February 28, 2001
Students get one-on-one help with 'Pathways'
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
Sometimes it just takes a little bit of one-on-one time. A caring friend to listen, someone to encourage you when you are struggling with a new task.
"Mrs. R,'' otherwise known as Diane Riesen, has been working with students at the Tiffin Middle School who need extra help with their schoolwork, and a caring adult to talk to.
The funds for the "pathways'' program, begun on a much smaller scale last spring, have come from the state through the Family and Children First Council. Students who have one or more "at-risk'' variables, such as trouble with their studies, are recommended to visit Riesen at the library's study tables twice a week. They spend each 42-minute period going over their work, asking her questions.
However, Riesen said, there are students who come just to have a quiet place to work and collect their thoughts.
"It's a part-time grant,'' Riesen explained. "However, some of them come up here every day, because they want to just sit at the table. It helps them get their work done and it keeps them centered. They can sit at the table and have their own space.''
Guidance counselor Jane Ann Geckle said students are recommended for the program from teacher referrals or because of their grades and test scores. "We see who could get their act together,'' Geckle said. "And they sure are.''
Seventh grader Cory Rohe tries to go to the study table every day. "Because I can just sit down and express how I feel about things,'' he said of his fondness for the program. "And they give me some privileges here. She (Riesen) talks to me and gets it out of your system.''
Rohe's grades have risen as a result. What once where F's are now B's.
Geckle said the grant pays Riesen for a half-time position, yet she volunteers to stay and work with the students for the other half of the day, at no cost. "She does it because she believes in the program,'' Geckle said.
The grant's purpose is to help students find success, Geckle said. "It's to prevent future at-risk behaviors that would keep the students from not reaching their potential,'' she explained. Both teachers and parents are so enthused with the program, that they have requested that it be expanded. "This is real,'' Geckle said of the program. "These are good kids that need a boost, and this allows us to do this for kids that need it.''
"The reason I like Pathways is because she, Mrs. R, makes learning fun and exciting,'' sixth grader Ed Shepherd said. "When we get good grades, she takes us out,'' said sixth grader Jenny Paulus. "If we get our homework done, we can play games, and we learn from playing the games. I was getting D's and C's, now I'm getting C's and B's.''
"We will have kids come in and say, 'Please, can I go in to tutoring,''' Geckle said. She said that Riesen gives out certificates for effort, and takes them out for treats. "She's just an extra neutral adult,'' Geckle said. "Sometimes they just need a pat on the back for encouragement and they learn more.''
Children once considered at risk can then be happy with one aspect of their life, their school grades, which will reduce their risk of engaging in other poor choices in behavior. "The kids are proud of themselves,'' Geckle said. "They feel good about what they have done.''
"I've had a kid knock on my door, and say I think you want to know this,'' Geckle said. "'I got an 87.'''
Not a day goes by, Geckle said, when she doesn't receive a note from home, or a child says that the program is helping them.