Can’t Go to School? Pencil Partners to the Rescue!
Thanks to the leadership and support of Mimi Weinstein, CHaD is pleased to announce a valuable new program that supports CHaD kids. Mimi founded the program known as Pencil Partners to support the academic needs of hospitalized children. Pencil Partners provides educational support and learning opportunities for all school aged children and adolescents while at CHaD.
The goals of the program are to help CHaD patients return to their classroom with more tools to succeed and to provide continued educational support and learning opportunities for all hospitalized school-aged children and adolescents while at CHaD.
CHaD's hospitalized patients are acutely or chronically ill, with a variable length of stay; from less than 24 hours to more than two weeks. Although this may seem like a short time, it can be a defining moment for a child and their family. It is critical for children to maintain normal routines and expectations, especially during times of stress, like hospitalization.
Normalcy helps children and adolescents feel safe, increases positive coping, and enhances success both in and out of the hospital. CHaD's Pencil Partner program integrates tutoring throughout the hospital stay. Tutors help children complete assignments, adapting and individualizing their approach based on each child's interests and ability.
Experiences have been varied and fun, and most importantly, geared to each child's unique needs. Students have played math games for fun. One child researched and then built gingerbread houses. Another learned to knit to help build his fine motor skills.
CHaD Pencil Partners runs Monday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m. and in just two months, three volunteer tutors have provided 17 children with more than 44 hours worth of tutoring. That's a lot of good learning!
