Transcript SelanderR AfterschoolProg - Trinity College Digital Repository

Do the Methods of
After-School Programs
Match Their Goals?
A Study of Two Trinity College
Sponsored After-School Mentoring
Programs in Hartford, CT
By Richard R. Selander
Research Question
• Look at goals and methods of two programs
– VAMP (Vision Academic Mentoring Program)
– ESF (Education, Sports, and Fun) Dream Camp
• Policy Evaluation: Do the methods of these
two after-school mentoring programs match
their intended goals?
– Not a study of effectiveness
Significance
• After-school programs assist students with
their homework and gives them a place to
go to when the school day is over
• Other studies look at what works, but few if
any look at specific programs to see if their
methods match the statement of goals
Research Methodology
• For goals
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Proposals
VAMP brochure
ESF letter to parents
Interviews with coordinators of both programs
• Ms. Shanta Evans of VAMP
• Mr. Dale Phelps of ESF Dream Camp
Research Methodology
• For methods
– I am a mentor for both programs
• First-hand observations (2 days a week)
– What did I look for?
• How mentors and mentees were selected, grouped
together, and worked with each other
• Mentor training
• Division of mentoring time (schedule)
• Curriculum covered
• Resources available
• Parent communication
Goals of VAMP
• Promote academic success
• Positive youth development
• Foster a desire to learn and achieve goals
– Build self-esteem
– Motivate to learn and be creative
– College as a possible future option
• Parent communication
• Give mentors experience in public education and
have positive influence on a child
Methods of VAMP
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Tuesdays and Thursdays for 2 hours
32 mentees: lottery and low scores
17 mentors: application and interview
Mentee\Mentor ratio: 2:1 and 1:1
Mentor training
Snacks, homework help, journal, game,
bathroom break, cleanup, dismissal
• Low parent communication
VAMP Methods Match Goals?
• Fosters academic achievement
• Mentors work closely with mentees
– Give homework help and encouragement
– Mentees work harder and set higher goals
– Mentees know someone cares, and self-esteem
is boosted
• Mentors gain experience
• Low parent communication
Goals of ESF
• Provide best after-school alternatives
– Through education, sports, and fun
• Help achieve full potential
– Set goals for themselves
– Understand importance of education
• Learn to be role models in and out of
classroom
• Develop self esteem and build confidence
• Develop better social skills, people and time
management skills, and classroom skills
• Give mentors a “solid mentoring
environment”
• Parent communication
Methods of ESF
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Monday through Thursday for 2 hours
60 mentees: 50 from ESF summer program
15 mentors: summer program or application
Mentee\Mentor ratio: 3:1 – 1:1
Mentor training
Bus transportation, snacks, journal entry on
weekly theme, class meeting, homework help,
read, draw, sports activity, game, cleanup,
dismissal
• Parent communication
ESF Methods Match Goals?
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Offers many alternatives
Sports and games part of curriculum
Fosters education and importance of school
Mentors work closely with mentees in good env.
– Act as encouraging role models
– Mentees work harder and set higher goals
– Mentees know someone cares, and self-esteem is
boosted
• Specific themes focus on social skills
• Good parent communication
Conclusions
• Thesis: The two after-school mentoring
program’s methods closely match the goals
• VAMP achieves all goals but parent
communication
• ESF Dream Camp achieves all goals