Renfrewshire Libraries Homework

Helpers Clubs

I am the LAW

•Library

•Activities

•Worker

Exploring OSLHomework Clubs and their role within the OSL project.

Our other partners involved with the homework clubs.

How we organize our clubs.

The people involved with our clubs.

The aims of the Homework clubs.

Are we meeting those aims?

Do homework clubs in libraries change lives

Renfrewshire Council OSL Project

Sports M useums Arts Libraries

Out of Schools Learning

Winners of Renfrewshire Council’s Winners of Renfrewshire Council’s Partnership Award Partnership Award

20032003

• Residential weekends at Inverclyde Sports Center

• 90 children from Friday to Sunday

• Sports Activities 45 min session

• Art Activities

• Creative Writing

• Disco

Sports

Museums

• Starquest evenings at Paisley Observatory

• Time Box events where children document events in their community’s life

• Time Capsules.

Arts

• Drama Productions

• Fashion Shows

• Radio Shows

• Documentaries

• Dance Projects

Weekly TimetableMonday TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

PACE @ GL PACE @ LW PACE @ Trinity PACE @ Renfrew H

Alison & Sheila @ FP

Tom & Senga @ SP

Sheila & Terry @ GA

Tom & Ajay @ CE

Val @ RW Gerry & Tom @ CE

Alan & RK @ GL Alan & Tom @ FX

Sheila & Anne @ GA

Terry & Alan @ LW

Alison & Sheila@ LW

Alison @ FP Alison @ RW

Alan & Karen @ FP

Alison & Gerry @ GL

Tom & Sheila FP

RK & Alan @ GL

Criteria for Referral to O.S.L. Pupils with

low self confidence.interest in reading/ writing/ computers academic issues behavioural issues

Pupils who are isolated/bullied

from a low income household undergoing family problems   in care/ with foster parents Pupils who receive

Study Support at school  Home School Support

Social Work Support  

12 Week Forward Planner using Teresa Breslin’s book Body parts

1Introduction, Library tour, club name, membership badges, club rules.

2Design homework club shirts.

3Do you agree with genetic cloning? Discuss, Debate. Record/video. Talking about Experiences feelings and opinions level D

4Who do you think caused the fire? Why?Personal writing level D

5Sales pitches sell the public extra body parts. Include posters, illustrations. Creating and designing level C

6What will happen if the mutants escape? Interview public, record, create newspaper reports.Imaginative writing level D

7Descriptive drawing What do the mutants look like? Final page.Recording level C

8Create your own comic book as a group.Creating and designing level C

9Complete comic book.Creating and designing level C

10Using clay create your own mutant creatures.Using media level C/D

11Book reviewPersonal writing Level D

12 Internet posting book review 

Sample of evaluation sent of Head teacher after activity Gallowhill Library St Catherine’s Primary Date 20/01/03

 Facilitator: Senga Munro

Description of Activity

 Senga told the children some stories involving child participation. The children then had to identify why a younger child would enjoy hearing these stories and what they could do to keep an audience interested in what

they were doing The children then started to create their own story boards. No. of children Boys 3 Girls 2

Skills used Social Writing Reading Discussion Planning IT Research Problem Solving Maths Drawing

Others: Listening Predicting

New / improved skills Identifying key themes that make a good storyteller e.g. stories should be short, funny, easy to remember, have repetition, movement, participation, scary.

Story tellers should use variety of voices and keep eye contact with the audience

Behaviour Excellent Good Poor Very Bad

Other comment

 The children appear to be enjoying their workshops. They are excellent children who listen very well. They appear to be highly motivated and enthusiastic. Both Senga and myself are enjoying working with them.

Creative Ventures

• Creative Writing

• Reader Development

• Drama Workshops

• Storytelling

• Web Site Design

• Graphic Illustration

• Expressive Arts

• Author Visits

• Radio Shows

Before the Bell Clubs

• Ferguslie Primary• Craigielea Primary• St Paul's Primary• Moorpark Primary

These were introduced after requests from

children on their evaluations

Meet the gang

• Sheila• Tom• Alison• Karen

With children from various Homework clubs

LIBRARIES

• CENTRAL

• FERGUSLIE

• FOXBAR

• GALLOWHILL

• GLENBURN

• LINWOOD

• RENFREW

• SPATESTON

• TODHOLM

Aims & Objectives

• It is the aim of the Homework Helpers Club to provide an informal, relaxed atmosphere where pupils will be supported in homework, learning activities, coursework, and exam revision, plus help in specific needs or topic research.

• The main outcome of the project is that the children’s confidence would be built, social skills enhanced, imaginations opened and the children will reach higher standards.

Targeted Children

88% of the children were targeted by the school to attend because of specific support was needed in the following areas:      

Behaviour 13 %Confidence 38%Social skills 28%Academic Progress 21% 

Areas where support required

behaviour

confidence

social skills

Academic

Academic Changes

• 72% improved performance with homework club contribution

Behaviour

• 53% children improved

• 47% remained the same

• 72% improved interaction

• 75% more self confidence

• 25% remaining the same

• None of the children’s behaviour got worse.

Children’s point of view

• 93% said homework club helped them with their homework

• 80% felt it helped with other things : self confidence, computer skills or making friends

• 67% made new friends• All the children wanted to come back next

year.

What’s so different about our clubs

• The children are actively targeted. Activities are geared for the children’s needs

• Constant feedback to and from schools

• Partnership with external agencies

• Staff employed only to work with children

Do Homework Clubs Change Lives?

What they say about us• “I would like to say how valuable

the storytelling sessions are to the children taking part. The five pupils from Williamsburgh Primary all managed to tell their stories to the Primary 3 class with confident professionalism. I was delighted with David’s development. He showed himself to be a talented storyteller and very encouraging to the others in the group. Stephanie at first seemed very shy and self effacing but we discovered she had a wonderful way with words and was also a natural storyteller. Everyone in the group became more aware of what the members felt and how they could work well together

Senga Munro, M.B.E.Storyteller

• “I like coming to the homework club because it helps me with my homework and reading. It helps me with my drawing. I can meet lots of new friends, I can get out of the house.”

• Ainsley Kidd, Craigielea Primary•  • “It is the best thing in the world. We

get to know Alison more and she is a great homework helper. Alison has lots of stories, games, and lots more and she is good for a laugh.”

• David Dawson, Williamsburgh Primary•  • “It is good because you can make

new friends, I also like to get more education and you can read more books.”

• Nicola Dockerty, Ferguslie Primary

School Reports

• “I have noted that our children have become enthusiastic about reading about their homework and working on the computer after their time spent in the library. We have found that the reputation of this club has resulted in children behaving well so that they are included in next year’s club.”

Eileen Low, Head teacher,

St. Catherine’s Primary

• “Trinity High School has been involved in a number of ventures with O.S.L. which have played a significant part in the development of the young people involved. The PACE group, provided by OSL, is providing another excellent opportunity for a group of young people to participate in a programme to develop self confidence and self esteem. The group is enthusiastic and it is a delight to witness how the shy, quiet student develops self-confidence - enough to stand up in front of an audience and perform.”

• J. Nellaney, Head teacher, Trinity High School

What we have looked at today

Homework Clubs and their role within the OSL project. Our other partners involved with the homework clubs. How we organize our clubs. The people involved with our clubs. The aims of the Homework clubs. Are we meeting those aims? Do homework clubs in libraries change lives