Homework Con Amigos and LEAP tutoring are collaborative programs that operate simultaneously in the Children’s Makerspace at the main branch of the Durham County Library.

Entering the building

Photos from around the library

Follow signs to the makerspace and turn right

Homework Con Amigos

LEAP Tutoring

Director: Maria Ramirez, mramirez@dconc.gov

Type of organization: Afterschool homework help and enrichment program.

Grades served: 3-5

Homework Con Amigos is held every Monday between 5:15 and 7:15 in the children’s Makerspace on the first floor of Durhams beautifully renovated Main Library.

While this placement may include some tutoring, the main focus will be homework help and social-emotional connection. There may be an opportunity to help with STEAM-focused enrichment activities.
The ideal volunteer would arrive with curiosity, interest in the children, and a willingness to build relationships.
Ability to speak Spanish is helpful, but not at all required.

Contact: Megan McCurley, megan.mccurley@durhamleap.org

Type of organization

Afterschool one-on-one literacy tutoring.

The Latino Educational Achievement Partnership (LEAP) is partnering with the Durham County Library and the DPS Foundation to provide students aged 6 – 12 (grades 1-6) with one-on-one tutoring to develop their literacy skills and academic competence. Using computer-based interventions, LEAP tutors engage with our students twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Downtown branch of the Library.

Tutoring will involve working through Raz Kids reading intervention software.

Sample volunteer tasks (Homework Con Amigos only)

Did art project with students where we used vegetables and paint to make postcards.
Did crossword puzzles, played uno.
Helped a student with his math and his reading work. Then went outside with him and let him play freeze tag with his peers..
Helped kids with their homework. Did some crafts with them (pins).
Helped with students with their work and played a memory game.
I helped G read by having him read all the sight words I taught him as we went through a story. I also helped another student with his long division.

There was a fun activity scheduled for the kids, so I supervised their painting activity. I also helped Y with her spelling exercises and her reading worksheets.
Worked on some reading, then played outside with chalk, and played tag and hide and seek.
I helped V with her counting and her reading. I also worked with V on her reading (we read the Frozen book!)
I worked with the second and third graders to help them practice their reading. I’m seeing so many improvements from the beginning of the semester!
Readings about Animals, worksheet on how to tell time on a clock, making origami.

I played games with Y to help her with her sight words and read/did subtraction with A.
I researched some activities that kids could do to get to know one another better.
I was helping Y learn sight words, and I taught C how to use a multiplication table. I also did some coloring and puzzles with the kids!
Read with students for 10 minutes and also helped kids with their math and went outside and played freeze tag.
Spent the whole time with E helping with homework and playing outside.

Homework Con Amigos/ LEAP