RESOURCES

TWO-DAY

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

THE ARK LEARNING CENTER

Instructor Program Summary & Talking Points

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Two-Day Afterschool Tutoring & Enrichment Program

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4:00-7:00 PM | Elementary & Middle School Students

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ASSESS • RESTORE • DISCOVER • DEVELOP

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Closing gaps. Discovering gifts. Developing purpose.

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OUR MISSION

The Ark Learning Center is not simply a homework program or traditional tutoring center. Our goal is to support the whole child by identifying academic needs, strengthening missing foundational skills, helping students master what they are learning in school, and discovering and developing their individual interests, strengths, and gifts.

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OUR FOUR-PART MODEL

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ASSESS - Where is the child now? We identify the student's current academic strengths, specific learning gaps, learning habits, interests, and areas where additional support may be needed.

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RESTORE - What foundation needs strengthening? When we identify a gap, we provide targeted instruction and practice. We do not want children repeatedly practicing something they do not understand. Our goal is to determine where understanding broke down and rebuild from that point.

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DISCOVER - What is inside this child? Children are more than their academic difficulties. We intentionally look for creativity, leadership, curiosity, interests, talents, problem-solving abilities, and other strengths.

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DEVELOP - What can this child become with intentional cultivation? Once strengths and interests are identified, students receive opportunities to develop them through enrichment, projects, STEM, creative activities, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, and other experiences.

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WHAT MAKES THE ARK DIFFERENT?

“We don't want to define a child by a learning gap. We want to close the gap while discovering and developing the gift.”

A child may struggle with multiplication but be an exceptional reader. A child may have difficulty with reading comprehension but demonstrate tremendous creativity. Another child may struggle with organization while showing unusual leadership ability.

We address the area that needs strengthening without allowing that weakness to become the child's identity.

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ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The academic portion of the program focuses primarily on reading and math skills, mastery, and homework support. Students may receive:

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• Teacher-led small-group instruction

• Targeted reading support

• Targeted math support

• IXL diagnostic and skill practice

• Guided practice

• Individual tutoring

• Reading fluency and comprehension activities

• Math fact fluency and concept development

• Teacher-created learning activities

• Mastery checks

• Homework assistance

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IXL IS A TOOL - NOT THE TEACHER

We may use IXL to help identify skill needs, provide targeted practice, and monitor progress. However, students are not simply placed in front of a computer for tutoring. The instructor observes, explains, models, reteaches, asks questions, checks understanding, and provides direct support.

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CLOSING LEARNING GAPS

When a student struggles, we don't simply give the student more work. We ask:

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• What does the student already know?

• Where did understanding break down?

• What prerequisite skill is missing?

• What does the student need to learn next?

• What teaching approach will help this student understand it?

This is the heart of the RESTORE portion of our model.

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MASTERY MATTERS

Completing an assignment does not necessarily mean a child has mastered the skill. Our goal is to move students through this progression:

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UNDERSTAND → PRACTICE → APPLY → DEMONSTRATE INDEPENDENTLY

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Our question is: Can the student do this independently, or could the student only do it while someone was helping?

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HOMEWORK & INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

The expanded 4:00-7:00 PM schedule gives students meaningful time for homework without taking away from targeted intervention and enrichment.

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6:05-6:45 PM - Homework & Individual Support

Students receive 40 dedicated minutes each program day, or approximately 80 minutes each week, specifically for homework and individual academic needs.

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• Complete homework

• Work on school projects

• Study for tests

• Read assigned material

• Receive individual tutoring

• Organize assignments

• Finish targeted skill practice

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If a student has no homework, the time should remain academically productive.

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SMALL-GROUP INSTRUCTION

There are only 10 students in each cohort: Monday/Wednesday - 10 students; Tuesday/Thursday - 10 different students. This allows instructors to create flexible small groups.

Students should never be publicly labeled as the “low group,” “behind group,” or “smart group.” Groups change according to skill and subject. A student may receive intervention in math and enrichment in reading during the same week.

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