By Alesha Capone
Maria Sutherland is helping children develop their reading and writing skills at Wyndham Park Primary School in Werribee.
Mrs Sutherland is a volunteer tutor with the Learning Club, which is run as a partnership between the school and The Smith Family in Werribee.
The club runs on Wednesday afternoons for pupils in grades 3 to 6 and involves learning-based games and one-on-one reading.
Some older students, in grades 5 to 6, help out as “reader leaders”.
It was through her membership of the Point Cook VIEW Club that Mrs Sutherland became a volunteer tutor.
More than 15,000 members of VIEW clubs across Australia support The Smith Family’s learning programs and many volunteer for its learning clubs.
Mrs Sutherland, who is a retired primary school teacher, said she helped to supervise and encourage the children as they played games in the Learning Club.
“I like interacting with the children and I like to be able to use my skills,” she said.
“It’s a really positive thing to do – I’m finding it really rewarding.”
The Smith Family, which runs similar learning clubs at Manor Lakes P-12 College and Manorvale Primary School, is looking for more volunteer tutors.
Details: thesmithfamily.com.au
