NSUBA offers free tutoring to reading program

This summer the Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative will partner with Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow to offer a unique learning experience for many students in the community.

NSU-Broken Arrow has been involved with community schools through our Reading Clinic for the past several years, said Dr. Christee Jenlink, dean of NSUBA. We are pleased to now have the opportunity to expand our relationship with TACSI by hosting children from area schools on our campus.

From July 12-14, students enrolled in the summer program can receive free tutoring at the Reading Clinic. They also receive a library card and can check out books from the Tulsa City-County Library Bookmobile.

It has been so encouraging to see how the community has reached out to these kids and how many organizations are offering their services, time and talent to provide a wonderful, positive learning experience, said Dr. Mindy Smith, associate professor of reading at NSUBA.

More than 400 students from Eugene Field, Cooper, Mark Twain, Kendall Whittier, Briar Glen and Roy Clark elementaries are enrolled in the program.

This camp will keep them active, engaged and learning, said Smith. Each week is designed to provide the kids with fun learning activities that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to have.

The students can also enjoy NSUBA's Second Century Trail and tour an interactive farm exhibit with live animals by Broken Arrow High School FFA.

The genesis of this camp is to keep kids engaged and learning this summer, said Smith. Our role is to provide the kids with a safe, fun, learning environment while they are on the NSUBA campus.

Dr. Peggy Lisenbee, assistant professor and chair of elementary education at NSUBA, said the NSU faculty wants to motivate pre K-12 students to succeed in school, whether during the school year or summer months, by using a variety of engaging, interactive and developmentally appropriate activities.

Learning is a lifelong process which faculty take pride in modeling for our teacher education candidates in the college of education at NSUBA, said Lisenbee.

Smith said she believes the summer camp is off to a great start.

I feel confident that we have developed a partnership that will continue for a long time to come and it will be exciting to see what the future holds, said Smith.