BrightPath is partnering with PENCIL to provide tutoring to elementary students based on the needs of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). BrightPath is seeking PENCIL volunteers to provide high dosage tutoring, focused on literacy support, to third, fourth or fifth grade students beginning March 1, 2021.
Volunteer duties include:
– Mentor a third, fourth or fifth grade Cane Ridge Elementary student over Microsoft Teams through May 2021
– Meet three times per week for 30 minutes, each session
– Review reading and writing concepts, with your student, that are critical to academic success (training will be provided)
Students are available Monday – Friday, during the 45-minute windows listed below. Volunteers can select which three days and 30-minute window works best for their schedule.
– 3rd Grade: 12:00-12:45pm
– 3rd grade: 12:30-1:15pm
– 4th Grade: 10:15-11:00am
– 4th Grade: 11:00-11:45am
– 5th Grade: 9:30-10:15am
Why volunteer?
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education system, and this unpredictable learning environment has been a challenge for every student. Without an effective intervention, students on average could lose five to nine months of learning by the end of June 2021. Students of color could be six to 12 months behind, compared with four to eight months for white students (McKinsey, 2021).
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education system, and this unpredictable learning environment has been a challenge for every student. Without an effective intervention, students on average could lose five to nine months of learning by the end of June 2021. Students of color could be six to 12 months behind, compared with four to eight months for white students (McKinsey, 2021).
By participating in this program, you will have the opportunity to help prevent these projections from becoming a reality by providing students with one-on-one academic support and reinforcement. Your action during this time of need can help narrow achievement gaps and prevent learning loss; you will also serve as a consistent role model for your student.
Why high-dosage tutoring?
For spring 2021, MNPS is designing a comprehensive model for effective tutoring and working with partners to pilot and implement the model. Creating a research-based tutoring model will result in academic gains and ensure that students have the personalized support needed to be successful. Consistent connection through tutoring will also provide students with social-emotional support.
For spring 2021, MNPS is designing a comprehensive model for effective tutoring and working with partners to pilot and implement the model. Creating a research-based tutoring model will result in academic gains and ensure that students have the personalized support needed to be successful. Consistent connection through tutoring will also provide students with social-emotional support.
Research shows that high-dosage, personalized tutoring can be a transformative educational tool and an effective way to combat the learning loss and increased educational inequity caused by the pandemic. According to a recent report from McKinsey, “High-dosage programs are much more effective than low-dosage volunteer tutoring provided weekly or on an ad hoc basis…broader research on tutoring finds that it has the greatest impact on reading abilities in the early years… Tutoring conducted during school hours is more effective than tutoring after school.”
To volunteer, please apply through the BrightPath website (linked below). Once your application is approved, you will be onboarded and trained, then matched with a student to work with virtually over Microsoft Teams. Please note that all volunteers must undergo a background check (at no cost to them) before they can work with students. BrightPath will verify if you have a current background check on file or if you’ll need to complete one.
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