Prospect Heights library hosts free homework help
The Study Buddy Homework Center at the Prospect Heights Public Library District was created in 2003, by Sue Seggeling, head of Youth Services, to provide additional academic support for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Prospect Heights library's school liaison, Alice Johnson Bisanz, now runs it. This program assists approximately 250 students a school year with a pool of 40-50 high school volunteers called Study Buddies.
Study Buddies tutor elementary schoolchildren with their homework; listen to them read out loud, or review math facts. The lighthearted atmosphere with students helping students encourages learning.
Bisanz, spreads the word about the Study Buddy Homework Center as a free homework help service to all the elementary schools in District 23 by attending school functions, staff meetings and speaking directly with parents and teachers. Bisanz asks the school staff to hang the Homework Help fliers anywhere students and parents will be to remind them of the program. Principals help promote the Study Buddy Homework Center during morning announcements, school and PTO newsletters and email blasts.
To recruit Study Buddy high school volunteers Bisanz places an announcement in the library's newsletter at the end of summer and early fall, contacts area high schools volunteer service clubs and National Honors Societies and posts the announcement on the library's website. Tutors often volunteer because they need community service hours for Honors Society, church or Scouts; they keep coming back because they like it.
When a Study Buddy is not tutoring a student, they respect the academic environment by reading or doing their own homework. Study Buddies take their tutoring responsibilities seriously and will email when they are unable to attend.
When a student arrives at the Youth Services Department they are asked a few questions to assess the type of help they need and then are walked into the Homework Center to meet their tutor; parents are welcome to meet the tutor as well. Often a parent will give additional instructions such as asking that they practice math facts when the homework is completed.
Most students come looking for help with math homework, but all subject areas are covered.
If overcrowding or noise becomes an issue, they either remain in the Study Buddy Homework Center or find a quiet place to work in the Youth Services Department. The center is stocked with the necessary school supplies and just outside the Homework Center is the library's wealth of resources.
The program runs during the school year from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, on assigned dates. For more information, contact the Prospect Heights Public Library at (847) 259-3500 or visit www.phpl.info.
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