Published: June 27, 2008 11:02 am      

Summertime is learning time for these eager students

Improving scores.

For a lucky group of soon-to be freshmen, they may have just been given a leg-up upon entering high school.

The McAlester Kiamichi Technology Center has completed a Summer Bridge Program for eighth grade students headed for ninth grade.

The program is designed to help students improve their math and reading skills. For the 16 students who consistently attended the month-long program test scores improved dramatically.

“Pre-testing determined specific areas that needed improvement,” Linda Peters, KTC academic coordinator, said.

“After the program, large improvements were made in the post-test scores.

“The basic adult education test at the beginning of the class gave us a starting point. After the post-test, it showed that an overall improvement of nine months growth in reading skills was gained by the students.

“We used the reading plus program, which also helps vocabulary skills. They improved by 18 months during the month long course,” Peters said.

“The A plus program was used for math skills and gave the students almost four months growth there. It was an intensive training session for our students.”

In addition to the academic curriculum students also attended a 50 minute counseling session each day.

“Learning about careers, responsibilities and the importance of making the right choices when they enter high school is an important part of this program,” McAlester KTC counselor Shelly Hallum said.

“Even though the emphasis of the program is on reading and math, we explored career choices for the students as well.

The class toured businesses in McAlester and surrounding areas. There students discovered first hand the importance of career planning.

April Murray, assistant director of KTC, said the school applied for a grant to host the Summer Bridge Program last spring and was approved last summer.

“We have been working all school year to get ready for the program,” Murray said.

“We received a Carl Perkins grant for this program.”

Contact Glen Eller at geller@mcalesternews.com