Alexandria Tutoring Consortium rose to the challenge of virtually tutoring 1st graders over the summer. Now, with Alexandria City Public Schools proceeding virtually this fall, ATC is working to raise $22,000 so the organization can continue tutoring kids virtually this academic year.
ATC is a non-profit organization that tutors kindergarten and first graders who aren’t reading at grade level. Teachers typically recommend students who need additional reading support outside of school for the program in October and tutoring continues through the end of the school year.
The money ATC is raising will buy books for the 150 students who would be in the program to use during tutoring. The schools typically provide books for tutors to use, however ATC felt it was unsafe to gather and transport books for students.
With the schools being closed to in-person teaching, tutors have not been able to meet students at school. When the schools initially closed in March, ATC stopped tutoring for a couple months to figure out how to tutor virtually.
“It took us until the end of April or early May to connect with families and get things going,” Jacobs said. “We would normally end in May, but everybody — kids, families, staff, tutors, the board — said, ‘Well, can’t we just keep going?’”
During the summer, tutoring students were very excited to get their own books.
“I heard this little boy inside yell, ‘Yay! New books!’” said Executive Director Lisa Jacobs, reflecting on dropping off books at one house. “And then he came running for the books.”
While not as easy as in-person tutoring, they found the online tutoring process to be effective. Jacobs reported that 91 percent of the students who continued working with them into the summer are reading at grade level.
The tutoring means a lot to the children who participate in the program.
“It’s kind of a lifeline to their school and future and to the outside world. It’s really powerful,” Jacobs said.
A majority of the students who participate in the program receive free or reduced-price meals at school and many don’t have parents who speak English at home, but the virtual tutoring has been bringing the families together.
“One of my board members [Dick Christenson], says that virtual tutoring is even better than in person tutoring,” Jacobs said, because in many cases now a parent or family member will sit in on tutoring sessions with a student and praise them throughout the session, and even learn to read English if they did not already know how.
“He thinks that it is building literacy within the family, but also building a real support for the child’s education within the families,” Jacobs said.
ATC has raised $7,000 towards their goal and is still seeking donations. To donate, visit alexandriatutors.org and click the “donate now” button. Checks may be sent to The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium, attn. Executive Director Lisa Jacobs, 323 South Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
