Volunteer FAQs
- How long will tutoring last and how often will I tutor?
Tutoring lasts one hour. Volunteer tutors are expected to tutor one hour every week, providing consistency and encouragement to students.
Do I have to be a teacher or have educational experience to volunteer?
Our tutors come from various professions and backgrounds. You do not need to have previous teaching experience to volunteer. The tutor training will help prepare you for your tutoring experience.
- How is the tutoring hour structured?
School on Wheels provides a schedule to provide the best learning structure during the hour. School on Wheels hires and trains on-site staff to facilitate the program and tend to the needs of both the students and volunteers. The Site Coordinator will facilitate the evening, dedicating the first 5 minutes to writing prompts, 45 minutes for homework, and the last 10 minutes to reading. Each student has the opportunity to pick out a book and may keep it when he or she has finished reading it.
- When and where does tutoring take place?
Tutoring takes place Monday thru Thursday for one hour between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The exact day and time is dependent upon both the shelter and your own schedule. School on Wheels provides tutoring services for 12 different locations, including homeless facilities and one elementary school. School on Wheels provides educational assistance to all of the homeless shelters in Indianapolis that accommodate children, including transitional and emergency housing. A School on Wheels staff member is always on hand to assist you and to facilitate the tutoring hour.
- Can I bring a friend or child with me to tutoring?
No. All volunteers must go through a training and orientation session and have a criminal background check prior to tutoring at any location. School on Wheels must ensure that the children are safe at all times during the program. In addition, School on Wheels strives to maintain confidentiality for students and provide constant attention for effective learning. Children or friends that have not gone through training may be a distraction or violate the shelters' privacy policy. If you have a friend who is interested in tutoring, have them contact School on Wheels so that they may attend a tutor training.
- Is your service mobile?
No. Tutoring is provided at the shelter where the children reside. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to find his or her own transportation to the site.
- What are the ages of the children receiving tutoring?
School on Wheels provides educational assistance to students kindergarten through 12th grade. The average age of the students receiving tutoring is eight years old.
- What is the student to tutor ratio?
The goal of School on Wheels is to provide one-on-one tutoring to every child. However, due to the transient population, there are occasionally more or less children at any given time. We ask that our volunteers be flexible, as there may be circumstances that cause you to tutor more than one child.
- How do I become a School on Wheels tutor?
Sign up for a tutor training/orientation session. Trainings are held once a week and dates are included on this schedule. During this time, you will learn a little more about tutor expectations, the history of School on Wheels and the “Tutors in Action” program, as well as an overview of homelessness in Indianapolis. Following a criminal background check, you may then sign up for a tutoring location and specific day to begin your tutoring experience!