At La Rabida, we take pride in supporting our families through every step of their child’s journey. While this traditionally refers to healthcare, it also means through their education. Vicky McClure, La Rabida’s resident Chicago Public School teacher, does just that by providing one-on-one instruction to children while aboard the S.S. La Rabida.

The experience of in-hospital education differs from child to child. Some patients come in having been a regular education student for all of their lives, while others are enrolled in special education programs. “Every child is at a different learning level and we work to accommodate their needs,” shares Vicky. Working on subjects like math, reading, and social studies, Vicky is able to work with the materials provided by the child’s school and modify assignments to fit their abilities. “Some patients do all of their learning verbally,” says Vicky. “For others, repetition and visuals are crucial.”

Working with patients for one hour each day, Vicky has had the opportunity to get to know each child and their needs.

“Recently I was having a challenge getting one of my students to open up. I learned that prior to coming to La Rabida, he took PE as a course and loved it,” shares Vicky. “I found out that he really enjoyed basketball, so we started working that into our conversations and I was able to get him engaged.”

Vicky works closely with our team of child life specialists, therapists, and physicians to determine the needs of each child. Sometimes instruction is done in the Child Life Pavilion and other times it is done at the bedside. “We are flexible because medical care takes precedent,” shares Vicky. “Sometimes a child may be having a procedure or a tough day and that’s okay.”

“As someone who was a sick child, it is so meaningful that I am able to help these kids through education. These resources were not available to me, so I’m glad I am able to make a difference in their lives.”

This story was featured in the February 2020 issue of eCurrents, La Rabida's monthly newsletter. To view the February issue of eCurrents, click here.