Inuvik (Dec 15/03) - Antoine Smallgeese's knees are almost up to his chin as he tucks himself into a primary-sized chair in Heather Surette's Grade 1 classroom at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school in Inuvik.

But the Grade 10 Samuel Hearne Secondary school student doesn't seem to mind as he goes over a worksheet with his two young charges, Jad Daher and Ethan Allen.

They lean in to him and hang on his every word as he helps them fill out an activity sheet.

Smallgeese is one of 15 English 10 students who spends an hour a week teaching the 18 students in Surette's Grade 1 classroom. It's part of the Junior Teaching program Surette and SHSS English teacher Cathleen White started up a few months ago.

The program is an extended version of the reading buddies program, which has also been offered at the school in the past.

Instead of just reading, the older students help teach the younger students new things. The Grade 1 students benefit from the extra one-on-one attention, while the older students have another reason to get up and go to school.

Something to look forward to

"They really, really look forward to it, even if the buddies can't come, they ask," said Surette of her students.

"I'll probably get a question everyday about when they're coming."

"It makes me happy because they (junior teachers) make me smile," said Grade 1 student Charissa Goeson with a grin.

She said having a junior teacher also makes her work easier to do.

"It's rewarding knowing you're teaching them something," said junior teacher Amanda Vittrekwa.

White said the older students are surprised by how much they know and the experience is good for their self-esteem. She has them keep a journal of their experiences to record the teaching techniques they've used.

The program is also helping boost attendance, which is one of the reasons White started the program.

"I think it's really helping with attendance, their self esteem and helped with their own (study) skills. They've learned how to give and get encouragement," said White.