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UPDATE AND INFORMATION NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR CAROL H. RASCO

At this time of year we experience such a terrific season of holidays. I am always reminded of the wonderful times I spent with my own children reading holiday storybooks, both fact and fiction, and learning about what this special time of year meant to others. What joy we would experience reading our old favorites and exploring new stories that came our way as gifts from friends and family. Our family never ceases to grin as we gather for Thanksgiving and read, even now, "Thanksgiving At The Tappletons."

Because this was such an important time in my family, and because I know you support children's literacy, I encourage you to think about promoting the value of books as gifts and as a way to establish family traditions through your membership, affiliates, branch stores - whomever you partner with on behalf of our nation's children. A short article in your organization's newsletter or a note from you encouraging your members to share the gift of reading can be a gentle reminder of the power of books as gifts.

A favorite book of mine to give for any occasion is "Harold's Purple Crayon." I always include a crayon or marker of any color along with a note to the child encouraging him or her to draw their own book. Let your imagination soar with ideas...the gift of a book is one that indeed keeps on giving!

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

Every day, new people find out about the America Reads Challenge and want to know how they can support the work of our classroom teachers and help our nation's children improve their reading skills. We encourage them to join all of you in your efforts by becoming members of the President's Coalition. And they do! We're pleased to welcome the following organizations as our newest literacy partners:

• National Council of La Raza
• Media Mobiles
• Samuel W. Mason Elementary School
• Kaplan Educational Centers
• Minnesota Campus Compact
• National Association of Community Health Centers
• Iowa Literacy Resource Center
• SHAPES Head Start
• American Spirit Foundation
• Women's League for Conservative Judaism
• Parents As Teachers National Center

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

In the remaining days before Congress left for the holidays, they acted to support America Reads tutoring programs by moving forward on a bipartisan reading bill, and by increasing funds in our appropriations bill for literacy activities under several of the Department of Education's existing programs. In addition, they allocated a substantial increase to the Corporation for National Service for children's literacy activities.

A total of $52 million was allocated to improve and expand existing programs that support children's literacy. The funding breakout includes $25 million for the Eisenhower Professional Development program specifically targeted to improve professional development for teachers in the area of reading; $22 million for the Even Start family literacy program; and $5 million to be used for tutor training under a flexible authority called the Fund for the Improvement of Education.

Congress allocated money in this fashion to help reach the goal of assisting students in the classroom, the home, and the community. The Department will now work to devise the most strategic way to use these funds so that efforts can be coordinated and America Reads programs can be supported.

The Corporation for National Service received a $24 million increase for AmeriCorps*VISTA, $25 million for AmeriCorps, and $19 million for National Senior Service Corps. This increase will result in 100,000 new volunteer tutors to support the America Reads Challenge.

SPOTLIGHT ON COALITION MEMBERS MEETING THE CHALLENGE

When we first met to form the President's Coalition in July, the one issue that surfaced in each of our breakout sessions was the desire to share information among members about activities taking place across the country, how members could network with each other to share what they've learned, and how they might work together to meet the goal of the America Reads Challenge. This request resulted in the development of this bi-weekly Update - our way of acknowledging the good work being accomplished for our nation's children, and way to share who's doing what.

Every time we get a letter or phone call from a President' Coalition member telling us about the exciting things going on in their organization, we can hardly wait to share it. With nearly 140 organization's on board, we know there are many stories to be told. So, if you want to share your story in a paragraph or two, or call us and tell us about your efforts, contact Ellen Frawley by phone, fax, e-mail or regular mail at:

Two organizations that have shared their good news with us are...

Girl Scouts USA recently presented a session on "Creating Literacy Programs to Serve Girls At Risk" to members of more than 20 councils. Participants shared about their involvement in literacy programs including support for reading programs in housing projects and community event days that involve libraries and schools. In addition, 11 Girl Scout councils have started Family Reading programs using activity booklets published through a grant from Reader's Digest. They are planning to present sessions on creating literacy programs and collaborations within the Girl Scout community at 11 regional workshops. For more information, contact Sheila Lewis, 212-852-8076.

The National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Proyecto Educar is a partnership program with AmeriCorps that seeks to increase the educational level and job preparedness skills of adults while also addressing the educational needs of children through school readiness and school success initiatives. La Raza plans to develop and distribute NCLR's/Coors Literacy/Job Preparedness Tool Kits to more than 200 local affiliates in 35 states. The tool kits will help 75,000 young people improve their marketable skills through effective education. For more information contact Alejandra Domenzain at 202-785-1670 or by e-mail at adomenzain@nclr.org.

FEDERAL WORK- STUDY MEETING THE CHALLENGE

At Arizona State University, college work-study student tutors spend weekdays working with students participating in the Kids Zone after-school program at eight Tempe elementary schools, and at a Saturday program held at a Phoenix public library working with bilingual students. Their curriculum was developed by two students from the ASU School of Education, and centers around using award-winning children's books to capture children's interest in reading. The story session is followed by literacy enrichment activities that can include story maps, readers' theater, paired reading character mobiles and reading and writing activities. For more information, contact James Hurwitz, 602-965-5290.

More than 70 FWS students from Yale University are paired with third grade students at Dwight Elementary School in New Haven, Connecticut. Tutors work with their students for one hour after school, three to four days a week. As part of their time together, the pair spends an hour reading and exploring at the public library.

RESOURCES YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL

Occasionally we learn about print and online resources we think President's Coalition members might find useful in planning and implementing their programs. Here are several you might want to check out:

Bank Street College has a site on its home page dedicated to the America Reads Challenge that offers a wealth of information for volunteer tutors. Topics include your role as a tutor; early reading development; how to plan your time with your student; how to work with early and emergent readers as well as fluent readers; hints for successful tutoring; and many more practical and useful strategies. Check it out at www.bnkst.edu.

The International Reading Association's newest publication in support of the America Reads Challenge is "The Reading Team: A Handbook for Volunteer Tutors K-3 - The America Reads Edition" by Lesley Mandel Morrow and Barbara J. Walker. You can check it out at www.reading.org, call 1-800-336-READ to learn more about the publication and the IRA's support for the America Reads Challenge, or receive information via e-mail at pubinfo@reading.org.

"Read With Me: A Guide for Student Volunteers Starting Early Childhood Literacy Programs" is designed for college students interested in starting public service reading programs in their communities. The guide was developed by Chandler Arnold, a Harvard University student whose 1997 summer internship project at the U.S. Department of Education included developing this guide. While geared to college students working with preschool children, many ideas in the booklet can be adapted for children of different ages. Access the guide on the U.S. Department of Education's home page at www.ed.gov/pubs/ReadWithMe/, or call the National Institute on Early Childhood Education, 202-219-1935.

The Learning Disabilities Project at WETA provides LDOnLine, an Internet source for information and ideas on the range of issues facing the learning disabled community. You can visit their site at www.ldonline.org.

The Alphabet Superhighway is a web site that focuses on helping schools and teachers build their competencies in using the worldwide web as part of their lesson plans. It has been developed by Richard Venezky of the University of Delaware, and was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Technology Fund as part of the Read*Write*Now! Program. It can also be a good resource for tutors who want to use computer technology as a means of helping children learn to read. Several sites on the Alphabet Superhighway post students' writing and artwork. You can check it out at www.ash.udel.edu.

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