Central Coast organizations and libraries offer free virtual classes for students
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) As schools shift classes online, many kids won't have the same kind of interactions they typically experience at school, like making new friends or getting live help with homework. Organizations and libraries across the Central Coast are trying to fill that gap by offering free virtual classes and tutoring sessions.
The Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast is helping young girls get prepared for Kindergarten through a series of free virtual classes.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, in person meetings have been put on hold and personal interactions are now very limited.
“Because of the COVID pandemic and the transition to virtual learning, they’re missing that critical meeting with each other. They don’t get to have that experience meeting friends,” Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast CEO Tammie Helmuth said.
Their Make New Friends program will teach kids how to build relationships, connect with new people and build social skills and self-confidence.
“With them knowing that people are in the same grade as them and they have the same interests, it definitely lets those shy girls come out of their
shells,” said Lead Recruitment Specialist Gina Luke, who helps coordinate Make New Friends.
Across the Central Coast, other organizations are offering free programs for students of all grade levels.
The Monterey County Free Libraries is offering free live online tutoring for subjects ranging from math to writing.
Students can get help with homework or practice their curriculum with a tutor one on one online.
The library group works with a company called BrainFuse, which can connect you with a tutor seven days a week from 1-11 p.m.
They offer free live tutoring and writing assistance for grades K through 12
and some college prep as well.
We tried it out ourselves and got some algebra help. It only took a few seconds for us to connect with a tutor. The system has a virtual shared whiteboard where the tutor was able to show the process to solve the equation.
The library says there’s a big need for this resource because of the
transition to distance learning.
“Not only are students going to be missing the one-on-one personal assistance that they would have received in person in their classroom," Library Director Hillary Theyer said. "Worksheets and videos
can only accomplish so much.”
Theyer said the resource is not just for students, but anyone can utilize the online assistance.
“It also assists the parents who often will tell us that they can’t assist their kids with their homework–either it’s different or they’ve never used it,” Theyer said.
You can access the tutoring on the MCFL website from home through a computer, phone or tablet, if you have internet access.
The library says you can also access wifi in the parking lots of any of their branch libraries across Monterey County.
If you don’t have a library card yet and would like to access the
tutoring, you can sign up online.
To sign up for Girl Scouts Make New Friends program, click here: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/join/ready-set-kindergarten.html?utm_campaign=KinderReadiness&utm_medium=Web_Council&utm_source=HomepageBanner
To access Monterey County Free Libraries BrainFuse - Live Homework Help, click here: https://www.brainfuse.com/highed/helpNow.asp?a_id=894C97C0&ss=&r=
Click here to register for a library card: https://mcfl.polarislibrary.com/polaris/patronaccount/selfregister.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1
