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Fri, Mar

NCNW helps improve Black children’s reading efficiency

NCNW members work with students in small groups, and sometimes one-on-one, to help them improve their reading skills. Photos by Jason Lewis

Education

The organization tutors children from kindergarten through 5th grade for free at their View Park headquarters.

 

By Tracey Edwards

Reading proficiency rates for Black children have been well below the national average for years.  To help improve Black children’s reading efficiency, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), View Park, created a tutoring program for children in kindergarten and elementary school.    

One of several issues that school teachers have are large class sizes, making it difficult to give children the attention that they need.  NCNW members Janet Taylor, Gwen Ribbs, Lisa Weston, Darlene Hunt, and Diane Carter help the children in small groups, and sometimes one-on-one, to improve their reading abilities, pronounce words, and improve their grammar.  

Some of the children that are a part of this free reading proficiency program started out with low reading scores, and their reading abilities began to improve after entering the program.

“We have some students where we got some feedback from their teachers,” said Diane Carter, president of NCNW-View Park.  “Their teachers said that their reading skills have gotten better.”   

This group meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3-4:30 p.m., and many of the children have become extremely engaged in this activity after their skills improved.

“They’re really excited, because that’s something great that they accomplished,” Carter said.  “Many times, they don’t even want to leave at 4:30.  They enjoy the reading, so they want to continue learning.”  

The parents are also happy with the results that they are seeing.

“When they pick their children up, they always have something good to say about our program,” Carter said.  “They really appreciate that they have somebody that can help their children.”

NCNW-View Park is located at 3720 W. 54th Street.  For more information about the reading program, visit their website at www.ncnwviewparkla.com or email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Carter can be reached at (424) 207-7414 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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