Mid-term Update from Lucy, the Orchard Team Captain

Going back to Orchard was wonderful. It felt like going back to my own elementary school–something familiar. Second semester was definitely different from the first. I knew what to expect. I knew how to (better) handle my stubborn but wonderful mentee. I knew the subway and bus route, where the classrooms were, the surrounding neighborhood.

But best of all, I knew the younger students. This was definitely the most rewarding part for me. I always wanted little younger brothers and sisters, and I finally had some. (Or maybe way too many.) When we made origami, I had sticky hands extending out to me and shouts of “I want one! Where’s my frog?” and some pushing and shoving to get a better look. We ran out of time and one little boy never fails to ask me week after week “Hey, where’s my frog? You owe me a frog!” My childhood was peaceful as an only child, and I was making up for it now.

When leaving the bed is the most difficult action of the day, and your spirits are low, these happy carefree kids cure you of any lethargy. They look at you like you’re on top of the world, so you can’t help but think you are. My origami frogs were lopsided and contained creases from incorrect folds, but the kids still fought for them like gold. They inspire me in the same way that I hope I inspire them. I remember on the first day, a little wide-eyed 2^nd grader was eagerly scanning the crowd of McGill students in search for her old mentor.

“She really wanted to come, but she is in class right now. Do you think she wants to be in class right now when she could be hanging out with you?”

Nothing we said helped. She grew sadder when she saw her two closest friends maintain the same mentors as last semester. When another friendly McGill student came her way, she pouted and refused to acknowledge her new mentor. I feared the worst for the upcoming semester.

But that 2^nd grader quickly returned to her bouncy self by the next week and loved her new mentor. It’s a skill I truly admire from these little kids. They forget and forgive. They appreciate and treasure everything. Even we, as mentors in Homework Zone, have something to learn from these kids.

Mid-term Update from Sophie, the Verdun Captain

Reading Week is now over, and we get to head back to our Homework Zone schools this week. Let’s be real: the HZ schools are the only ones we actually want to go back to!

Before the break, the Verdun grade sixers got a good start on the Movie Project that we’re working on this semester.  Not only were the kids really excited about the project, but they also took it and made it their own.  One of my favourite moment was when one of the interviewers decided to go off-script from the standard “What do you like about Homework Zone” questions and ask someone who his cartoon crush was.  Somehow, this ridiculous question took off, and is now a standard for anyone interviewed at Verdun.

In my opinion, there is something about this that is the perfect reflection of what Homework Zone is meant to be.  HZ is a place where the kids are allowed to go off-script and be their quirky selves with the mentors who are almost guaranteed to get quirky with the kids.

We’re also now at that point in the semester when the mentors and mentees know each other quite well.  It’s always fun to see the relationships grow throughout the semester, and it’s hard to believe that those timid kids we met on the first day are now so open and outgoing with us.  It’s also crazy to think that we only have 4 or 5 weeks left with these awesome kids.  This part of the semester has always made me a bit sad because it seems like we have such a short time left to take advantage of getting to know the kids even more.

So, now that we’re starting the second half of Homework Zone, here’s to another 5 weeks of building relationships with the kids, quirkiness… and I guess some homework too!

These are a few of our favourite… foods!

Leora and a couple girls at the Boys and Girls Club of Lasalle made “bonding drawings” last week of the favourite foods and activities that the mentors and kids had in common.

What were their favourite foods?

Drumroll please…

Pizza, vegetable soup, and bagel sandwiches!

Yummmmmmmy!

 

Mentor: Michael Dougan, U2 Arts

This is Michael’s third semester as a mentor with HZ. When asked why he decided to join HZ back in January ’13, Michael talked about his dream of becoming a teacher. HZ had started off as an experiment–about testing out the waters, but for Michael, it quickly became so much more than that. Not only did HZ reaffirm Michael’s passion for teaching, it also helped him to become a better mentor. Michael’s advice to new mentors?

“It’s going to be pretty awkward at first. That’s when you and your mentee are getting to know each other, but don’t worry, they’ll quickly become your friends.”

Your  mentor-in-residence, 

Tina Ta