VIPS Training Session

The Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) Program will be holding a training session on Wednesday, January 18 at the North Falmouth Elementary School for volunteers interested in learning more about the VIPS Challenge Program. The 75-minute training session will begin at 9:15 a.m. 

The VIPS Challenge Program is a volunteer-supported program geared for highly motivated students in grades 3 and 4, in the subject areas of Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Volunteers involved in the VIPS Challenge Program work on a weekly basis with small, flexible groups of “talented, eager, and motivated” students to extend the core curriculum. Each week, the group will meet for approximately 50 minutes. 

VIPS is currently seeking interested volunteers to work with small groups of students in the following elementary schools:  East Falmouth, Mullen-Hall, North Falmouth, and Teaticket. Volunteers can choose to work with either 3^rd or 4^th graders in either Math or ELA. The training session on January 18 will provide volunteers with background information, tips, and sample lessons.

Students are referred to the VIPS Challenge Program by their classroom teachers. A student can be recommended for either Math or ELA, or may “qualify” for both groups. The Challenge Program presents students with opportunities to investigate connections and spur creative thinking, encourages new approaches and techniques to problem-solving, and provides opportunities for high achieving students to collaborate with and motivate each other.

VIPS Challenge Program volunteers will work with lesson plans, activities, games, and books created by a team of teachers and specialists. For volunteers interested in working with students on ELA, the primary focus is on book discussion groups. Although there are sample novels, volunteers are encouraged to select any book or author that matches the students’ interest. The discussion and question-generating techniques will be transferable, regardless of the book selected. In math, there is a combination of problem-solving activities, geometric constructions, and critical thinking games. At each school, a box known as “the VIPS Challenge Program crate” is available for use by volunteers. Lessons can be signed out ahead of time by volunteers and all volunteers are encouraged to add to the crate.

To learn more or to register for the training session, please contact the VIPS office at (508) 548-1621 or by email to vips@falmouth.k12.ma.us.