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THE ESSEX COUNTY CHAPTER, THE LINKS, INC.
America Reads Contact: Joan Rhue Randall
P.O. Box 3001TCB
West Orange, NJ 07052
E-mail: randaljr@umdnj.edu
Internet Address:
Telephone:
973-731-1482
Fax: 973-972-3161
Particiption: The Links, Inc., founded in 1946, is a service organization with over 10,000 women in 270 chapters in 40 states, Frankfurt,Germany and Nassau,The Bahamas. The Links, Inc., is dedicated to service through projects implemented on the national and local levels. The Essex County Chapter of The Links, Inc., consists of 35 members. The chapter provides educational experiences for disadvantaged children who reside in our target service area. Our service area includes the cities of East Orange, Orange, and Irvington, N.J.
Tutoring: The members of the Essex County Links volunteer their time to read to children who attend our 10- week summer reading program called "Linking with the Library". An average of 33 children, between the ages of 4-13 meet weekly with Links members on Saturday mornings at the East Orange Public Library to take part in the reading program. One of the goals of the program is to encourage parents to read to their children. Tips on how to interest children in reading are shared with parents. The Read-Write-Now reading program, published by the U.S.Department of Ed., has been utilized as resource material for parents. While the children are participating in their reading groups, the parents are engaged in the adult book club(ABC). When children discover that their parents are interested in reading good books also, the parents become very important role models in reading for their children. The Links provide children with new books to take home so that parents will continue to read to his/her child or encourage them to read throughout the coming week. Another reading program offered annually by the chapter, is the "Raising a Reader" project. This project is usually offered in the spring of the year, parents and children are invited to attend. There are workshops for parents which gives insight into the importance of helping their children to learn to read at an early age while building positive self esteem.
Resources: The Essex County Chapter, of The Links, Inc., conducts annually, a fund raising activity to support our ongoing programs. The chapter works closely with the East Orange Public Library, which houses "Linking with the Library" and the East Orange Board of Education which provides a school building and building principal to host the "Raising a Reader" project. The volunteer efforts are coordinated entirely by Link members.
Research: No formal research is being done. However, we follow up with families to invite them to our annual Kwanzaa celebration held at the East Orange Public Library.
THE KIDS ZONE MAGAZINE
America Reads Contact: Astrea Fall
1296 Marlkress Road
Cherry Hill, NJ
E-mail:
managingeditor@kidscreationzone.org
Internet Address: http://www.kidscreationzone.org/
Telephone: 856-216-9938
Fax: 856-216-9938
Participation: The Kids Creation Zone Magazine is nonprofit. The Kids Creation Zone Magazine's mission is promoting interactive literacy by merging new technology with good old fashioned book reading and writing.We ask that you bookmark this educational resource site. We have one website but at least one-thousand visitors a day. We servechildren ages 5-18 and also adults in our Moms Zone.
Tutoring: We currently have two volunteers. Just started in June 2000.
Research: We do not have materials available yet.We just started in June of 2000.
Relations: Yes, we have done some promoting.
Other Comments: Add us to your list of resources. We would be honored if you accepted us and offered guidance.
OPERATION BOOKWORM
America Reads Contact: Ellen Gordon & Eileen Zweig
P.O. Box 484
Monmouth Junction, NJ
E-mail:
elstgo@home.com
Internet Address:
www.operationbookworm.com
Telephone: (888)291-5061 pin #9391
Fax: (732) 329-2703
Participation: OPERATION BOOKWORM is a volunteer reading program in the South Brunswick, NJ public schools. It was created in 1991 to provide extra reading experiences for the beginning reader. Trained volunteers work one-to-one with selected kindergarten, first, and second grade students, helping them sort out the puzzle of reading.
Tutoring: Volunteers can include parents, community members, senior citizens, paraprofessionals, intermediate and high school students. At present, we have about 60 volunteers working in 5 schools within the district. Over the years over 200 parents and community members have been trained in OPERATION BOOKWORM techniques.
