Have a Heart Tutoring Students

Heart Math Tutoring is making moves to reduce the number of students performing below grade level in math.

About 60 percent of economically disadvantaged children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools perform below grade level in math, based on 2013-14 North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests.

Heart Math Tutoring is trying to reduce that number. The local nonprofit group, which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged students develop math skills and academic confidence, is recruiting volunteer tutors for the 2015-16 school year. Its goal: to recruit enough volunteers between now and Sept. 17 to tutor 350 students.

Volunteers commit to weekly tutoring sessions that last either 30 minutes or one hour, and can team up with friends, family and colleagues to be partner tutors. A Heart staff person is on site at all times to make sure tutors have what they need. Over the past five years, 97 percent of the 525 students tutored by Heart have shown significant growth in two or more conceptual focus areas between Sept. and May, meeting program growth targets set with guidance from CMS. In addition, 100 percent of surveyed Heart volunteers rated their experience as positive.

If you think you may not have the math knowledge to be a helpful tutor, think again. “Math does not have to be a strong subject for volunteers who all follow a structured curriculum that features hands-on activities and math games,” says Heart executive director Emily Elliott.

Volunteer opportunities are available at Billingsville Leadership Academy, Highland Renaissance Academy, Montclaire Elementary, Piney Grove Elementary, Sedgefield Elementary, Westerly Hills Elementary and Winterfield Elementary. For more information about becoming a Heart Math tutor, call 704-931-3209 or go online at hearttutoring.org/become-a-volunteer.