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[MINNESOTA]
Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives
ADRIAN COLLEGE
President: Stanley P. Caine
America Reads Contact: Thomas Rodgers
Address: 110 South Madison Street
Adrian, MI
Email:
trodgers@adrian.adrian.edu
Internet Address: www.adrian.edu
Telephone: (517)265-5161
Fax: (517)264-3216
Number of FWS Students: 15
Number of Districts: 4
CALVIN COLLEGE
President: Dr. Gaylen Byker
America Reads Contact: Rhonda Berg, Service-Learning Center
Address: 3201 Burton SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546
Email: Berg@Calvin.edu
Internet Address: www.calvin.edu/admin/slc/
Telephone: 616-957-6455 Fax: 616-957-6655
Number of FWS Students: 10
Calvin College is piloting an America Reads Program in Rehoboth and Churchrock New Mexico in conjunction with an off-campus program in which 17 Calvin students are participating in. Education. Principals of the Rehoboth Christian School and the Churchrock Public Schools were very eager to receive the tutors. Four of the Work-Study students tutor two mornings a week in the Churchrock setting for a total of 5 hours each and six spend 4 hours a week with at Rehoboth working with the teachers and children. A unique aspect of the program is that all of the students participating in the Semester program are also participating in the program. Calvin College is funding the wages of the 7 students who are not eligible so that all of the students in this program can have this experience and so that there can be a greater impact with children in reading in these schools.
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
President: William E. Shelton
America Reads Contact: Dale L. Rice, Director
Address: Office of Academic Service-Learning, 202 Rackham
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48179
Email:
dale.rice@emich.edu
Internet Address: http://www.emich.edu
Telephone: 734.487.3300
Fax: 734.487.2473
Number of FWS Students: 30
Number of Districts: N/A
Our tutors are serving over 100 children in three housing neighborhoods. Ten members tutor children two nights a week at each site. Members are assigned from 3-7 and tutor, engaged children in educational games and activities, use computers and show educational video tapes. We partners with Food Gathers who supply snacks and the local newspaper publishers who deliver complimentary copies of the current daily papers to our children. We have two VISTA members and a part time community coordinator. They are reaching out for resident support. Tutors are trained on campus by a reading specialist from the College of Education.
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President: Richard Calkins
America Reads Contact: Martha Cox
Address: 143 Bostwick NE
Grand Rapids, MI
Email:
mcox@post.grcc.cc.mi.us
Telephone: 616-771-4168
Fax: 616-771-4019
Number of FWS Students: 28
Our tutors were interviewed in August and went through a short training period prior to Sept. All tutors began tutoring in mid September. All of our tutors are doing one to one tutoring in four elementary schools during the day.
On Fridays all tutors meet with the director to share information, discuss ideas and also listen to speaker and trainers that are brought in.
KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President:Marilyn Schlack
America Reads Contact: Roger K. Miller
Address: P.O. Box 4070 / 6767 West 'O' Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI
Email: rmiller@kvcc.edu
Website:
http://www.kvcc.edu
Telephone:
(616) 372-5340
Fax: (616) 372-5120
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has partnered with Portage Public Schools to provide reading tutor opportunities for eligible and interested KVCC students. Students selected for this program were required to attend an orientation session conducted by the College and tutor training sessions conducted by a reading specialist from the PPS system. Tutors were assigned to one of eight K-6 buildings where they were paired with classroom teachers. Tutors scheduled their tutoring time with their assigned teacher during the school day (8:40 am - 3:30 pm) Monday through Friday.
The K-6 reading specialist in cooperation with classroom teachers, provided progressive and on- going tutor training. The College hosted a recognition and input session with program participants.
MARTYRS OF UGANDA CATHOLIC ACADEMY
President: Mrs. S.N. Stephen
America Reads Contact: Sharon Nattee-Stephen
Address: 4317 Blaine St.
Detroit, Michigan 48223
Email: SNS1234@aol.com Telephone:
(313) 361-1065
Fax: (313) 897-2840
This program has generated interest in the students after school. They help younger students read. We would like to expand our program more with the community as well. We are looking for a University that will take part in our program and let their students participate in the work study program.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
President: M. Peter McPherson
America Reads Contact: Karen McKnight Casey
Address: 131 Brody Hall, M.S.U.
East Lansing, Michigan 48825
Email: amreads@msu.edu
Web: http://www.msu.edu/~amreads
Telephone: 517-353-3897
Fax: 517-432-3696
# of FWS tutors: 85-100
The America Reads initiative at Michigan State University (MSU), begun in 1997, partners with the Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan, public school districts in placing MSU students receiving federal work-study funds as literacy tutors in local elementary schools. In Lansing, tutors serve in total of 34 buildings in before, during and after-school settings. In East Lansing, tutors work in after-school programs servicing 6 elementary schools. The initiative is targeted toward students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd, with some work being done in special population pre-schools and remedial programs for the upper elementary grades.
Housed and managed within University Outreach Partnerships, MSU America Reads is a collaborative involving the Office of the President, University Outreach, the Offices of Financial Aid and Student Employment, the Service-Learning Center, and the Departments of Teacher Education, and Family and Child Ecology. Through a special arrangement with the Office of the Mayor, the Lansing Police Department provides background checks at no charge. Training and supervision is handled jointly by the MSU America Reads office and the school districts, with the schools being responsible for site-specific training. The program is operated within a service-learning model, providing on-campus orientation, on-going training and e-mail contact, reflection-discussion sessions, a year-end recognition event and evaluation. MSU President M. Peter McPherson serves on the national America Reads Challenge Board of College and University Presidents. In 1999, MSU added an America Counts initiative housed within the America Reads office. This has added the involvement of 4 middle schools to the collaboration.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR
President: Lee Bollinger
America Reads Contact: Carolyn Schrodel, Program Coordinator
Address: 1024 Hill Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
E-mail: cschrode@umich.edu
Telephone: (734) 647-7766
Fax: (734) 647-7464
Number of FWS students: 84
Recruitment for the University of Michigan America Reads Tutoring Corps began with a letter from the Provost to all incoming first year students informing them of this unique opportunity. From this and from a campus wide email there was a response from over 400 students. Through an application and interview process 84 students are now participating.
The program at the University of Michigan is a collaboration of the Center for Learning through Community Service, the Office of Financial Aid and the School of Education. A steering committee was formed with representatives from each of the aforementioned offices plus two community members with a keen interest in education.
Seven schools in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area were chosen based upon high interest of the principal and the classroom teachers and schools which included a population in need of extra academic support. Believing that early intervention is critical in the learning process, we have concentrated our efforts on kindergarten and first grade children. The time and location of tutoring was left to the discretion of each site, giving the University of Michigan several different models with which to work. This has resulted in before, during and after school models.
Tutors participated in an orientation session and two, 3 1/2 hour training prior to beginning their tutoring. Developed in cooperation with the School of Education, each site has a set of little books with cards and take-home books for the children. Tutors were instructed how to best utilize these books with their students. Ongoing training will occur during the year to allow for discussion, questions, and further education.
A newsletter was sent to the families of all participants to keep them informed about America Reads, both at their school and the others in the area. It will also serve as a vehicle for giving parents ideas on how to incorporated America Reads into their daily routines.
An end of year celebration is planned for tutors and their students.
An assessment was developed and administered to help evaluate America Reads, with each student having a final profile. Questionaires are being distributed to all people involved in the program: principals, teachers, tutors, supervisors, students and parents. Plans are being made for continuation through the summer and expansion in the fall.
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This page last updated May 14, 1999 (lw/pjk)