Redirect their attention to a new activity or concept for a few minutes

Let them get up and stretch, do some jumping jacks, etc... anything fun to release pent-up energy

Always spend a minute asking them about their day, see if something is on their mind 

It never hurts to take a short break! 

Make sure you're not teaching them a concept that is too difficult for them to understand at their level. 

Take note of any signs and record them immediately for future reference. Some signs could be malnourishment, severe bruising, extremely poor hygiene, being excessively withdrawn and fearful about making mistakes, and even talking about negative experiences at home or a difficult home-life in general. It is important that you record these signs, as you or an HCMP executive may need to repeat them later. 

HCMP volunteers are not responsible for reporting child abuse/neglect suspicions to the police or child protective services. We recommend 1. Reaching out to us via email with the details of what you witnessed, and 2. Immediately reporting to a staff member at your assigned school; preferably the contact we give you. 

Any further action will be communicated to you afterwards. 

As an organization that primarily works in inner-city communities, it's important to remember that many of the children we work with may not have the best home life. For example, worries about parental divorce, not spending enough time with parents due to their juggling more than one job, and feeling sad about a lack of Christmas presents could be some of the conversations you encounter as a volunteer. These instances don't necessarily equal child abuse/neglect, but always be compassionate and empathetic if your student is dwelling on their experiences at home. Our lessons not only build up students' confidence in themselves, but they may also provide a fun and creative way to express themselves in a way that they might not be able to at home. 

Ask them why! Gauge a response based on how they're feeling that day. 

Kids like to be creative - let them improvise a piece and play something that is not 'by the book.' 

Let them choose the songs they want to play: you could ask, "What show do you like?" If they respond Frozen, teach them a Frozen song! 

Play something for them. Their interest in music may be reinforced if they hear you play something really cool, or if you talk about why music means so much to you personally. 

Before lessons are really underway, it's a good idea to ask if your students own a piano or guitar at home. If not, consistently and thoroughly review what was taught the week before. Don't be too hard on them or yourself if they have difficulty remembering. 

If they do have an instrument at home, provide incentives for them to practice. Our office resources include stickers and candies that you can take for lessons. The same goes for take-home homework or theory assignments. 

Always be encouraging! They may be nervous to practice at home, but if they are confident in themselves, they will be more likely to do so.