by Wanda Turpin | Jan 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
Voted LEC Partner of the Year in 2016, tutors from the Norfolk Police Department have impacted hundreds of children in Hampton Roads. But one hour a week to help with tutoring wasn’t enough. NPD Corporal David Benjamin decided to teach children chess. In addition to the fifty officers tutoring, twenty officers started the Chess Program at Richard Bowling Elementary, for one hour a week, one day a week.
“I think it’s important to have open communication in our community. That helps build trust. It starts with that initial conversation, and one of the things the LEC is very good at doing is starting that conversation,” said Benjamin. Open to any student who shows interest, the chess program allows students and officers to interact while developing logic and strategic thinking skills. Research suggests chess can improve academic performance. In 2000, a landmark study found that students who received chess instruction scored significantly higher on all measures of academic achievement, including math, spatial analysis, and non-verbal reasoning ability (Smith and Cage, 2000).
The Chess Program will expand to additional schools in the Fall of 2017. For more information, contact us at info@lecliteracy.org.
Research posted by Wendi Fischer. “Educational Value of Chess.” http://education.jhu.edu/, John Hopkins School of Education, http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/thinking-skills/chess/. Accessed Jan 24, 2017.
by Wanda Turpin | Jan 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
When the LEC began nonprofit work in 2007, we had a modest goal – help children in Norfolk Public Schools become proficient readers. During the last 10 years, we have been blessed to expand our operation, and now serve fourteen public schools in the Hampton Roads area, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Hampton. Tutors spend one hour a week every week with children who need help and encouragement to read at their grade level. Schools have seen the results in testing – children who were at risk of poor literacy started catching up to their grade level by the third grade when mentored by a tutor.
Virginia Beach resident Nellie Phipps commuted to tutor at Norfolk public schools for seven years. “I love children and I want to make sure I have a positive impact on them at an early age,” she noted. But this year, expansion into Virginia Beach Windsor Oaks Elementary means she gets to work closer to home. “This year, the opportunity opened up here at Windsor Oaks so I don’t have travel as far. But the important thing is that we still have great students to encourage,” said Phipps. Windsor Oaks Principal Dr. Sherri Archer became familiar with the Life Enrichment Center from working within Norfolk Public Schools. She has seen the difference that tutoring has made for students. “I have worked with the organization for years and have witnessed the improvement in student literacy scores based on the support provided by the organization. LEC is committed to serving children and helping them learn to read and I am so grateful for their partnership with Windsor Oaks Elementary and Virginia Beach City Public Schools,” said Dr. Archer.
Posted by Windsor Oaks Elementary. “LEC volunteers help build reading comprehension skills, confidence at Windsor Oaks.” http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/, The Core: All Things Virginia Beach City Public Schools, http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/lec-volunteers-build-comprehension-skills-confidence-windsor-oaks/. Accessed Jan 24, 2017.
by Kevin Turpin | Apr 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the Life Enrichment Center’s annual Charity Golf Classic. Loyal golfers like Joey Barnes of Old Point National Bank in Chesapeake return year after year.
“The LEC provides services that are so vital to our future success. Participation in the golf tournament is a fun way to contribute to the LEC vision,” Barnes said. “It doesn’t hurt that our team has won the golf outing eight of the past nine years!”
You can experience the fun and camaraderie too, and meet great folks like Barnes and others who share LEC’s mission to improve literacy rates among children in the Hampton Roads region. And if you’re up to the challenge, your foursome might unseat Barnes to claim the winner’s trophy this year!
New and returning golfers will tee up on Monday, June 6, at The Signature @ West Neck in Virginia Beach, which has been the home of LEC’s Golf Classic since its inception.
Registration is open now.
The Golf Classic also offers several levels of sponsorship opportunities. Find out how to get involved and lend your support to a great cause – enriching the lives of children and empowering them for success.
by Kevin Turpin | Jan 13, 2016 | Uncategorized
A passion for improving the health of children and raising literacy rates led to a natural partnership between ARDX and Chesterfield Academy in Norfolk, one of the schools served by the Life Enrichment Center. For its commitment and dedication to children, ARDX was recognized as LEC’s Partner of the Year in 2015.
ARDX funded a Literacy and Technology Lab at Chesterfield and encourages its associates to participate in the school-based literacy initiatives. Beginning in early 2015, more than 40 ARDX associates were paired with K-2 students for weekly tutoring sessions. During the summer, ARDX also hosted a nutrition and fitness class for residents in Grandy Village, the local community that the school serves. Learn more on our ARDX Partners Page.
