Circle of Grandparents volunteer Jan Hoffman with students Greyson (left) and Thomas. Photos courtesy of Upper Arlington City School District
Grandview Heights City Schools has worked with a community volunteer organization to reshape a school program in time for the new academic year.
The Circle of Grandparents program, in which senior citizen volunteers teach character qualities to students, was instituted in the district in the 2013-14 school year. Both the district and the volunteers have been working together to make it more relevant for students, says Jamie Lusher, chief academic officer.
“We saw the value and saw the importance of this program,” Lusher says.
Circle of Grandparents has its roots in the Worthington organization Partners for Community and Character. When Lusher was a building principal at Worthington City Schools, she saw the program carried out there.
Once Lusher came to Grandview, she began talking with Jan Hoffman, a Circle of
Students Jakob (left) and Grayson with Circle of Grandparents volunteer Robert Mone
Grandparents volunteer, about refocusing the Grandview program with the goal of targeting intergenerational relationships.
“We wanted to improve and enhance it,” she says.
Enter district Director of 21st Century Learning Marc Alter, who was tasked with looking for ways to make the Circle of Grandparents interactions more authentic for the children while still honoring the Circle’s original intent.
From talking with the volunteers, Alter realized that the communication style could become more interactive. Alter was inspired by his own interest in storytelling. For about 15 years, he’s traveled to a three-day national storytelling festival held in Jonesborough, Tenn., to listen to the stories shared there. And while his job at the district deals with using technology, he still values traditional, face-to-face, organic communication.
“Sometimes, you have to step away from technology,” Alter says.
With that in mind, Alter suggested the medium of storytelling as an option for the Circle of Grandparents volunteers. Instead of delivering a talk to students about loyalty, for instance, the grandparents could have a conversation with students about it.
“They were really receptive to that type of idea,” Alter says.
To try out his idea, Alter gathered some of the volunteers at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School with a handful of third-graders. They sat in small groups and exchanged stories and, when Alter saw the opportunity, he gave the students prompts to move the conversations along.
Alter asked one of the students about the cast on her arm and learned that she broke her arm
Circle of Grandparents volunteer Luanne Mone with students Sophia (left) and Morgan
using a pogo stick. Alter asked the grandparents whether they could think of a time when an accident or unfortunate event led them in an unexpected direction.
One of the grandparents shared a story about how when he was a child, he was bad at sports. Later, he realized his vision problem probably contributed. Still, as a child, he became an avid reader, which led to him becoming a lawyer.
The conversations, Alter says, have a completely different impact than a traditional lecture would.
“We’re creating opportunities to have conversations and to kind of be cognizant of the lessons and connections that are learned through those conversations,” he says.
The program, now called The Connections Project, is somewhat similar to the StoryCorps conversations often broadcast on National Public Radio, in that Alter records each conversation. Alter hopes to post the recordings online.
Alter emphasizes StoryCorps as a jumping-off point in The Connections Project’s evolution, rather than an outright precursor. At some point, he also wants to start a storytelling club and perhaps expand the project beyond the school district.
At the end of last school year, Alter continued to work with small groups of third-graders and volunteers on a small scale during class time. He’s also working alongside volunteers outside of school hours with storytelling workshops to help them find their voice and style.
The Connections Project will start with third-graders and, Alter says, he wants to work up to middle school. The program may take on a different format for younger students. Students will work in small groups at different points during the school day. The program will also be carried over to the after-school care program, which includes about 170 students.
The volunteers, Alter says, have been enthusiastic about trying something new. They’re also able to bring the wisdom of their lifetimes to the students.
“It’s a collaboration,” he says.
Hoffman has been involved with Circle of Grandparents since 2011, when she began volunteering at Worthington schools. She started at Grandview schools in 2013. She and others will participate in storytelling at Stevenson and Edison Intermediate schools this school year.
“We’re looking forward to doing that,” she says.
Volunteering
Those who want to volunteer for The Connections Project do not have to live within the school district. For more information about how to become involved with Circle of Grandparents, email Jan Hoffman at jan@consultjan.com or visit www.communityandcharacter.org.
Sarah Sole is an editor. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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