About CHAT Academy

CHAT Academy provides culturally supportive educational services, including language-match (when necessary), to help students succeed. This is especially beneficial for a significant portion of the immigrant or refugee student population of Houston.

CHAT Academy’s fundamental goal is to create a “space for success” by setting up the physical environment, providing supplies, and managing daily schedules in ways that support program goals and help students learn. Routines, clear expectations, and well-thought-out space configurations reduce disruptions, fostering a comfortable and consistent learning environment.

For the first hour, the students would work independently on their homework, requesting one-on-one assistance from a tutor if needed. Once a student has finished their homework, a tutor might assign a page from a grade-level appropriate workbook as supplemental academic practice or other appropriate schoolwork. This would be followed by special activities, including whole-group art lessons, crafts, photography, STEM workshops, and other activities.

Participating students are enthusiastic about CHAT Academy workshops and activities and show interest in the topics presented. These workshops have helped in reducing stress and increasing self-efficacy among the students.

After-School Program

Current CHAT Academy after-school sessions are offered every week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

• Tutoring sessions:
  • Schedule:
    • Mondays from 5-6 pm,
    • Wednesdays from 5-6 pm,
    • Fridays from 4-5 pm.
  • First come first serve. They don’t have to attend regularly, whoever comes first will have a slot. We usually accept approximately a maximum of 6 students.
• Enrichment activities:
  • Mondays from 6 pm-7 pm:
    • Either Art Stories (Schweitzer fellow’s project) or Arts sessions from Museum of Fine Arts.
  • Wednesdays
    • 5 pm-6 pm: Boys’ Club (Chess club);
    • 6 pm-7 pm: Art Stories (Schweitzer fellow’s project)
  • Fridays
    • 5 pm-6 pm: Let’s CHAT (CHAT Girls’ Club);
    • 6 pm-7 pm: Music Class

In Your School

Through CHAT Academy, instructors are present to serve students at a service location (schools, community centers, etc.) during after-school hours or set times in the summer. Instruction is provided on a variety of subjects, as needed, as well as other critical services and programs:

• English as a Second Language
• Enrichment: Arts, Music
• Mentoring
• Social Emotional Learning
• Tutoring: math, English, science, and social studies

Our instructors are trained to connect with young learners from diverse backgrounds. They are successful in engaging students and helping them succeed.

Participating students are enthusiastic about CHAT Academy’s tutoring sessions, as well as our other workshops and activities, and show interest in the topics presented. CHAT Academy has helped students gain better academic achievements at school in tutored subjects.

For more information about CHAT Academy or to bring the program to your school, please visit our CHAT Academy In Your School webpage, email aisha.siddiqui@chattx.org or call 713-247-9764.