My Space -My Pace : Close the learning gap
Donation protected
For decades educators have recognized the need for an updated teaching model to meet the need of students who have fallen behind. Millions have been spent on finding solutions for children who continue to perform below grade level. Despite efforts of phenomenal educators, extended school year programs and technological advances, thousands of students fail to meet grade level standards.
While events of the past year have contributed to the achievement gap we cannot overlook the role of social promotion.
Social promotion is the practice of passing students along from grade to grade with their peers although the student has not satisfied academic requirements and regardless of skill mastery. Promoting unprepared students does little to close the learning gap. In fact many of these students continue to lag behind academically. Typically a fourth or fifth grader who is not yet reading on grade level may have been socially promoted (unless other learning challenges have been identified). This practice has resulted in middle schoolers and high schoolers who are non-readers and performing below grade level expectation.
The pattern can begin as early as the kindergarten years and continue through high school if the cycle is not interrupted.
My Space-My Pace, an educational support program, recognizes that it is difficult for students to catch up in the traditional classroom setting. A one-on-one teaching approach can greatly benefit a child who is behind because of interruptions in the learning process, distractibility, poor attendance, lack of motivation or media overload. Regardless of the reason, schools have the responsibility of educating all children and social promotion is clearly not the answer.
My Space - My Pace Community Learning Hub intends to reach back and recover basic skills for children who have been placed in a grade for which they are unprepared.
My Space - My Pace will address “the gap” sooner rather than later, increasing the likelihood of the student catching up with peers.
A five week summer program has been designed to complement the current standards based model in the school system.
Each child will have an instructor (one-on-one)for 3 hours a day. The private learning space is free of distraction and instructions are based upon direct experiences within the child’s community.
As the child and teacher engage in the community activity, connections are made and learning becomes relevant. This makes it easier for students to grasp concepts and learn skills that may have been missed at the prior grade level.
Lesson plans are tailored to the child’s academic and social - emotional needs. Learning becomes integrated and the instructor can teach what is needed as a result of the community based experience.
With millions of dollars being allocated for education, now is the time to direct spending where it is most needed and to make a difference for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
As we become aware of the educational needs we must be willing to speak up and speak out.
While My Space - My Pace is only one program committed to making a difference, it will have a huge impact on the future of education.
Staffed by volunteers this summer, (retired educators and others who have caught the vision) My Space- My Pace can represent a new beginning for children who are being left behind. Now is our opportunity to do something; to begin somewhere; to help these children and their families.
The program will begin July 6- August 6th. Volunteers are donating time and resources.
Space for the program has been donated by a Spiritual community in Chesapeake that values all lives; where each child can work with their own instructor to get what they need.
Monetary donations will be used to purchase additional educational supplies for individual students and to create personal libraries based on student interests and needs . The books will be given to the student at the end of the program.
Currently, transportation will become the greatest expense because of the cost of van rental for field trips and transporting students to and from the program.
At the end of the program we expect our students to return to the classroom with confidence and skills that will make it easier to navigate their new learning environment.
It is our intention to continue this program with the current students and additional students throughout the year until we achieve the desired outcome.
We appreciate your support in making this possible.
My Space- My Pace ESP is registered at Target.com/registry
Your financial support is greatly appreciated.
Please consider starting a community learning hub in your neighborhood to help students close the learning gaps.
It’s needed and It’s our responsibility to this generation.
While events of the past year have contributed to the achievement gap we cannot overlook the role of social promotion.
Social promotion is the practice of passing students along from grade to grade with their peers although the student has not satisfied academic requirements and regardless of skill mastery. Promoting unprepared students does little to close the learning gap. In fact many of these students continue to lag behind academically. Typically a fourth or fifth grader who is not yet reading on grade level may have been socially promoted (unless other learning challenges have been identified). This practice has resulted in middle schoolers and high schoolers who are non-readers and performing below grade level expectation.
The pattern can begin as early as the kindergarten years and continue through high school if the cycle is not interrupted.
My Space-My Pace, an educational support program, recognizes that it is difficult for students to catch up in the traditional classroom setting. A one-on-one teaching approach can greatly benefit a child who is behind because of interruptions in the learning process, distractibility, poor attendance, lack of motivation or media overload. Regardless of the reason, schools have the responsibility of educating all children and social promotion is clearly not the answer.
My Space - My Pace Community Learning Hub intends to reach back and recover basic skills for children who have been placed in a grade for which they are unprepared.
My Space - My Pace will address “the gap” sooner rather than later, increasing the likelihood of the student catching up with peers.
A five week summer program has been designed to complement the current standards based model in the school system.
Each child will have an instructor (one-on-one)for 3 hours a day. The private learning space is free of distraction and instructions are based upon direct experiences within the child’s community.
As the child and teacher engage in the community activity, connections are made and learning becomes relevant. This makes it easier for students to grasp concepts and learn skills that may have been missed at the prior grade level.
Lesson plans are tailored to the child’s academic and social - emotional needs. Learning becomes integrated and the instructor can teach what is needed as a result of the community based experience.
With millions of dollars being allocated for education, now is the time to direct spending where it is most needed and to make a difference for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
As we become aware of the educational needs we must be willing to speak up and speak out.
While My Space - My Pace is only one program committed to making a difference, it will have a huge impact on the future of education.
Staffed by volunteers this summer, (retired educators and others who have caught the vision) My Space- My Pace can represent a new beginning for children who are being left behind. Now is our opportunity to do something; to begin somewhere; to help these children and their families.
The program will begin July 6- August 6th. Volunteers are donating time and resources.
Space for the program has been donated by a Spiritual community in Chesapeake that values all lives; where each child can work with their own instructor to get what they need.
Monetary donations will be used to purchase additional educational supplies for individual students and to create personal libraries based on student interests and needs . The books will be given to the student at the end of the program.
Currently, transportation will become the greatest expense because of the cost of van rental for field trips and transporting students to and from the program.
At the end of the program we expect our students to return to the classroom with confidence and skills that will make it easier to navigate their new learning environment.
It is our intention to continue this program with the current students and additional students throughout the year until we achieve the desired outcome.
We appreciate your support in making this possible.
My Space- My Pace ESP is registered at Target.com/registry
Your financial support is greatly appreciated.
Please consider starting a community learning hub in your neighborhood to help students close the learning gaps.
It’s needed and It’s our responsibility to this generation.
Organizer
Kathleen Barnett
Organizer
Virginia Beach, VA
