SkillsTutor Helps Mercy Home Youth

A dozen boys sit at computers in Mercy Home's computer lab, headphones over their ears and faces staring intently at their screens. But these boys aren't playing the latest computer game or talking to their friends online-they're practicing with SkillsTutor, an internet-based program that helps hone important math and reading skills.

SkillsTutor, an after-school program for all the boys and girls at Mercy Home, uses software designed to give kids extra help mastering basic reading and math skills.  The children are pre-tested to determine their individual skill levels, and work at their own pace. After six months, our students are post tested to determine their progress in math and reading.

Josiah, an eighth-grader living at Mercy Home, said he likes SkillsTutor because it helps him build upon what he already knows.

"I like that it helps me review so I don't forget what I did before," he said.

Each of Mercy Home's kids participates in SkillsTutor for an hour per week. They split their time between math and reading exercises, including punctuation, fractions and capitalization.

The program also gives the children extra practice with what they are currently working on in school.

"I like SkillsTutor because the fractions it gives me are what I'm learning in school," said Moises, a Mercy Home youth. 

Katie Baron, a proctor who assists the kids with SkillsTutor, said the program is a big help for the kids, many of whom were significantly behind in school when they arrived at Mercy.

"They do need assistance with school, it's our job to help them," she said.

Debbie Moloney, who manages Mercy's After School Program, said the fact that SkillsTutor is online makes the program easy to learn and accessible for kids.

"It's more interactive, and they can work at their pace and level," she said.