OUL students help tutor at Amanda primary school in math and reading

Jeff Barron, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette

AMANDA − Primary school students in the Amanda-Clearcreek Local School District who need a little help in reading and math are getting it from some Ohio University Lancaster students.

The district is using OUL students studying to be teachers to help tutor some kindergarten through second-grade students. This the second year of the program, but the first the tutors working during school hours. Last year, they tutored after school.

Ohio University Lancaster students are tutoring some Amanda Primary School students in reading and math. This is the second year of the arrangement.
Ohio University Lancaster students are tutoring some Amanda Primary School students in reading and math. This is the second year of the arrangement.

Superintendent Timothy Edwards said 60 students received tutoring last year. He didn't have the number for this year, but said it believes it's more than 60. The district has worked with between four to six tutors the past two years.

Edwards said there are advantages and disadvantages to in-school tutoring. He said one advantage, however, is the in-school tutoring allows for better attendance of those needing a tutor than the after-school program did.

Edwards said the tutoring program has been well-received by the primary school teachers.

"The teachers are very positive," he said. "Last year it definitely had a benefit. Students were able to get that extra bump and we were seeing the gains. Our primary elementary teachers are both working very hard to address reading gaps. You still have students that are working up through elementary that were going in those fundamental foundation years through COVID. So we're still trying to work through some of those gaps."

Edwards said since those children were not out talking to others and being exposed to others, it does impact their development.

Primary school principal Michelle Fraley said the tutors work with at-risk students.

"It's going wonderful," she said. "They're impacting probably 50-plus kids every single day that they tutor."

Fraley said the students also enjoy the tutoring program.

"What I love the most is the students don't even realize they're working hard," she said. "I would love for this model to continue and even to grow to other districts."

But Fraley said that depends on whether the state will again fund the program next year.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter/X: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: OUL students help tutor Amanda primary students in math and reading

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