Our training program includes techniques included in the book OPERATION BOOKWORM: READING ACTIVITIES YOUR CHILD WILL LOVE. We are available to help other districts replicate this program.
This program supplements the early childhood curriculum and addresses the skills necessary to prepare a child to read and to become an independent reader. These educational needs include reading readiness (directionality, one-to-one correspondence, locating and recognizing letters and words in print, alphabet skills, and book knowledge) and reading and listening comprehension (story retelling, identifying parts of a story through different media, sequencing, and relating a story to personal enjoyment and experiences). Through OPERATION BOOKWORM the at-risk reader is able to focus on those skills needed to accelerate his reading ability. The reluctant/shy reader can build his confidence by reading in a one-to-one situation. The proficient reader has time to read extra books and do extension activities.
Resources: Our training program includes techniques and activities in the book OPERATION BOOKWORM: READING ACTIVITIES YOUR CHILD WILL LOVE. Information on obtaining the book can be found at www.operationbookworm.com . A coordinator in each building coordinates volunteer schedules, answers questions, observes volunteers to offer suggestions, and works closely with each volunteer. Most volunteers work during the school day. Our high school volunteers work after school under the supervision of a teacher/coordinator.
Research: OPERATION BOOKWORM targets the student needs that are identified on the Concepts About Print Test in kindergarten and the South Brunswick Literacy Portfolio in grade 1. The students' progress is evaluated by comparing students' scores on these measures at the beginning and end of the year.
Volunteers keep track of students' progress on a student activity sheet. Teachers and coordinators review these sheets throughout the year and meet with volunteers to talk about progress.
Relations: We have had articles about our program in the local newspapers. We presented workshops on OPERATION BOOKWORM at the fall 1998 Coalition of Essential Schools and the spring 1999 NJ Coalition of Essential Schools. We also won the NJ Department of Education's 1998-99 Best Practice Award.
PROJECT GRADUATION - Feed a Body...Feed a Mind
America Reads Contact: Heidi White
241 Watergate
Maple Shade, NJ
E-mail: heidiwhite@projectgrad.net
Internet Address: www.projectgrad.net
Telephone: 856-608-0480
Fax: 856-608-9552
Participation:The mission of Project Graduation - Feed a Body...Feed a Mind is to help alleviate illiteracy and hunger in America by asking graduates to donate children's books and non-perishable food items at their commencement ceremonies. Our goal is to make Project Graduation a tradition in our society by engaging schools at different grade levels across the nation. By bringing Project Graduation to schools, students help to build a bridge between the schools and their communities. Along the way, society takes one step closer to conquering illiteracy and hunger.
Tutoring: Project Graduation has been implemented in schools across america. We encourage schools who participate in program to donate the books they receive to organizations who will teach children to read. On our website, www.projectgrad.net are a list of national organizations who provide literacy tutoring to children.
Resources: Our website www.projectgrad.net has all the necessary information for student organizations to implement the program. We are not a tutoring organization, we are raising book donations to enhance the efforts of tutoring programs. In a recent study by California State University, 61% of low income families do not have a single suitable book in their homes for children. Our goal is to change that statistic.
Research: The website includes: flyers, logos, letters to school administration, press releases, and national tutoring programs for schools to donate the books too. We have also included a form for student organizations to submit to let us know they are participating.
Relations: The American Associations of Community Colleges has supported our efforts by publishing information to bring a greater awareness to the program. Other organizations, such as, BookPALS and Campus Compact have also submitted information. The Philadelphia Inquirer has helped to bring public awareness to the Delaware Valley. Most importantly we have provided press releases in the website for schools who participate in the program to mail out to their local media.
Other Comments: By bringing Project Graduation to schools, students help to build a bridge between the schools and their communities. Along the way, society takes one step closer to conquering illiteracy and hunger.
