Fostering love
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 6, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
WAGES foster grandparents Carolyn Robinson, left, and Mattie Whitfield, right, color the March page of their calendars during an art training class for the program held at WCC on Thursday.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Ella Mae Beverly, 92, the oldest WAGES foster grandparent, works to color a calendar as part of her art class training for the program.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Elouise Dent, left, and her daughter Sharon Dent-Armwood joke around during their art training class for the WAGES foster grandparent program. The mother and daughter duo both work as foster grandparents at Carver Elementary.
When Shirley Bond signed on to teach classroom management this summer at Wayne Community College, she knew going in that her students might be a feisty bunch.
"Because they're experienced and because they have lived, they don't mind telling you what works best if they need to and I appreciate that," she said.
Her students are from the Foster Grandparent program, retirees who work with special needs children at 18 sites around the county.
"Children have changed and require different approaches and different responses," said Delbra McIntyre, administrator of the Foster Grandparent program at WAGES. "We wanted our senior volunteers to learn how to do both -- positively approach them and respond to their inquisitive ways."
Ms. Bond, a retired educator and principal, was enlisted to work in the eight-week program for the nearly 80 Foster Grandparents, one of four classes offered in two-week increments during the summer months. The other sessions include cultural diversity, arts and crafts and computer.
The summer program enhances what the Foster Grandparents do during the school year, said Lisa Newkirk, coordinator of self-supporting/leisure and recreation programs for WCC continuing education services. Computer and arts and crafts have been staples, but this is the first year for the classroom management piece and the third for cultural diversity.
"They ask for it back," she said of the diversity session. "It's welcoming to them, knowing how to relate and still stay professional."
Facilitator Joyce Waters is a retired office professional who pursued a communications degree but always had a desire to teach.
"That's always been my passion. I'm a passion teacher," she said.
The subject of diversity is very timely, she said, drawing on the generational timeline from the 1960s to the present.
"We're living in new times," she said. "Gender, age, we talk about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, that's certainly new to our seniors.
"It's not that we're trying to change or make everybody accept it. You don't have to accept it but you do have to respect it."
Ms. Bond uses role playing and interactive methods to introduce concepts pertinent to the "classroom climate."
"Classroom management is the key for effectively teaching," Ms. Bond said "We talk about establishing classroom rules. Once you establish classroom rules, we need to be effective in carrying that out as far as the consequences and being consistent, and having classrooms where students feel safe."
She also talks about communicating with the students and parents -- using the right tone and tact and being able to handle difficult behaviors.
"One of her favorite words was perseverance," said student Marlene Bartlett. "If you don't succeed at first with the children, because like she said, some of them are really slow. The little ones that we have (are challenged) -- using a fork or spoon without getting it all over the floor, picking up a tray and being able to walk to the trash can."
Classmate Lucille Hill recalled one child who had experienced a stroke.
"When she came in, she was sliding on her stomach (on the floor)," she said. "I didn't do this but by the grace of God, she can walk now."
"She's in my class now," added classmate Annie Greenfield.
Ms. Hill and Ms. Greenfield have been Foster Grandparents for about four years, at Belfast Head Start.
Mrs. Bartlett is one of the newer Foster Grandparents, her interest sparked after reading a newspaper article about the need for volunteers in the program. She started after Christmas, also assigned to Belfast, in the Early Head Start program.
Their enthusiasm for the summer school opportunity is apparent.
"We learned something every day," Ms. Hill said. "Even with the children, we're learning just like they're learning."
"Some of the things we already know but it's just bringing us up to par," added Ms. Greenfield.
The women said they like working in the classroom and have appreciated getting to acquire more tools for their return in the fall.
"I enjoy going to the school but I enjoy this, too," Ms. Hill said.
"They make me laugh every day," Mrs. Bartlett said of her students. "Not laugh at them but laugh with them. We're going to have fun.
"At my age (81) when I go home I tell my husband it's been a good day because they have done something that made me laugh."
Ms. Hill is 67 and Ms. Greenfield is 68.
And all are grandparents inside and outside of the classroom.
"I see (students) in the store, they say, 'Hey, grandma,'" Mrs. Bartlett said.
"Even our own children say, 'Grandma's going to school,'" Ms. Hill said.
Additional volunteers are needed in the program, ages 55 and over, with some income guidelines since they receive a small stipend.
For more information, call 919-734-1178 and ask for Foster Grandparents.