On May 22, 2023, Learning Edge concluded its 26th tutoring session of the 2022-2023 afterschool program at the St. Catherine-St. Lucy school (SCSL). In the previous year (2021-2022), Learning Edge provided one hour of one-to-one tutoring on Monday afternoons, specifically focused on reading. After receiving volunteer and SCSL staff feedback, Learning Edge staff recognized the need to make a few modifications.
With the feedback, we expanded the program to include first through third grade students and besides reading, tutors assisted with homework and in building math skills. There were 17 students in the program, which was a 24% increase from last year.
As a part of our grant application, we requested money to purchase books and other program supplies. We did not require as many new books as we had expected, because we downsized our Tuesday library due to a location move. As a result, we were able to add over 100 picture books from that site to the Learning Edge SCSL library.
Along with adding a few new books (particularly for the third-grade students), Learning Edge purchased educational reading and math games that students and tutors could play after their academic work was done. The students particularly enjoyed playing Sight Word Bingo!
For volunteers this year, Bernadette Diaz, Learning Edge Reading Specialist, provided an orientation session that included activity ideas to help improve students’ reading fluency and vocabulary skills. She also provided continual support throughout the year, meeting with individual tutors upon their request and conducting check-ins.
In addition, St. Catherine-St. Lucy school provided staff and volunteers with results from the students’ fall I-Ready assessments. These provided helpful information about specific deficits in a students’ reading and math skills. SCSL also asked teachers to meet with the tutors upon their request to encourage service coordination. We were fortunate to recruit seasoned tutors as well as retired educators as a part of our volunteer pool.
