Education

"A VOICE with VISION and VICTORY for the Game of Life."

V-Team Literacy Academy - After School Program

The goal of the V-Team Literacy Academy - After School Program is to empower students to succeed in school by helping them to read at or above their appropriate grade level.

The Literacy program is based out of the The Bethlehem Center which is a safe haven and 'second home' for students after school.  It is also a place where they are held accountable for their homework and taught new skills.

Academic Time
Trained Head Academic Coaches are in charge of the three classrooms.  Class sizes are limited to 8 students per class.  Volunteer tutors work with individual students on homework and basic reading skills, listen to students read aloud, and engage students in educational games.  Trained staff members provide specialized assistance to students who are reading below their appropriate grade levels.  Academic time is scheduled in three distinct periods to accommodate different age and grade levels and varying dismissal times at the different schools we serve.

Curriculum
We formally assess each student three times each academic year in the following areas:  phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, comprehension, and sight vocabulary.  Students are assessed at the beginning of the school year, at mid-year, and at the end of the school year.  Based upon assessed student needs, we develop an individual reading plan for every student.  We use a variety of curriculum materials chosen to match student needs and individual learning styles.  All tutors are trained to increase student fluency and comprehension skills.  Some small group and classroom instruction is also provided.

Enrichment Activities                                                                            
Since “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy,” we provide fun and engaging activities for students after they complete their assigned academic time.  Caring adult volunteers provide the primary leadership for these activities.  They are excited to share their expertise and are passionate about building relationships with the students.  We strive for variety and choice in activities that encourage student creativity and self-expression.  Examples of enrichment activities include kickboxing, badminton, acrylic painting, soccer, story telling, and step dance.

Staff
The program is directed, coordinated and supervised by highly qualified, professional educators on the Bethlehem Center staff.  A trained volunteer cadre of professional educators, concerned adults, and dedicated college and high school students strongly supports the program and provides depth.

Hours of Operation
The After School Program operates each Monday through Thursday afternoon throughout the academic year from 3:00 - 6:30 PM.  All activities are held at the Bethlehem Center.                                                                 Girls at Coolidge Park

Numbers
Approximately 70 students are enrolled in the program in the 2006– 2007 school year. Approximately one third are middle school students and two thirds are elementary students.

V-Team Summer Literacy Academy 
Six weeks of fun, focused on reading...

The primary goal of the V-Team Summer Literacy Academy is to keep students on grade level between academic years.

Students experience an intensive, six-week reading program in a day camp environment.  Two hours each day are devoted to engaging students in reading activities and the rest of the time is balanced with life skills, sports, and enrichment activities.

The curriculum for the summer program focuses on phonics and reading comprehension skills.  Students learn the relationships between sounds and letters in words.  They learn to decode words through the study of correct spelling patterns and rules.  The program immerses them in books.  We entice them with fun reading activities and help them learn how phonics apply to the written word.

Partnership Services

Economic Development
Classes in Financial Fitness and Entrepreneur Training

Personal Financial Fitness Classes
Learn how to effectively manage your personal finances. Topics include Income & Expenses, Loans, Credit & Debt, and Balancing the Budget. During this three week class, each participant will track their spending and develop a budget.

Entrepreneur Training Class
The Bethlehem Center and Chattanooga State Small Business Development Center are offering a thirteen-week class that will give you the tools and knowledge to start your own business.