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Devonte Is Excelling In Math and Counting His Pennies

By Eric Steckel
January 31, 2023

Your Support Empowers Him to Succeed with Path2Math and FamilyBridge

As a mother, Lashanna was worried when she saw her son Devonte* struggling with math and reading during the COVID pandemic. Desperate for a solution, she enrolled Devonte in Path2Math. Through your support, Devonte has made incredible progress by working with his one-on-one tutor, Mr. Carl, over the past few months.

“He’s got a really positive attitude, he focuses well, and he’s open to learning and trying new things,” Mr. Carl shared, expressing his admiration for Devonte’s determination and growth.

Thanks to your gift, Lashanna has seen firsthand the transformative power of a caring tutor.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

Her family’s journey doesn’t stop there. Recognizing the importance of a supportive community, she also enrolled in FamilyBridge, a program designed to provide parents with the skills, confidence, and tools needed to accelerate their child’s learning.

“I had other children struggle in school…I wish I had known about FamilyBridge a long time ago.”—Lashanna, Devonte’s mother,

“It’s motivation,” Lashanna said. “If you feel like, ‘He’s not getting it,’ and you start doubting yourself, that’s where FamilyBridge comes in.”

Through FamilyBridge, Lashanna connected with Path2Math clinic coordinators and Mr. Carl. A few weeks ago, when Devonte struggled to count change at a store, Mr. Carl was able to bring in actual money for him to handle and work with during their next session. “Devonte caught on to that very quickly,” Carl said, illustrating the success of the program.

For Lashanna, the impact of Path2Math and FamilyBridge has been immeasurable. “I had other children struggle in school, and I said, ‘I wish I had known about FamilyBridge a long time ago,’” she shared.

Thanks to your gifts, FamilyBridge will provide vital support and resources to Lashanna, empowering her to help Devonte excel in math.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC Donates $7,300 to Enhance Path2Math Tutoring Program

By Chelsea Boniak
January 30, 2023

Community Gift Program Grant Empowers Children Struggling With Elementary Math

Children Rising is pleased to be once again the recipient of a generous grant from the Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) Community Gift Program. The $7,300 award marks the 11th consecutive year LLNS has supported Children Rising STEM programs. Support this year goes toward our Path2Math program, addressing low childhood numeracy in under-resourced, Title 1 elementary schools in Oakland.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of Lawrence Livermore National Security and the profound impact they are making in the lives of eager children.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

COVID-19 Recovery: High-Intensity Interventional Math Tutoring

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in devastating unfinished learning for many Oakland students, especially Black and Latino students. Seventy-four percent of third-grade children attending the 14 Title 1 schools Children Rising served last year were two or more grade levels behind in their math skills. 90% of those children were Black or Latino.

“Many children will become discouraged as they miss out on crucial skills needed to become confident, active learners as they move into fourth grade, fifth grade, and middle school.”—Jim Wambach, executive director, Children Rising

“Right now, there is a substantially higher risk that many more children in the years ahead will fail in middle school and high school, deepening the social injustice within our community,” says Jim Wambach, executive director of Children Rising. “Without a concerted effort to provide additional support, many children will become discouraged as they miss out on crucial skills needed to become confident, active learners as they move into fourth grade, fifth grade, and middle school.”

Grant Supports High-dosage Tutoring and Family Empowerment

The primary focus of LLNS gifts are programs or projects that support public K-14 science, math, and engineering education (STEM), public K-14 special needs education, and performing arts programs (STEAM). Funds from the LLNS grant will provide supplies and support the onboarding of volunteers in two critical programs during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Children Rising’s evidence-based Path2Math interventional tutoring program delivers high-dosage tutoring through volunteer tutors to children in Oakland’s most underserved communities at no cost to their families. Path2Math recruits, trains, and supports more than 45 volunteer tutors, including 20 new tutors this school year. One caring adult can make a difference in a child’s life by providing one-on-one math tutoring for a young girl or boy. Funds from LLNS provide materials and onboarding for new tutors.

To complement our Path2Math tutoring program and accelerate learning, we developed FamilyBridge, an all-new program expanding the educational tools, training, and support for parents and guardians in the program. This is a natural extension of our ability to fill a vital learning gap that is widely acknowledged among educators. Funds from LLNS provide home-learning materials for families in the program.

“By strengthening the team supporting these amazing children of Oakland—parents, teachers, and tutors—many more children will become active, confident learners and thrive in school instead of dropping out.”

Through the grant, Children Rising will enhance programming to provide higher dosage levels of tutoring to each child in Path2Math while enabling parents and guardians to provide more confident and enhanced academic support at home. The result of this enhanced learning approach will allow young elementary school students to prepare for more advanced learning in fifth grade, middle school, and beyond, giving them a much more equitable chance of success throughout their school years.

By strengthening the team supporting these amazing children of Oakland—parents, teachers, and tutors—many more children will become active, confident learners and thrive in school instead of dropping out.

Thanks to the Lawrence Livermore National Security. We are grateful to once again be part of the Community Gift Program and to work together to empower children and families in our community.

It’s not too late for YOU to be a tutor. Volunteer today, and you will give a child the one-on-one care they need to rise to their God-given potential.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!

Perspectives — You Can Become a Fantastic Tutor Too!

By Jim Wambach
January 26, 2023

Volunteer Today and You Will Uplift An Eager-to-learn Child

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”—Dr. Seuss

Thank you, Children Rising tutors! You care an awful lot!

This year, it became clear the COVID pandemic has devastatingly stalled and eroded children’s academic skills. The children most impacted—elementary school children of color—are the very children Children Rising serves!

Many did not finish their first year of kindergarten due to COVID. Those children are now third-graders who are as much as three grade levels behind in their reading and math skills. Others were in second grade when COVID hit. They are now fifth-graders who are also as much as three grade levels behind in their reading and math. What makes it worse is they will be transitioning to middle school next year as some of the most poorly prepared students ever to do so.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

They are all smart, eager-to-learn kids who have become greatly discouraged and lost confidence in their abilities. However, they all thrive on focused attention and a little TLC.

Become a tutor

One caring adult can make a difference in a child’s life by providing one-on-one math or reading tutoring for a young girl or boy—and caring enough to show up every week. It’s like pouring water on a wilted flower—the flower quickly rises up to face the sun of hope.

So far this year, 83 additional community members have become Children Rising math and reading tutors. They joined with 80 other community members who were already Children Rising tutors. Together they are selflessly pouring their attention onto 300 children who will now have a more fair chance of reclaiming hope and rising to their God-given potential.

Thank you to all Children Rising volunteers. You are special and make an essential difference in our children’s lives here in Oakland!

It’s not too late for YOU to become a tutor. Volunteer today, and you will give a child the one-on-one care they need to rise to their God-given potential.

 I want to learn more about online reading or math clinics to see if tutoring is right for me!

I want to help fund Children Rising tutoring and mentoring programs to empower more children this year!