Outreach Programs
CELL Literacy Programs – How MSMC teacher candidates integrate literacy tutoring practices
Goals
- Involve teacher candidates and trained volunteers to provide authentic literacy experiences for children to improve as literacy users, both in skill and in interest.
- Close the literacy achievement gap for students who are not successful in school with tutoring and out-of-school literacy programs to promote lifelong literacy.
- Study the programs to ensure they are meeting participants’ needs and to offer other communities models for exemplary community-based literacy programs.
After-School and Summer Tutoring Programs
- For students who are below literacy benchmarks, MSMC graduate students in education, under faculty mentorship, create an instructional support plan with the goal to meet developmental benchmarks in literacy.
- Students are assessed, then instructional lessons are taught to target literacy needs.
- Data is collected to support student growth and to share progress and recommendations with parents/caregivers.
- Enrichment programs in other content areas (mathematics, social studies, science) are also available.
Saturday Morning Enrichment Program (SMEP) at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center
The Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning (CELL) at Mount Saint Mary College serves as a dedicated partner with the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, since 2013. Over the years, education faculty share their expertise and mentor graduate and undergraduate teacher candidates to lead, coordinate and teach in these enrichment programs. These educational experiences support future teachers in developing their teaching craft through project-based and real-world literacies to promote lifelong learning that builds on the cultural assets of the community.
- Graduate Students in Literacy SMEP Co-Coordinators, 2-Year Assistantship. This assistantship includes tuition support and two positions as program coordinators of the year-long Saturday Morning Enrichment Program, which offer area children over 30 enrichment courses every Saturday. We are accepting applications for the Fall 2026-Summer 2028 year.
- SMEP instructors and floating substitute instructors. Each year, CELL has positions for teacher candidates to gain experience and earn stipends as SMEP Instructors or floating substitute teachers. These positions are available to teacher candidates who have taught in the enrichment classes as part of their fieldwork and have a passion for developing young learners love of reading and learning. We are accepting applications for the Fall 2026 academic year.
Spring Tutoring
Photo Gallery
Saturday Morning Enrichment Program (SMEP) at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center
Mount Saint Mary College graduate students hone their teaching skills with children at the Newburgh Unity Center.
Mount Saint Mary College graduate students hone their teaching skills with children at the Newburgh Unity Center.
Mount Saint Mary College graduate students hone their teaching skills with children at the Newburgh Unity Center.
Mount Saint Mary College graduate students hone their teaching skills with children at the Newburgh Unity Center.
Mount Saint Mary College graduate students hone their teaching skills with children at the Newburgh Unity Center.
Let’s get Newburgh children ready for kindergarten!
This spring, we are completing a research project to provide helpful resources on how families can support their young children (0 – 5) at home to support their oral language and literacy. Are you a caregiver of young children? Help us by sharing what you do at home and what information you would like us to include.