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General Info
Even Ground believes that all children deserve the tools and opportunities to succeed; however, children who come from non-English speaking homes frequently face great challenges in the classroom. Even Ground works towards ensuring equal opportunities for all children by pairing a child in need with a highly trained mentor who values the importance of communication, culture, education, and family. Even Ground accomplishes this goal by equipping children with English language skills, training mentors to be effective teachers and role models, and working with families to foster an understanding of culture and cultural identity.
At Even Ground, we envision a day when all children grow up speaking multiple
languages and enter school prepared to reach their fullest potential. To achieve our vision, Even Ground pairs a mentor one-on-one with a preschool-age child between the ages of three and five who comesfrom a home where English is not the primary language.
OUR MISSION AT EVEN GROUND HAS TWO PARTS:
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To promote success through education and community by enabling
children in need of English language skills to reach their
fullest potential
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To enrich lives by preserving the cultural heritage and home
language of each child while promoting an understanding of
culture.
Why do we need a program like Even Ground?
Research clearly shows that there are significant disparities in
schools based on a child’s level of proficiency in the English
language. In Massachusetts, those students that have limited English
proficiency (LEP) show significantly lower scores on standardized
tests. Throughout the United States, teachers identify LEP children
as poorer students in their classrooms. Research shows that this
observation remains consistent even when income and other factors
are controlled for. It also indicates the complex ways in which
language and culture affect social and academic success.
What does Even Ground focus on?
Research shows that when teachers respect and promote the
development of a child’s first language and encourage maintenance of
their home culture, children feel cared for and connected to their
family, school and community. Research also shows that the best time
to learn a second language is before a child reaches 7 years of age.
If this timely learning occurs, the child experiences significant
increases in cognition, appreciation of home culture and language,
and an equal chance of succeeding in school by entering the
classroom at an equal language level as their English speaking
peers.
How does Even Ground help?
At Even Ground, we stress the value of exploring and appreciating
cultural differences. Mentors and children are paired together to
learn about language and culture while exploring the communities,
families, and resources around them. In an increasingly connected
and globalized world, Even Ground aims to instill in young children
both respect for their native tongue and an understanding and
confidence in a second language. In addition to the language
learning benefits Even Ground provides, there is also a heavy
emphasis on enabling individuals to better understand cultural
differences, how to identify them, and how to use this knowledge to
better interact with others.
The most vital role of the Even Ground organization is the mentor.
Even Ground accepts mentors from all different cultural and language
speaking backgrounds. Even Ground mentors commit themselves to a
full year of service, dedicating between 4 and 7 hours per week to
their partner child. To be able to serve our children to the best of
our abilities, Even Ground Mentors go through two weeks of intensive
trainings before meeting with their partner child and family. These
trainings help mentors make a connection with the child and help the
child learn more about the English language and a multi-cultural
environment.
For further information please contact us at
info@EvenGroundOnline.com
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