3 months ago
2
The City of Birmingham and Birmingham City Schools have teamed up to recruit retired teachers to tutor third grade students in reading.This is the second year they've partnered to support the Page Pals tutoring program that helps students prepare for the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) that students must pass to move on to fourth grade."They have individual students that they work with from now through ACAP testing to really make sure we're moving the needle on their proficiency," Birmingham Chief of Staff Cedric Sparks said. The program uses the help of retired teachers and those who have flexible schedules who come into the schools and spend one-on-one time with the students. They didn't always use those teachers, the program started after city leaders spent time in the schools themselves."In an effort to support third grade literacy, the mayor wanted to team up with Birmingham City Schools to provide support in the form of mentors," Sparks said. "He started with his staff and many of us went out and provided support to these young people. We were trained on how to really teach reading. What many of us learned when we got there was some of the need exceeded what our skillset was."Since making the switch to retired educators, Sparks said they've seen a huge improvement in the third graders reading level."There was seismic growth, BCS has touted this growth," he said. "We have another group that's coming in obviously. So, we want to keep that momentum going to be able to provide support to the incoming classes and then the classes that will follow them."To continue providing that support, the school system is asking more retired teachers to sign up and help tutor.Part of that need is because the Alabama State Board of Education voted this month to raise the minimum score required to pass the test.Sparks said that increase will not majorly affect the tutoring program because passing the test isn't their overall goal, literacy is."The level of engagement that these instructors provide, it helps the students meet the the necessary proficiency wherever it is because the mark is that they're literate," Sparks said. "So, regardless of what the movement the state makes, we want to make sure that these young people are literate and they'll hit any mark. I don't think there's a need to aggressively change the approach that we're using."Sparks said they're still in need of more tutors. For more information and to apply, click here.
, Ala. —
The City of Birmingham and Birmingham City Schools have teamed up to recruit retired teachers to tutor third grade students in reading.
This is the second year they've partnered to support the Page Pals tutoring program that helps students prepare for the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) that students must pass to move on to fourth grade.
"They have individual students that they work with from now through ACAP testing to really make sure we're moving the needle on their proficiency," Birmingham Chief of Staff Cedric Sparks said.
The program uses the help of retired teachers and those who have flexible schedules who come into the schools and spend one-on-one time with the students. They didn't always use those teachers, the program started after city leaders spent time in the schools themselves.
"In an effort to support third grade literacy, the mayor wanted to team up with Birmingham City Schools to provide support in the form of mentors," Sparks said. "He started with his staff and many of us went out and provided support to these young people. We were trained on how to really teach reading. What many of us learned when we got there was some of the need exceeded what our skillset was."
Since making the switch to retired educators, Sparks said they've seen a huge improvement in the third graders reading level.
"There was seismic growth, BCS has touted this growth," he said. "We have another group that's coming in obviously. So, we want to keep that momentum going to be able to provide support to the incoming classes and then the classes that will follow them."
To continue providing that support, the school system is asking more retired teachers to sign up and help tutor.
Part of that need is because the Alabama State Board of Education voted this month to raise the minimum score required to pass the test.
Sparks said that increase will not majorly affect the tutoring program because passing the test isn't their overall goal, literacy is.
"The level of engagement that these instructors provide, it helps the students meet the the necessary proficiency wherever it is because the mark is that they're literate," Sparks said. "So, regardless of what the movement the state makes, we want to make sure that these young people are literate and they'll hit any mark. I don't think there's a need to aggressively change the approach that we're using."
Sparks said they're still in need of more tutors. For more information and to apply, click here.
English (US)