A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives

ARIZONA

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
President Lattie F. Coor
America Reads Contact: James D. Hurwitz
P.O. Box 870212
Tempe, AZ 85287-0212
Email: jwitz@asuvm.inre.asu.edu
Telephone: (602) 965-5290  Fax: (602) 965-2182  
Number of FWS students: Currently 17

The America Reads program at Arizona State University is currently working with eight local area Tempe elementary schools (Wood, Nevitt, Broadmor, Holdeman, Laird, Thew, Curry and Meyer Elementary); in conjunction with the Tempe after-school program known as Kid Zone. The leaders work with children from ages 5-9 (approximately Kindergarten through third grade). The actual site of the tutoring varies from school to school. Several schools provide the leaders with space in their libraries, others allow us to use their classrooms, music rooms or even auditoriums.

The America Reads program also serves three Phoenix elementary schools (Lowell, Dunbar and Tertulia Elementary) in a Saturday program based at a local branch of the Phoenix Public Library. At the Saturday sessions several bilingual leaders read in both Spanish and English to ensure that the children can read no matter what the language. There are approximately 300 children participating in the America Reads program valley wide and we intend to increase that number within the next year. The community and the university have been a great help to the success of the program, specifically the help of Changing Hands Bookstore, Phoenix Public Library and the Educational Field Experiences office of ASU made our program a success.

Our training is based around a curriculum that was developed by two students in the education college. It centers around award winning children's books with the intent to capture a child's interest in reading rather that force a child to learn. Each book that is in our curriculum is followed by a list of several literacy enrichment activities that a leader can do. These activities often include story maps, readers' theater, paired readings, writing activities, art activities and character mobiles. We have found the children enjoy readers' theater and art activities the most.

Currently we have been receiving large amounts of publicity. First from the ASU faculty and staff paper known as the ASU Insight. Next week we expect another article in the student paper known as the State Press. Within the month a television crew is expected to arrive to highlight the America Reads program. Hopefully this will boost awareness of the program as well as participation both academically and financially.

DeVRY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, PHOENIX
President James A. Dugan
America Reads Contact: Janet M. Ciancio
2149 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona
Email: jciancio@devry-phx.edu Internet Address: www.devry-phx.edu
Telephone: (602)870-0981, ext.374 Fax: (602)870-9761
Number of FWS Students: 5 Number of Districts: 1

We have five students tutoring at Washington Elementary School which is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Three of them tutor in the classroom in the morning hours one-on-one with students who are falling behind in reading skills. We also have two tutors who work in the afternoons. These tutors work in the classrooms and in the special after-hours reading program. Three of the tutors are bi-lingual, and communicate with their students in both English and Spanish.

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President Larry K. Chriatiansen
America Reads Contact: Susan McGill
1833 W. Southern Ave.
Mesa, AZ
Email: mcgill@mc.maricopa.edu
Internet Address: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/stuserv/cppolicy
Telephone: (602) 461-7393 Fax: (602) 461-7816
Number of FWS Students: 12 Number of Districts: 1

At Mesa Community College the America Reads Program is administered throught the campus service learning office. We have hired twelve federal work study students as America Reads Tutors, placed at two different elementary schools in the area, where they work up to 10 hours per week. This semester (Spring 98) we opened up the America Reads Challenge to teachers who would integrate service learning into their curriculum and give students credit for volunteering their time reading to children. Our offer was met with great entheusiasm and has contributed to the tremendous growth of our America Reads program by providing 12 more student tutors willing to make a difference!

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
President Clara Lovett
America Reads Contact: Tamara C. Van Sickle
PO Box 5664
Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011
Email: tcv@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Internet Address: www.nau.edu/finaid/Employment/OnCampus/AmReads
Telephone: (520) 523-0351 Fax: (520) 523-9463
Number of Tutors: 65 (Reads), 30 (Counts)

At N.A.U., we've had a great response from students wanting to go into the elementary schools to help children read, especially from Elementary Education majors. Our program currently consists of 70% Education majors. Our program is coordinated through the Office of Financial Aid by a graduate student in Education. N.A.U. America Reads Tutors work mostly in classrooms during the school day at Flagstaff Unified School District Elementary Schools. Some tutors also work with children at local community after-school programs. Our reading programs have been extended to also include five non-profit agencies, four charter institutions, and many extended day programs.

The local school district, the university's Center for Excellence in Education, and N.A.U. AmeriCorps have all been very supportive of the America Reads Challenge. The school district has offered to waive the fee for fingerprinting and background checks for all tutors that help children at FUSD schools. A professor from the Center for Excellence in Education has provided tutor training, and AmeriCorps has helped us build objectives and evaluation instruments. We also work with AmeriCorps to offer America Reads/Counts tutors the opportunity to earn AmeriCorps Education Only awards.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
President Dr. Peter Likins
America Reads Contact: Nancy Killian
Admin. Bldg. Rm 203 P O Box 210066
Tucson, AZ
Email: killiann@u.arizona.edu Internet Address: http://www.ed.arizona.edu/STS/america_reads.htm
Telephone: (520) 621-5201 Fax: (520) 521-9473
Number of FWS Students: 157 Number of Districts: 4+

We have our America Reads (AR) divided into 4 main employers: the College of Education with 80 tutors; UA-Sierra Vista with 40; APEX (Academic Preparation for Excellence) with 22; and, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson with 15. As of the end of February, our tutors have logged over 9,500 hours of service and earned over $71,000.00 in four different school districts in two different counties. By the end of this fiscal year, we anticipate our student earnings to reach $120,000.00. We have used several different materials for training, including the America Reads Handbooks for Tutors and Coordinators. We have kept in contact with our tutors through web sites, list services, and bi-weekly meetings with site coordinators. Except for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, most of our tutoring is done within the normal elementary school day, Monday through Friday. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson have a more open format with tutoring taking place after school and on weekends. We have had several articles written and published in local papers that created more community interest. Reading some of the student evaluations has shown that this program has affected hundreds of children and students throughout our communities. Below are some of the tutors' own words about how they feel about the AR program:

"I read a children's book that I had written and illustrated to a big group of students and they really enjoyed it as much as I did." "My kids and I made up our own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. We had so much fun doing the song and they liked to go back and look at their own songs." "One boy who was a 'trouble maker' in class saw me reading daily with other students in his class. He came and asked if he could read with me; it was wonderful." "I have had the honor and privilege to work and learn with a bright, talented girl that had a huge influence on me psychologically. She will definitely be a role model for her classmates and me."

-###-

[ALASKA] [ARKANSAS]