Community After School Program

Be Smart Club Mission

“To support and enhance the literacy skills that children learn throughout their school day.”

Be Smart Club Vision

“To foster and inspire learning, so that children can grow in confidence and ability.”

The Community After School Program (CASP) operates a volunteer-based tutoring program serving the elementary school students attending its programs. The tutoring program is in its 5^thyear of successful programming. The CASP Be Smart Club seeks to accomplish its mission and vision by engaging volunteers to serve and mentor children in the local community. Based on the successes we’ve seen and stories we’ve heard, CASP knows that this mission and vision are being realized in its Be Smart Club programs.

Be Smart Club is coordinated in the CASP office by one full-time and three-part time AmeriCorps members. Tutors are almost exclusively volunteers, though a few are work-study tutors engaged through the OU Federal Work Study Program. Tutors are asked to commit to tutoring at least 1 hour, two times a week, between the hours of 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm, for a minimum of one semester. Tutors work one-on-one with 2 children for 30 minutes each in the after school programs at the elementary schools in Norman. Each tutor is screened through background and reference checks and an interview. Tutors complete an orientation about CASP policies and tutoring best practices.  The CASP office provides book bags with tutoring supplies as well as resources and teaching tools for tutors to check out.

When tutors are ready to begin their volunteer service with CASP, their tutor coordinator meets them at their CASP site to introduce them to their students and help begin their tutoring sessions. Tutors focus on improving literacy and reading skills during their sessions through reading books, playing games and much more. In addition, the CASP Be Smart Club serves as a mentoring program and focuses on problem solving and study skills.

Tutoring is a rewarding experience where volunteers get to serve as mentors and see their students grow and learn throughout the year. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for education majors, those who enjoy working with children, or anyone who wants an opportunity to give back to the community.  To apply as a volunteer with the CASP Be Smart Club please complete the Volunteer Application and return to us via email at volunteer@caspinc.org.  For more information please call 405-366-5970 ext. 216.

Here is some feedback from parents over the past few years:

“I really appreciate the tutoring program. At home, my son tends to tune out our advice regarding study habits, but having a role model he can hear that reinforcement from at CASP has really helped him with his study skills.”

“Her reading level improved vastly!”

“Her tutor gave her a confidence boost regarding her performance at school. The tutoring program was the best part of our CASP experience. It definitely fulfills a need for many students.”

“The tutoring program has been a great program and has helped my child enjoy school more.”

“The program was particularly helpful at developing my son’s confidence in his reading skills.”

“I’m so glad you have this program. It really helped my son, and he enjoyed the tutor he had . She was very good with him. My son talked about her all the time, and she made his learning fun, thank you!”

“Really grateful you offer it as a service. We really needed. It helped a lot. I hope you can keep doing it.”