SOUTH JERSEY JEWISH COALITION FOR LITERACY
America Reads Contact:Matthew Goldberg
1301 Springdale Road, Suite 200
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
E-mail: mgoldberg@jfedsnj.org
Internet Address:
Telephone:
(856) 751-9500
Fax:(856) 751-1697
Participation:The South Jersey Jewish Coalition for Literacy, organized in the Fall of 1999, is an early childhood literacy organization affiliated with both America Reads and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. We are sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey, and additionally supported by private foundation sources, and community organizations who are invited to join us as Literacy Partners, contributing volunteers, help with projects (one-on-one reading mentoring, book drives, etc.) and a small contribution ($50).
Tutoring: Currently, over 120 volunteers have been one-on-one reading mentors, or BookMates, which is also the name of our programs. We interview all volunteers and require them to participate in our 2 1/2 hour training session. We provide follow-uo sessions and ongoing support. Our training programs are open to all.
Our program was piloted last January at two elementary schools in Camden City, NJ. for the 2000-2001 school year, we will expand to five elementary schools in Camden City, two elementary schools in Paulsboro, NJ, a special program in Cherry Hill, NJ and a probable expansion to Mt. Holly, NJ. We have already provided reading mentoring at the YMCA, the Strength To Love Learning Center, and the Camden City Summer rcreation program. We have involved the parents by close contact with our schools and special reading celebrations, and deliovery of books to the children's homes. We are planning (with the schools) family literacy programs that will enable and encourage parents to read with their children on an ongoing basis.
Resources: All of our volunteering (thus far) has been conducted during school or program hours, during the day. Our program has been staffed to this point by a coordinator, with support from the AmeriCorps/CNS. We have also employed (with a stipend) on-site coordinators at both of our schools to act as a liaison between (us) and the teachers/students.
Our training materials - provided to us by Dr. Judith Nadell - are provided to all of our volunteers at training meetings, and available to all who would like to examine it. We "exchange" training materials and tips with others in the NJCL, and other organizations such as Philadelphia Reads. To date, we have not done fundraisers per se, but are continually exploring grant sources. continually.
Research: We evaluate our program through end-of-session surveys of principals, teachers and our volunteers. This information, along with our close relationship with school personnel, allow us to update our program to best meet the needs of students, teachers, schools and volunteers.
Our materials are available to others, and can be obtained by phone (Matt Goldberg at (856) 751-9500, ext. 143, or by e-mail (mgoldberg@jfedsnj.org.) Write to: Matt Goldberg, SJJCL, 1301 Springdale Road, Suite 200, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.
Relations: We have promoted our efforts in a variety of ways: utilizing the local Jewish community newspaper, and press releases to other papers such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Courier-Post. We have designed a new brochure which has been circulated at special events, and sent to schools, community groups, synagogues and churches, etc. We also network with other literacy organizations, and publicize our events/progress within the NJCL network. We proactively work to build literacy coalitions, and now that we are more established look to develop a leadership role in bringing literacy and children's advocacy groups together.
Other Comments: Our focus thus far has been to rerach primarily students in kindergarten and first grade classrooms, although we have also sponsord school-wide activities. We are also a member of the Local Advisory Board of First Book, and plan and encourage book drives to go to the homes of disadvantaged children. thus far, we have delivered about 2,000 books with more on the way.
YOUTHLINE USA
America Reads Contact:Saki Dodelson
4581 Route 9 North
Howell, NJ
E-mail:
saki@youthline-usa.com
Internet Address: www.youthline_usa.com
Telephone: 732-886-0833
Fax: 732-886-5131
Tutoring: Offering curriculum based reading tools and activities to elementary and middle school students. Current news is used to provide children with interesting, changing reading content that encourages reading comprehension. Activities and puzzles encourage writing skills and student participation in essay contests, poetry contests, Design-an-Ad contests and the Kid Reporter Program. Our company arranges for corporate sponsorships to enable schools who cannot afford these tools to give their students these important resources.
Resources: My organization commits to provide the following: Continue to work with schools to develop curriculum-based reading content and activities. Continue to find corporate sponsors to work with us to enable additional schools to benefit from our reading resources. Offer our newspaper to summer schools, libraries, camps to ensure that reading continues throughout the summer months.
Research: Anyone can call or write or e-mail Youthline USA and receive information about the company, our programs and a free sample issue.
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