Annie Besant Jon

Do you know a child who wants to learn but can’t afford school? Or a child who has a hard time doing her homework because her parents are illiterate? Your family could help such children! It’s a good way to teach your children the joy of helping others.

Helping an underprivileged child to learn the alphabet or basic maths is not hard as it seems initially, and you’ll be surprised at how eager many children are to learn to write their name in English! Involve your children in teaching or helping less privileged children. But remind them not to be bossy or high-and-mighty. The chances are that underprivileged children will also teach your child a skill or two!

Who to teach
Your underprivileged student could be the child of your house helper. Or even your child’s classmate whose parents can’t afford to send her for private tuition. If your student doesn’t know the alphabet, this is where you should start. Get your child to interact with her first, so they both feel comfortable, learning together, and from each other.

Class materials
The simplest source of lessons is your child’s old school textbooks. You can use everything from drawing and colouring books to used textbooks. To start off, equip your student with unused notebooks, pencils, pen, eraser, etc.
Buy one or two textbooks if necessary. As you build a relationship, you will be able to choose right books more easily.

Remain committed
Impress upon your family that it’s an important commitment you are making. Select a place and time to meet with your student, and stick to your commitment.

Alternatively, you could choose to teach your student in your home after your child comes back from school. Or you can choose to teach her for an hour or two on Sunday afternoons. If you’re helping your child’s classmate, invite her home after school and let them do their homework together. Once you establish a routine, do all you can to sustain it.

Testing times!
Give your student simple quizzes and tests every few weeks. Create a snazzy report card which they can take home to show their parents!

Make it fun
Be creative. Use props, music, and interactive games. But don’t get so serious about your teaching that your student feels unhappy coming to study! If you enjoy teaching, the student will enjoy learning! Design lessons where you read aloud together dramatising the text. Switch on the TV when your favourite cartoon is on air and use it as a teaching aid. You could even stage a play with poor neighbourhood children.