Local church hosts ELA bootcamp, helps students prepare for TCAP

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — One local church is getting involved and helping students get prepared for TCAP.

Brownsville First Baptist Church is hosting an ELA Bootcamp for 3rd and 4th graders. Active and retired educators have come together to bridge the gap and help students’ performance on the state mandated test.

“We know that TCAP is coming up next month, and we want to help prepare our students, so we’re giving them strategies to attack the test, we’re motivating them, we’re giving them that positive belief in themselves because they are all so intelligent and they can do this,” said Kathleen Holmes, ELA bootcamp director.

These students are utilizing their spring break to work on skills and strategies that can help them succeed.

“We are certainly concerned about children not being able to meet that benchmark so that they can be promoted from the 3rd grade to the 4th grade,” said Louis Hudson III, pastor at First Baptist Church.

“That’s our goal and our mission here to help them to be able to critically think and motivate them and build them up for the TCAP test,” said Holmes.

Haywood County’s “Save the Children” literacy program has donated several toys to all students who participate in the bootcamp. The students also have a chance to win a laptop or tablet.

“Giving all of the credit to our students. I believe, simply because they showed up, they already have passed the first part of the TCAP, and that’s being willing to put forth the extra effort to achieve,” said Pastor Hudson.

The bootcamp will continue through Thursday, March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more local news, click here.