visitors came to talk to them about being mentors and the skills needed.

The Junior Mentors have also been visiting places of business like the Opera Tavern, a restaurant near Covent Garden, where they learnt about restaurant management and being a chef. They have also visited UBS bank where they did mock job interviews and learnt tips on how to conduct themselves in an interview and Macquarie Bank where they learnt about crisis management in the work place.

The scheme so far has been considered successful. Glen, one of the senior mentors in charge of the junior mentor schemes called it ‘inspiring’.
Kaitlene Koranteng, Junior Mentor, year 11

Lights…Camera…Action! ReachOut! Starts Filming

For the first time as part of the ReachOut! Summer Programme, pupils have been given the opportunity to write, film and edit their own short films. With the help of film-maker Tim Birtwistle, the first group of pupils have begun work on planning their films.

The year 8 and 9 girls started their first workshop by filming each other and learning about different filming techniques. After watching some videos for inspiration, they split into two groups and made a start on planning their own films. The girls showed great creativity and teamwork in coming up with their ideas. They worked hard to split their stories into different scenes and thought about how and where to film them. Following the Olympic spirit of London 2012, both groups chose the themeof sporting success against the odds; with one group planning a film about a female footballer taking on the boys, and the other group about a paralympian winning gold.

With their storyboards completed, acting parts distributed and prop lists drawn up, the girls are now ready to start filming. Filming will begin next week and they are all excited to put the new skills that Tim has taught them in to practice. We'll keep you posted!

by Monica Guly