Mathews-Dickey tutoring program helps kids

Eight-year-old Aryes Byrd is getting a boost in her efforts to improve her writing ability. She's following an older sister and brother in getting tutoring help at Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club.

Ayres is one of 50 kids who have been accepted into the year-long

Aryes Byrd and tutor Joyce Rouse

tutoring program at Mathews-Dickey. The north side club has been offering tutoring assistance since 1986.

In that time, over 4,000 kids have gotten help in reading, writing and math.

One thing that makes the Mathews-Dickey program work is that each kid has the same tutor for the whole school year. And, the parents or guardians have to agree to be active in the effort to improve their child's school performance.

Ayres' tutor is Joyce Rouse. She's been with Ayres since the start of the school year.

Ms. Rouse said, "Ayres is a bright little girl. She's reading well for her age."

But, Ayres says she wants extra help to "become a better writer."

During March, Ayres said she's focusing on "rhymey" words to use in her poetry. Her class has a poetry contest. Ayres admits "I need to work harder on my poem before I could win the trophy."

Joshua Sanders and tutor Joe Lee

Fourteen-year-old Joshua Sanders has been coming to the Mathews-Dickey tutoring sessions to get help with his math skills.

He's been with tutor Joe Lee for two years. Mr. Lee is in insurance management and has volunteered at Mathews-Dickey since 2001. Joshua is his third tutoring student.

The two meet every Monday evening to work on improving Joshua's math. Part of the hour of tutoring involves figuring out math problems Joshua brings from school. He said, "There are lots of math problems."

So far, Mr. Lee said he's been able to help with all of the problems. And Joshua said his grades have improved since he's been getting the tutoring assistance.

As in Ayres Byrd's case, Joshua's mother applied to Mathews-Dickey for tutoring help.

Nicole Fortenberry is Mathews-Dickey's coordinator of volunteer tutors. She said, "The parents have to agree to be involved before a youngster enters the tutoring program." She said only 50 kids are accepted every year and "we have a waiting list."

In one guideline, parents agree to get their child to all once-a-week tutoring sessions.

Nine-year-old Briana Chatman is in her first year in the tutoring

Briana Chatman and tutor Regina Heard

program. She said her mother enrolled her because "I was lagging a little bit in school." Briana is working to improve her reading skills.

Her tutor is Regina Heard, a billing coordinator for a hotel-supply company. She is in her third year as a tutor. She had one student for two years. This is her first year with Briana.

The effort to improve her reading is a joint effort by Ms. Heard and Briana's family. Briana said her mother, big brother and big sister also help her at home.

"They all take turns," she said.

Ms. Heard said Briana is "definitely" making progress. "She's getting more and more confident with her reading," the tutor said.

Another part of the tutoring involves helping Briana increase her vocabulary and her spelling. They are working on her ability to recognize the difference between past- and present-tense version of words.

Aryes Byrd's big brother, 12-year-old Vernon Byrd, is getting help with a variety of school work.

Tutor Jerone Simmons and Vernon Byrd

His tutor, Jerone Simmons, is actually a student himself. Jerone is attending Rankin Technical College and has been a tutor at Mathews-Dickey for 1½ years.

Mr. Simmons said he and Vernon usually use half of the hour-long tutoring session on math. The other half is devoted to reading. "If there are no math problems, we go over the reading for the full hour," Mr. Simmons said.

Mr. Simmons said Vernon has been doing "pretty well" with his reading.

Vernon said his reading help also includes work at home with his mother and dad.

Martin Mathews is president and CEO of Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club. He said the tutoring program was started because illiteracy "is a fast-growing, widespread dilemma."

If you and your family are interested in tutoring help, call Nicole Fortenberry at (314) 382-5952, Ext. 232.

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