Price Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, has a long history of providing a high-quality after-school tutoring program to its students. Due to budget cuts a couple of years ago, this program needed to end. The children were the ones that were hurt. Not only do many of the children go home to houses where there are no adults because the parent or parents are at work, but too often, when the adult(s) return home, they are unwilling or unable to help the students with their homework. Without support at home, students often struggle, and each year find themselves falling further and further behind academically. With a potential budget surplus, and a potential of schools receiving additional monetary support, the return of this after school program would be a great benefit to the students (Associated Press, 2013).
The outcome/standard goal for tutoring programs is to offer additional assistance for children who require more time on task with guided instruction, particularly in math and language arts activities. The objective would be to assist the classroom teacher by supporting the teacher in offering additional support to the student(s). The activity would be to assist in completing assignments on an as needed basis.
The specific learning plan would be to reinstitute the after school tutoring program at Price Elementary School. It would run Monday to Friday from dismissal through 6 PM. Students in all grades would be able to attend. There would be no requirements other than a willingness to follow guidelines and work on academic skills during study time. The learning outcomes would be to complete as much if not all homework in a structured atmosphere where certified teachers would be able to provide necessary support and assistance. The objective would be to ensure that each student received the support needed to successfully complete assignments. The activity would be referred to as study time where all students would work on academics. Those students who had no homework could assist others as peer tutors, participate in sustained silent reading, or complete enrichment projects.
In what other ways might students who are academically gifted be able to support learners who face academic challenges?
Reference
Associated Press (2013). Battle lines drawn, Texas budget debate begins. The courier of
Montgomery County. Retrieved from http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/news/
battle-lines-drawn-texas-budget-debate-begins/article_df7ab589-3208-56e8-bd07-319885087e8a.html
