My Project
428 words by jbrown11
In my last blog I wrote about the three most challenging things in our society which were poverty, healthcare, and the lack of education. I have decided to focus on the lack of education in order to fufill a purpose in this community. My plan is to call three different schools such as SciHigh, Sarah T. Reed and McDonogh 35 to ask if they would like to have a tutoring program at their schools. This is a way to benefit the students mentally as well as educationally. The subjects I would like to focus on particular subjects, which is math and english, because those are the subjects that students of the minority fail during standardized testing. First, I would have to contact the principles of each school and ask if their would like to be interested in tutoring/mentoring programs after school. Of course, I would need to have more people to tutor them after school, because nobody can do it alone and that is the message that we are trying to get across. I, along with the other volunteers for the program would choose which classification they would like to mentor and what subjects they would like to teach. In particular, I would prefer to teach sophomores and juniors mainly because those classifications would need to be prepared to take the LEAP test. The goal is to not discriminate against the students, so if I was to only tutor students that were freshman only, then I would still dedicate my time to each and every student. After I tutor the students at those particular schools, I will try to expand the project to a program for not only high school students but for all the students citywide that may not be able to afford tutors or enrolling in a tutoring program. The name of the program would be Helping Hand, and I would be established in low income neighborhoods where the children wouldn’t have a huge transportation issue. Later on in the program we would do community service projects in order for the children to learn about helping others and doing good for the community. This will help the students build better resumes and communication skills amongst themselves and their peers. If the students are impressed with their grades improving then the program may increase with time. This program may even go further than only being a project completed in my theology course, I may even continue to raise this project to the highest possible point in educating the students in suffering neighborhoods surrounding the metro area.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
This project seems really cool to me. How are you going to go about gathering people? Do you already have some in mind? I noticed you mentioned the kids preparing for the LEAP test and i thought of the students that are being held behind because they failed the test once or more than that.I believe they retake the test at the end of the year. What about you helping the ones that obviously need your help or they wont graduate. That way you can know there weaknesses by their scores and work on their weak areas. Just a suggestion (consider it!)
September 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I think this idea is a good way one, especially the fact that it is targeted to help increase students’ scores on the LEAP test. This program would serve to stimulate students’ mentally. It probaby would get them more involved and interested if you used games and hands-on items to teach them.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Great idea! I think that you should put flyers up around Xavier and other colleges just to insure that the tutors are actually capable of improving the student’s grades. I also know that a lot of Xavier students are working towards medical professions so they need community service hours and the “Helping Hand” might be an excellent opportunity for them. In addition to getting hours they would also be doing good deeds!
September 19th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I think your project is very well-organized. It seems as though you have planned out what you want to do in an effective and strategic way. I especially like how you already have three schools that you are considering in the New Orleans area. You stated that you will need volunteers in order to do the project. To get volunteers for your project, you could contact various clubs or organizations within Xavier. You could also make flyers or signs that advertise the need for volunteers. Although you stated you’re your primary focus will be placed on tutoring the students in English and Math, you could also consider other subjects that the students may have trouble with in standardized testing at the school in which you will tutor. You could ask the appropriate school official to look at the past performances on standardized tests to make that determination.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
School systems vary in different states. Peoples’ minds vary in different ways. Why do educating systems differ? I believe that is due to the way people teach. If the students do not understand the class, then they can attend the tutoring session after school that I would like to introduce. By doing this, it makes me look role model to these students. I adore the fact that I can be here for others in need. I believe that these students would appreciate it, but their parents too. In conclusion, we should organize a tutoring program to help students on days we are free.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Wow. First I just want to say we choose almost the same exact problems to talk about, what a coincidence. Moving on, I thought about doing the same project as well but because I did not go to high school in New Orleans I felt I should just focus on the XU population. I think your project is a very good idea; I feel like it’s something you would really focus on because it would aid students who were in the same position you once were in. Within your program, I think you should also focus on helping the students determine what they would like to do after graduation and help them move towards these goals; also seeing your success as a college student may even motivate some who never thought about going to college to pursue it.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
It’s a wonderful idea that your plan deals with helping high school students prepare for the LEAP test. A suggestion would be that you could also help younger children in elementary and middle school who are also preparing for their LEAP and IOWA test. You could look into school near Xavier such as Lusher Charter School. My little niece goes there and I think they have a program that is starting now those tutors the students for an hour every day after school that will prepare them for the LEAP test.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 am
I think tutotoring is always a good source of enhancing one’s life and education as well. Some schools such as St. Augustine High, require students to receive tutoring if their grades reach below academic standards. There are tutors there daily. Some are retired teachers.
When I was in elementary school, one of the neighborhood churches held an after-school tutoring program. Some of the tutors were high school students. My three brothers, many of our friends and myself attened the program and I strongly believe that those tutoring sessions made a big difference in our education.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Thank you for the comment! Your right maybe I should help within the Xavier community, I am currently asking people to volunteer for the program and many of them are interested in helping my project take off the ground. If you would like to psrticipate, that would be great and if not I still appreciate you giving me suggestions.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I totally agree, if you would like to talk after class about the program, then we can setup a time when our schedules are compatible with each other. I am starting to communicate with someone at a school, that has a similiar program in mind. If you have any other middle schools or high schools in mind we can discuss after class.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I do not know if the school administration would let me look at their peronal information, but I can always ask. I plan on broadening the horizons and focusing on other subjects besides English and Math, also I have already been in contact with someone at a school to get the project started. I appreciate the comment though!
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I will post flyers around the Xavier campus for students who are interested in helping me with the program. If you know of any medical students that would like to participate, and they need community service hours then please contact me after class. Thanks for the comment!
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
That’s good thinking! I know when I was in high school the thing that drew my attention to the classes were hands-on activities. I think of myself as being very creative so I know I would have lots of games for them to understand the work. If you have anymore feedback that you can give to help me improve the teaching system I would appreciate it.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
As far as gathering people together, others have suggested that I should post flyers around campus to inform the students about the opporntunity. I will try to focus on the students that really need tutoring, but I would also want students to really want to be tutored. I can not force my tutoring upon them. Thanks for the suggestion and the comment!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I think that this is an awesome initiative. It is good that you have designed the program to be well rounded and to focus on education as well as community service. One way that you could try to implement you program is by teaming up with Xavier‘s community service programs and getting students to participate that way.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Your program sounds great but I think you are trying to stretch yourself thin too early. I do not know if you have gathered volunteers yet but if you have not I think you should reduce the size of your program until you get the support you need to handle three schools. Have you thought about doing the tutoring program in conjunction with the M.A.X. office? There are in need of more volunteers.