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

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN
President Michael Malone
America Reads Contact: Kathy Tanner
247 Reid Hall
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Email: zsa7043@montana.edu
Website: http://www.montana.edu/wwwoci/amreads.html
Telephone: 406-994-6902
Fax: 406-994-6889
Number of Students: 33
Number of Districts: 2

The America Reads program at Montana State Univeristy-Bozeman is coordinated by the MSU Office for Community Involvement. Our program enlists federal work-study, Montana Tutoring Corps Members and straight volunteers to serve as tutors in the public school system.  In the 1998-1999 academic year we have fifty tutors who are placed in nine different area schools.  Tutoring takes place in the schools, either in the classroom, in the study hall area or in the library. Our tutors are working in first grade through sixth grade classrooms.

In the 1997-1998 academic year we oversaw a total of thirty-one tutors working in eight different schools in the Bozeman area.  They provided over 4800 hours of quality tutoring to improve literacy in our community's youth.

Our tutors receive seven hours or orientation and training prior to placement.  Dr. Ann DeOnis, a reading specialist in the MSU Department of Education and Laura Massey in the MSU Health and Human Development Department provide the core tutor training.  Each tutor also submits to a criminal background check at their own expense.

All tutors are supported in their work by an America Reads Advisor who is a tutor as well, but who also acts as a peer advisor; they observe tutors in the classroom, act as problem-solvers with teacher/tutor issues, they coordinate monthly roundtable meetings, assist in the coordination of the program from the university end, and they act as the on-site liaison between the public schools and the Office for Community Involvement.

SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE
President: Joseph F. McDonald
America Reads Contact: Lois Slater
Address: P.O. Box 117
Pablo, MT
Email: lois_slater@skc.edu
Telephone: (406)675-4800, ext. 200
Fax: (406)675-2427
Number of Students: 5
Number of Districts: #28

Five College Student worked at Pablo Elementary School tutoring students in the grades kindergarten to the third grade. They assisted students with reading skills, assist students with word processor and layout of books, assisted students with alphabet and pronunciation, assisted students in completing their reading assignments, listen to students read, editing children's writing, publishing student books, listened to kids, transcribe books the kids wrote and helped kids with readers workshop activities.

UNIVERSITY OF GREAT FALLS
President: Dr. Frederick Gilliard
America Reads Contact: Cathy Day, Service-Learning Director
1301 20th Street South
Great Falls, MT
Email: cday@ugf.edu
Telephone: 406-791-5217
Fax: 406-791-5220
Number of FWS Students: 10
Number of Districts: 1

The University of Great Falls (UGF) America Reads program is a partnership between the UGF Office of Service-Learning and the Great Falls Public School District. Ten FWS students tutor in elementary school enhancing literacy efforts in grades K-3. The main focus of this initiative is to serve in the district's "extended day" kindergarten program which is an early prevention program which uses developmentally appropriate instruction to develop academic readiness and social skills of identified students. The tutors spend time with students in small concept groups helping them to fashion the building blocks necessary for reading readiness. Tutors also assist literacy specialist in the schools to work with individual children who need help in learning to read or improving their skills.

The university and the school district have jointly prepared a training program and on-going support for the tutors. Recruitment, screening and documentation is the responsibility of the UGF Office of Service-Learning. An Americorps members, who is part of a campus-based national service program under the auspices of the Office of Service-Learning, serves as the coordinator of this effort under the supervision of the Director of Service-Learning. This program is enhanced by the UGF Tutoring Corps, another campus-based Americorps programs, which engaged members (9) in tutoring and mentoring activities with children grades K-8.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
President: George Dennison
America Reads Contact: Marian J. McKenna, Ph.D., Literacy Associate Professor
School of Education
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
E-mail: mjm@selway.umt.edu
Telephone: (406) 243-4915
Fax: (406) 243-4908
Number of FWS students: 12

Tutoring takes place at three elementary schools in Missoula County Public Schools: Emma Dickinson School, Lowell School, and Hawthorn School. Each tutor spends 10 hours per week in the assigned elementary school and assists K-3 students during the regular school hours.

Nineteen university students applied for the fifteen available work study positions. Next, the three literacy professors at the University of Montana interviewed the applicants. Twelve qualified university students were hired; four were assigned to each of the three participating elementary schools. Facilitated by the literacy professors and prior to working in the schools, the tutors attended a three-hour training program. Invited guests included the principals and participating elementary teachers.

In addition to the initial training, the three literacy professors visit with the students and teachers in their respective school buildings to provide support, opportunities for reflection, and any other training that may be necessary. We have also had informal training dinners in partnership with the Volunteer Action Services office on this campus, whereby we may all work together to brainstorm solutions to any problems from scheduling to reading instructional strategies. These dinners allow us to discuss the larger implications and student reflections about their work and the experience of many members of a community working towards a common goal.
 

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This page last updated October 21, 1999 (saw).