Masonic Learning Centers for Children

 

 

Millions of school children with dyslexia endure frustration and demoralization on a daily basis as they struggle to acquire skills that many of us take for granted. If your child is struggling with reading and writing, how do you know if dyslexia is the cause? Where can you go for help? Turn to the Children’s Learning Centers Program for help...

 

 

Background and History

The Masons are the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world, with a rich history in the U.S. that dates back to colonial times — George Washington was among the first Masons in the then newly formed United States. Masons do their charitable work at a level where real differences can be made in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Following the philanthropic precedent of many other Masonic charities, the Children’s Learning Centers Program represents a substantial charitable commitment.

Since 1994, the Scottish Rite Masons, Northern Jurisdiction, have been national leaders in the effort to help children and their families overcome the painful obstacles of dyslexia. There are 59 Learning Centers in operation in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

 

Our Success

In the years that the Children’s Learning Centers have been actively engaged in helping kindergarten and high-school aged children to overcome dyslexia, several thousand children have received one-on-one tutoring at no cost to them or their families. Children are eligible regardless of economic status, race, religion, or Masonic affiliation. The positive impact of early intervention on the lives of these children and their families is enormous, and inspires our commitment to this program. Additionally, the Children’s Learning Centers continue to support clinical research programs that focus on dyslexia.

The program has been underwritten by the Masons on an annual basis at the level of approximately $8 million.

Our Approach

The curriculum used for tutoring and tutor training at all Children’s Learning Centers is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. The Orton-Gillingham approach, developed in the 1920’s, uses a sequential, multisensory phonetic approach to teaching and spelling. Thus, a variety of sensory data is used to help children understand the written word.

As part of the Learning Center Program, over a thousand teachers and other individuals interested in becoming certified tutors at the Centers have received free training. Children are tutored one-on-one twice a week after regular school hours. This allows for the curriculum to be tailored to each individual child as necessary, and progress is made in small, readily quantifiable steps. Services provided by the Learning Centers equip children with the skills and the confidence they need to approach learning with eagerness and without fear.

 

The Children’s Learning Center Program offers free training individuals who are interested in receiving initial certification as tutors in the Orton-Gillingham approach. The training program is IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council) accredited. Requirements for certification include 45 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of practicum work under the supervision of qualified professionals, tutoring two children twice a week at a Learning Center. A minimum of a Bachelors Degree is a prerequisite for this training. The Learning Centers also provide training for advanced certification. Affiliation with institutions of higher education enables professionals who train as tutors at many Centers to earn full graduate course credits as well as continuing education credits.

 

Our Mission Statement

Provide, free of charge, the highest quality multisensory reading and written language tutorial services for children with dyslexia, through a network of nationally recognized centers of excellence.

 

Promote and encourage education of professionals, tutorial trainees, and the public, to become resources in teaching children to read.

 

Advance scientific knowledge of dyslexia through support of clinical research, to improve today’s standards and tomorrow’s care.

 

Support a Child at a Learning Center Near You

The Children’s Learning Centers is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

It costs $5,000 to tutor one child for one year. Typically, children require an average of two years of tutoring. Your tax-exempt contribution can be designated to support a specific Children’s Learning Center, or a Learning Center where the need is greatest.

 

 

For information about making a donation, please call:

 

Development Office

1-781-465-3326

or

1-800-814-1432 ext. 3326

Or

 

Send a check directly, payable to:

 

The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA 02421