ERIC Number: ED346983
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-Mar-13
Pages: 36
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
SMILES (Senior Motivators in Learning and Educational Services).
Salt Lake City School District, UT.
The SMILES (Senior Motivators in Learning and Educational Services) program was initiated in 1977 by Salt Lake City School Volunteers, Inc., a nonprofit organization working with the Salt Lake City School District, as an addition to an established, successful school volunteer program. The purpose of the SMILES program is to recruit and train older adults and place them in district schools to help with such activities as story reading, field trips, tutoring, arts, crafts, and sports. Many SMILES volunteers work in resource rooms with slow learners or handicapped children, nurturing, tutoring, and keeping the children on task. The SMILES program also involves: (1) orientation and training of volunteers for tutorial services; (2) recognition activities for volunteers; (3) Older Neighbor and Grandparent Day in elementary schools; (4) innovative use of shut-in retirees as school volunteers; (5) involvement in the arts in such activities as recording books for handicapped students; and (6) the Living Historians project, which recruits older adults to speak to students about careers, science, travel, and personal experiences. The program has benefits both for the schools and the older volunteers. For example, teachers report emotional and behavioral improvements when the SMILES volunteers are present, and older volunteers have the opportunity for providing meaningful service and interacting with others in a stimulating environment. Beginning with 15 volunteers in 1977, the SMILES program had expanded to over 400 volunteers by 1984. Information sheets, promotional materials, information on special events, a newspaper article, questionnaires, and other materials on the program are attached. (AC)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Salt Lake City School District, UT.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A