Tutoring at GiGi’s: More Than Teaching Our Participants 

Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse can be an incredibly fulfilling journey.  As a volunteer literacy and math tutor, you can expect to share your knowledge, help students grow their skills, and maybe gain some teaching experience along the way. The bonus is how much you will learn—and how deeply you will be impacted by the incredible individuals you meet. 

GiGi’s Playhouse is more than a learning center. It’s a vibrant community built on acceptance, belief, and celebration of potential. Every program offered here is free to families, and each one is designed to meet individuals with Down syndrome where they are—helping them build confidence, independence, and essential academic skills. These academic skills are sharpened and formed in our Literacy and Math programs.  
 
As a Literacy and/or Math volunteer, you can have the privilege of helping participants improve their reading, writing, and mathematical skills, fostering a love for learning and empowering our students to reach their full potential. 
But don’t take our word for it! This is what Jeff, one of GiGi’s Wausau’s volunteers, had to say about his experience as a Literacy volunteer: 

 “What is a challenge you’ve overcome while volunteering? 

I think my biggest challenge was getting past the idea that I had nothing to offer. I didn’t know what to expect when I started volunteering and that was a little scary too. I just decided I would do my best, not demand perfection of myself and see what happens. What happened is I made a friend who I really enjoy spending time with. It has been really fun to see Corbyn grow and learn and to be a small part of it.” 

As a tutoring volunteer, your primary role is to assist participants in developing their reading and writing abilities and/or math skills.  This involves: 

• One-on-One Tutoring: Tailoring lessons to meet the unique needs and learning styles of each participant. 

• Creative Projects: Integrating art, music, and games into lessons to make learning enjoyable and engaging. 

Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse comes with its own set of challenges. Each participant has different abilities and learning styles, requiring patience, creativity, and adaptability. However, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Witnessing the joy on a participant’s face when they master a new skill or the pride they feel when they read a book or solve an equation independently is incredibly fulfilling. 

“What would you tell someone who is considering volunteering at GiGi’s? 

You are needed and you have a lot to give. Just jump in and allow yourself to embrace what happens when you do.”  

Okay, but how much time is involved with being a tutor? That’s a fair question! 

Each tutoring session is 45 minutes to an hour and does require some preparation time on the part of our tutors. You will be given training and guidance as you start your journey into tutoring through the GiGi’s Playhouse network. Tutoring is broken up into 3 sessions per year (10-15 weeks) and our next session is this summer from June 2^nd through August 10^th. You have until May 18^th to sign up to be a summer tutor! 

“Why do you volunteer at GiGi’s? 

Because I want to contribute to our community in a meaningful way.” 
“I’ve been working with Corbyn for the past couple of years. Corbyn is the best thing about it. I love his positive energy and enthusiasm for life.” 

Please feel free to reach out and ask questions about becoming a tutor or about volunteering in another capacity today! 

For more information on our Literacy program click HERE!

For more information on our Math program click HERE!