NATCHEZ — Some Natchez students soon will receive a helping hand from the community to prepare for reading assessment tests.

Since 2013, a group of volunteers from Jefferson Street United Methodist Church have been helping third-graders improve their literacy skills.

The group has expanded to include others from the community and includes approximately 11 tutors and two substitutes.

United Methodist Women Missions Coordinator Nelda Thomas said the group was looking for a mission a few years ago when they heard students were struggling to read.

“We want to be able to share the love of Christ through being able to help these students read more effectively,” Thomas said.

Thomas doesn’t want to take credit for the idea though.

“I think it originated with the good Lord,” she said.

When the group started, Thomas said they discovered students in the second to fourth grades were in a critical period for reading.

“That’s when they (teachers) can really identify kids who are struggling,” Thomas said.

The program also helps students prepare for the Third Grade Reading Summative Assessment, the literacy test given to all Mississippi third graders. Students are required to pass the test to advance to the fourth grade.

Teachers identified students who needed help and then volunteers started work with them. In previous years, volunteer Brenda Williams said the group worked with students once a week for approximately an hour.

“Even though it’s only an hour a week, we’re able to work one-on-one with those students, which is something that isn’t always feasible in a classroom setting,” Williams said.

And it doesn’t take away from normal instruction, instead pulling students from classes such as P.E. or music.

“They don’t miss their extracurricular activities every day,” Williams said. “Just one day a week.”

Tutors take on one or two students, Williams said, depending on the tutuor’s comfort level.

During the sessions, Thomas said tutors focus on literary skills such as reading and writing.

“We read with the students, we ask them questions about what they’ve read,” Thomas said.

Thomas said last year the group worked with 12 to 15 at-risk students. At least half the students passed the statewide test on the first try, with another few passing on subsequent tries.

Like last year, Thomas said the group wants to focus its attention on Gilmer McLaurin Elementary. During the group’s first year, Thomas said the group went to several schools, but narrowed their volunteer work down to McLaurin because they could communicate easier with just one school.

In the future, Thomas said they might consider expanding.

“Right now we’ve got plenty to keep us busy at McLaurin,” Thomas said.

Williams said the group hopes to start their third year of tutoring this week and new volunteers are always welcome, no matter their gender or what church they attend.

For more information on the program or on how to volunteer, call Thomas at 601-807-2855.