A CHANCE TO GROW

Dear Friend of A Chance To Grow,

With your help, teachers can give Minnesota kids a chance.

Over the years, A Chance To Grow (ACTG) has reached some 70,000 children and over 4,000 educators through programs and services that focus on the impact movement has on the brain. These programs and services are delivered through caring and highly trained therapists and education specialists. These A Chance To Grow therapists and specialists are cross-trained, accessing the most current research and information in order to maintain the highest level of expertise.

One of our most successful programs to date is our teacher-training institute, the Minnesota Learning Resource Center (MLRC). The MLRC trains teachers across the state to understand how movement influences the brain's ability to learn. For the past ten years, the MLRC has trained elementary K-6 educators in a program called S.M.A.R.T.

S.M.A.R.T. develops visual, auditory, balance, fine and gross motor skills, which are all essential for classroom and academic success. The S.M.A.R.T. Activities also improve children's physical fitness, strength, coordination and ability to pay attention. Once these readiness skills are in place, children have the foundation necessary to succeed in school.

We’re all aware of the challenges facing our Minnesota schools today and some of the dismal statistics showing our students are not in position to learn ---- 50% of children are not ready to enter kindergarten and 63% of Minnesota fourth graders are not proficient in reading.

ACTG's S.M.A.R.T. program has contributed to reversing those statistcs. The MLRC recently launched an early childhood model of S.M.A.R.T., S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K, in order to address children’s developmental gaps prior to entering kindergarten. Our recent five-year study involving over 20 Head Start sites across Minnesota showed that the children involved in S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K were on-par to start kindergarten with their middle class peers when measured on nationally normed tests AND that they maintained those gains as they progressed from kindergarten through second grade.

Unfortunately, given the financial challenges of public education today, ACTG faces a much tougher time of delivering S.M.A.R.T. to schools and early childhood programs.

Your support on Give to the Max Day, in any amount, will help us continue to bring those critical services to additional teachers. With the support and expertise of ACTG, numerous students will be given a chance and be on the road to reaching their full potential. Please join in helping to make that happen.

Thank you very much for your generosity and support in giving Minnesota children a chance to grow.