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[MONTANA]Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives
CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
President Dr. Ed Elliott
America Reads Contact: Glenda Goetz
Humphreys-120
Warrensburg, Missouri
Email:
gmg8830@cmsu2.cmsu.edu
Telephone: 660-543-4061
Fax: 660-747-1393
Number of FWS Students: 10
Number of Districts: 2
The America Reads Challenge began as a pilot program for CMSU with 10 FWS students serving in 4 different elementary schools in two communities. The elementary schools have been very cooperative and appreciative of the tutoring program. The tutors are all education majors and received training before beginning their tutoring. The tutor training booklet published by the IRA proved to be very helpful. The university hopes to expand the program in the fall.
CLEVELAND CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGE
President Carl S. Cleveland III
America Reads Contact: Ann De Boef, Director of Financial Aid
6401 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
E-mail:
ann@cleveland.edu
Telephone:
(800) 274-0617
Fax: (816) 363-8458
Number of FWS students:
30
Cleveland Chiropractic College believes that the success of this program began with the appointment of an America Reads Program Coordinator. The student chosen was one of the top tutors at our college. The coordinator's sole purpose was to focus on the start-up plans and logistics of the program. The first step the coordinator took was to contact several community schools, libraries, and other organizations which work with children and their academic development. Most of the people contacted were very enthusiastic about the prospect of receiving volunteer help. In fact, we had to limit the number of institutions we would be able work with in the program. We based our decision on the following criteria: 1) places with the highest level of need; 2) places where our students could make the most positive impact: 3) locations of the institutions (location was very important to our graduate/professional students who are in class/labs an average of 30-35 hours a week). We chose three places to initiate this program: Ladd Elementary, Phillip Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Elementary School, and the Kansas City Public Library system.
Ladd Elementary is an Afrocentric elementary school and Phillip Elementary features several art classes in their curriculum. Our students tutor during and after school, focusing on reading skills. The Kansas City Public Library system involve our tutors in their Homework Helpers program and the Stories-To-Go program.
The Coordinator and the Financial Aid Director chose the best qualified and hired our first thirty students. The thirty were then divided into three groups to match with the institutions that we had selected. Each institution provided their own training along with lesson materials, ideas, and other pertinent resources. In order to foster a strong feeling of teamwork and cooperation, we named our program "CHEERS!" (Cleveland Helps Educate Elementary Readers Succeed) and provided t-shirts with the CHEERS logo for all participants. Our college has been very supportive and will be featuring the "America Reads Program," on the front page of the October issue of our newsletter.
Now that the program is operational, the Coordinator follows up with each tutor on a weekly basis and the tutors, the Coordinator, and the Director of Financial Aid also meet monthly. We will also conduct formal evaluations at the end of each trimester.
Even though we have just started the CHEERS program this summer, we have received many calls from other schools and community services requesting our help. As far as our resources take us, we intend to continue to reach out to places where we may be of service. This is a very rewarding program, truly a win/win situation for all involved.
DRURY COLLEGE
President Dr. John E. Moore, Jr.
America Reads Contact: Barbara Pruett
900 N. Benton Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
Email: bpruett@lib.drury.edu
Internet Address: www.drury.edu/HR
Telephone: 417.873.7529
Fax: 417.873.7257
MISSOURI WESTERN STATE COLLEGE
President: Dr. Janet Murphy
America Reads Contact:Michael Ritter
4525 Downs Drive SU-231
St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
Email:
amreads@mwsc.edu
URL:
www.mwsc.edu
Telephone: (816) 271-5854
Fax: (816) 271-4271
Number of Students:
Number of Districts: 1
Our college-based program utilizes the time and talents of Missouri Western State College Federal Work-study students as reading tutors and mentors to children grades K-6. Tutors are placed at local elementary schools, community centers which house after school programs, and a family literacy program in the St. Joseph community. The purpose of our America Reads program is to increase the percentage of elementary school children achieving targeted skill levels in reading and critical thinking and to ensure that each child has the opportunity to get additional reading assistance. We also focus on increasing volunteerism in the St. Joseph community and creating a strong base of support to build a united front on behalf of our children.
PARK COLLEGE
President Dr. Don Breckon
America Reads Contact: Barbaba Boyd
8700 River Park Drive Box 44
Parkville, Missouri 64152
Email: finaid@mail.park.edu
Telephone:
(816) 741-2000 X6388
Fax: (816) 741-9668
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
President Manuel Pacheco
America Reads Contact: Dr. Joseph A. Johnston
305 Noyes Building
Columbia, MO
Email:
edcojaj@showme.missouri.edu
Telephone:
573-882-0699
Fax: 573-882-5440
A community-based literacy program called "A Way With Words" operates in the public schools and other community sites with 130 tutors currently working in 12 sites led by 12 graduate students. Many of the tutors are combining work study funds with the AmeriCorps Education Awards Program. Faculty members and community experts collaborate to train tutors on topics including cultural diversity and personal biases as well as providing a strong foundation in effective tutoring.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
President Mark Wrighton
America Reads Contact: James McDonald
One Brookings Drive, Box 1041
St Louis, MO 63130
Email: FINANCIAL@wustl.edu
URL: http://www.wustl.edu/
Telephone:
314-935-6847
Fax: 314-935-4037
Number of Students: 65
Number of Districts: 1
Tutoring takes place during elementary school hours. One on one turoring is provided to teacher selected elementary students. After school tutoring occurs at the local public library.
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This page last updated December 5, 2000 (lvb)