Pocomoke, July 13, 2023 - This summer, WCPS's high schools are participating in a unique tutoring program, ‘Accelerate’, which provides instruction from both live, online and in-person literacy and math teachers. Prior to entering high school as rising ninth graders, Accelerate students are provided individualized instruction to help fill learning gaps in English language arts and mathematics. The program’s goal is to promote a smooth transition experience from middle school to high school. Entering high school can be nerve wracking, but Accelerate provides these freshmen with academic support while familiarizing them with the high school setting, setting them up for first-day success.
Elijah, an Accelerate student at Pocomoke High School, arrives at school, enjoys breakfast with his peers, and walks to his tutoring classroom. There, he is greeted by his in-person facilitating teacher, who is an invaluable part of his learning. Each day, he uses his iPad to log into the Littera platform for the first 30 minutes of class. Littera is a customizable, high-impact tutoring program that provides Elijah with literacy and math instruction from a live, highly-qualified online teacher. These live one-on-one sessions provide targeted instruction tailored to his unique academic needs.
After the live session online, Elijah works on the Edmentum educational platform. Here, he applies the skills and knowledge he has just learned and practiced with his tutor. He’ll use new strategies to enhance his understanding of the content. During independent work time on Edmentum, the WCPS facilitating teacher is invaluable as they address Elijah’s questions and target his specific needs. WCPS certified teachers are in the room to help answer individual questions or provide clarification through small group instruction and engaging the student in the content. WCPS English teacher, Ms. Emma Simpson, is available for Elijah to be able to help him and answer questions. “The live online tutors are extremely engaging,” says Ms. Simpson. “While they can’t replace the importance of an in-person teacher, the Littera program allows every student in the room to have personalized, one-on-one individualized instruction for 30 consecutive minutes, at the same time. Then, in-person help and small group instruction is provided by us. It is really a win-win for students and teachers”, says Ms. Simpson. Both the live, online tutor and the in-person facilitating teacher provide the students with feedback for each session to ensure continual growth.
As Elijah works through his program, his confidence and independence is growing. “I like my live, online tutor. She helps me a lot,” says Elijah. “It’s nice being able to work with my own one-on-one tutor, then after I have done some work, I have a teacher here in the room to help me too.” When asked if he was nervous about starting ninth grade, he grinned. “A little,” he says. “But I do feel better being here and getting tutoring this summer, because I will know the building and some of the teachers already, when school starts”.
Ms. Branch, Elijah’s mother, believes the benefit to the program is two-fold. In addition to the familiarity he will have with the school and staff come September, Elijah is also feeling more confident about his academic skills.
The Accelerate program is just one example of the educational support that is being provided through the MD Leads Grant program. The MD Leads program consists of six grant strategies for Worcester County. The Accelerate program is provided through the ‘The High-Quality School Day Tutoring Grant’ strategy.
New Pocomoke High School Assistant Principal and Summer Academy Administrator Mrs. Kristin Cashman believes that Accelerate is just the type of program that Elijah and students like him need and is helping them to find success in bridging some of the instructional gaps that may be present. “A supportive educational environment that personalizes the learning for each individual student can really transform the lives of our learners”, says Cashman. Elijah has a few more weeks of this tutoring, which will help prepare him for the fall. However, his hardwork, effort, and determination this summer will help prepare him for a lifetime.
This program is also being offered at Snow Hill High School and Stephen Decatur High School this summer and will continue to be offered as long as grant funds are provided.