Volunteer Tutor Profile: Meet Succeeding by Reading Tutor Ann Rosenberg
By Eric Steckel | July 24, 2023
Longtime tutor finds the magic in one-on-one relationships, and children thrive!
The one-on-one relationship you form with your child is fundamental. “It’s just a happy feeling. It’s very rare that kids get this one-on-one relationship with anybody at that age.”
Succeeding by Reading tutor Ann Rosenberg discovered Children Rising in a roundabout way through her friend Jan Zovickian. After working as a school social worker in Oakland schools for 30 years, she has spent the last six years tutoring eager children and enabling them to learn to read.
“If you care about the child, and they care about you, that comes through. I think that is a huge part of success in tutoring …”
“I love kids; I love tutoring. I find that one of the best ways to build self-esteem is when kids feel that they’re able to learn and feel good about themselves; more than almost any therapy in the world, it helps them realize that they can learn. It’s a highlight of my week,” Ann said.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Supporting a child through difficult periods
During the disrupted COVID year of 2020, Ann tutored a young girl named Juliana. “Juliana was enthusiastic. She really wanted to learn to read better,” Ann recounted. “She was very hard on herself, so I just tried to reinforce everything positive that I could. I would tell her, ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to be perfect, it’s about progress, not perfection.”
Because of you, children like Juliana have overcome challenges in school and risen to their God-given potential. That’s a beautiful thing indeed!
Juliana made great progress despite the year being cut short. “There was a book she loved, a graphic book. When a child is motivated because she’s interested in the material, it’s much better than anything else. So we were reading the book together, and she was doing well. I think she was more forgiving of herself if she made a mistake, she got back on the horse more quickly, and her frustration level decreased.
The importance of a one-on-one connection
To Ann, the one-on-one relationship is fundamental. “If you care about the child, and they care about you, that comes through. I think that is a huge part of success in tutoring, therapy, social work, anything really,” she said. “It’s just a happy feeling. It’s very rare that kids get this one-on-one relationship with anybody at that age. The caring and the warmth that grows between people—I’ve had it with little boys, little girls, it doesn’t matter. It’s the weekly contact. Knowing someone cares about you and is going to be there for you, come rain or shine, is special.”
“This program is fantastic. It’s so well organized … It’s a real gift to be able to work with the program. What can I say? It’s beautiful. It’s a beautiful thing.”
When I asked her if she had anything to share with potential tutors, she replied, “This program is fantastic. It’s so well organized. Rebecca and Pia do such a great job. It’s a real gift to be able to work with the program. What can I say? It’s beautiful. It’s a beautiful thing.”
We are grateful for Ann and all of the dedicated Succeeding by Reading tutors. Because of you, children like Juliana have overcome challenges in school and risen to their God-given potential. That’s a beautiful thing indeed!
Yes, I can empower a child to become a lifelong learner.
