A day in the life of a volunteer mentor
As a City Year volunteer mentor, no two days are ever the same. You always start the day with no idea what to expect. My busiest day this week, so far, had to be Wednesday:
05:30 - It’s hard to resist the urge to snooze my alarm again, but I really need to get up, get dressed and get going.
06:15 - My bus is running late but it’s finally here. I can use the time to try and wake up and do some coursework.
07:55 - We’re finally in Swinton. There’s only a short walk left now and I’m there for 8.
08:15 - A quick team meeting before going for our duties.
08:30 - It’s my turn to do morning prep for Year 2, before heading back to my classes.
09:00 - First lesson is maths and it’s bus stop division with remainders. I get to lead the challenging group and we all manage to get a lot done.
10:15 - Now it’s time for guided reading, where my group’s reading War Horse. I try and make sure as many of them read aloud as possible, to help them all stay engaged and focused.
10:55 - Time for break, where I get a free front row seat to a dance show by my Year 5s, before heading in for my own break. We spend our own break thinking up ideas for our Book Club tonight, before deciding on a book quiz.
11:25 - Because I’m in both the Year 5 classes, time to go across the corridor and do the same maths lesson again, with the two middle groups. It’s a bit hectic, having to rush out halfway for some photocopying and working one-on-one with the struggling kids, whilst keeping an eye on the 10 or so others, but I’m confident everyone gets it by the end.
12:15 - Time for lunch break, playing tig, retrieving lost glasses, consoling upset kids and explaining weight to Year 6s.
13:30 - After my own lunch break, I go into the hall to help keep an eye on the rest of the juniors as they watch a film, whilst parents are coming in for Parents’ Evening appointments. I didn’t expect to have to comfort a Year 6 when the ending of the film became a bit sad, but it all ended up being okay.
14:45 - The last 15 minutes of the day are just chaos,as we’re making sure the kids all head home or to their clubs safe and sound. But it’s nice to just stand at the door and see each of them off, making sure they’ve got everything they need.
15:00 - I need to rush off to Book Club. We manage to get through the quiz and find out the winner and give out the prizes for the best mystery story from last week.
16:00 - Once club’s over, we take the kids to the office and make sure we can see their carers before we send them off. Then we’re back to the staff room to finish up any last bits and bobs.
16:40 - We finally set off home (but not before a quick snapchat of the sunset) but miss our first bus by seconds. Luckily, the next one’s just round the corner.
17:15 - Into Victoria and a quick jog to my next bus stop, where my bus ends up being late.
17:40 - Finally on my last bus and we set off. Time to catch up on any reading.
19:00 - It hits 7, just as I get through the door and straight to bed.
Madeehah is serving in Mossfield Primary School in Greater Manchester. She and the rest of Team Idealism are role models, mentors and tutors, supporting pupils from disadvantaged communities to enjoy and succeed at school. Find out more about their City Year on our website and follow our mentors’ journeys through the year on our social media channels.
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