Academic Support – Gene Slay's Girls & Boy's Club Of St. Louis

WHAT WE DO

Academic Support and Assistance

The focus of GSGBC’s Academic Support and Assistance Program is to ensure that all of GSGBC’s members read on grade level by the end of third grade. If a child achieves this, they have a better than 90% chance of graduating from high school. All academic programs focus on increasing kids’ reading, writing, and math skills. The Club’s Learning Specialists are all Missouri Certified Educators with at least two years of teaching experience. Staff provides daily homework assistance.

Literacy Programs

Blueprint for Reading Success

This program is a tutoring program for kids in grades two through four who need extra help. Individualized tutoring plans are created for each child based on the results of the student’s pre-test.

My Reading Coach

This is a computer-based program that teaches reading by helping kids sound out words through letter recognition and phonics. Students then learn words that don’t follow the rules and also learn words that are more than one syllable. In addition, students practice learning comprehension and go beyond the ability to read words to actually start seeing the ideas communicated by the words.

Literacy Workstations

These work stations allow youth in grades two through four to explore reading and writing activities that increase their skills while fostering a love of reading. During workstation time (45 minutes), students choose what they want to read, work at their own pace, learn to work independently or with a partner, and work hands-on with literacy materials.

Homework Assistance

Academic enrichment (an extra assignment that will expand on academic skills already developed) and homework assistance is available Monday through Friday. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 45 minutes is reserved for homework. GSGBC staff and volunteer college students are available to help with homework. If a student does not have homework, an enrichment activity is provided.

Homework is important because it:

• Builds initiative in students
• Produces a sense of responsibility and accomplishment
• Develops time management
• Encourages self-discipline
• Gives students a chance to learn from their mistakes and continue to improve
• Allows students to engage in their learning
• Builds positive work habits

Summer Program

GSGBC’s Summer Program offers an eight-week, well-rounded curriculum that allows members grades one through six to acquire and strengthen reading, writing, math, and science skills. They also get to use our seven-acre field, a gymnasium, and an Olympic-size swimming pool in both structured, skill-building athletic activities and structured recreational activities. Participants also receive breakfast and lunch at the Club.

Program features include:

• Individual and group activities
• Kid-centered academic instruction and enrichment activities
• Lessons grounded in a real-world context
• Hands-on activities help to keep students engaged
• Field trips

Mad Math Mondays

On Mad Math Mondays, youth participate in games and activities that use math. By creating a more fun and game-centered approach to learning, the Club aims to build its members’ skills while teaching them that learning is fun. By encouraging a love of learning from an early age, the Club is helping its members get and stay on the path to success.