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[OREGON] Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives
BARTLESVILLE WESLEYAN COLLEGE
President: Dr. Paul R. Mills
America Reads Contact: Mr. Lee Kanakis
2201 Silver Lake Road
Bartlesville, OK 74006
Email: oslcfinaid@bwc.edu
Website: www.bwc.edu !--/A-->
Telephone: 918.335.6282
Fax: 918.335.6229
Number of FWS Students: 4
Number of Districts: 2
Comments: In the 1999-2000 academic year, four students served as reading tutors in younger grades in the Bartlesville (OK) School District in three primary schools. This fall, we will be adding a reading tutor in the Dewey (OK) School District, in a younger primary grade. We, as well, will continue to support the Literacy Project of Bartlesville (adult) with one student, which is our second year to be involved with their fine organization. We do take letters of request from area groups to assist us in meeting our 7% Community Service Invovlement commitment within our federal work-study program.
NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
President: Dr. Larry Williams
America Reads Contact: Vice President Jocelyn Lee Payne
600 North Grand
Tahlequah, OK
Email: payne@nsuok.edu
Website: www.nsuok.edu
Telephone: 918-456-5511 X2050
Fax: 918-458-2350
Number of FWS Students: 7
Number of Districts: 3
The America Reads implementation team at Northeastern State University combined the talents and efforts of the Vice President for Administration, the College of Education, the NSU Literacy Center, and the Office of Student Financial Services. This team worked in conjunction with Tahlequah, Muskogee and Westville Public Schools to outline and meet the needs of K-3 students through our "Reading Partners" program.
The NSU version of the America Reads Challenge includes a curriculum and training program developed and implemented by Dr. Johnnye Morton, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction for the College of Education at NSU. Qualified Federal College Work Study students were carefully selected and trained to begin the Reading Partners program. Through an arrangement with local schools, the poorest readers from first grade classrooms were selected to work with an NSU Reading Partner. Within 12 to 16 weeks these students should be at the middle reading level for their grade. The cycle will continue until all of these students have become independent readers. We plan to refine and expand this model to help even more students.
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
President James Halligan
America Reads Contact: Beverly Morris
101 Hanner Hall
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Email: bmorris@okway.okstate.edu
Telephone: (405) 744-6402
Fax: (405) 744-6438
Number of Students: 30
Number of Districts: 3
The America Reads program at Oklahoma State currently involves Federal Work-Study tutors working in school districts and a homeless shelter. Work-Study students of all majors are welcome to apply. However, the tutors are hired by the site supervisors. Once hired, the tutors participate in two training sessions. Under the direction of the elementary teachers, the tutors work with small groups and one on one. The tutors strive to help the children improve their reading skills, self-esteem and motivation twoards reading.
At OSU, the program is managed by the Work-Study Coordinator and a Graduate Assistant. The FWS staff is constantly evaluating the program. For the 1998-99 school year, we hope to have approximately 40 tutors.
ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
President: Richard Roberts
America Reads Contact: Cheryl C. Mercier
7700 South Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK
Email: cmercier@oru.edu
Telephone: (918) 495-7038
Fax: (918) 495-6803
SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
President: Dr. Loren Gresham
America Reads Contact: Rick Powell
6729 N.W. 39 Expressway
Bethany, OK
Email: rpowell@snu.edu
Website: www.snu.edu
Telephone: (405) 491-6333
Fax: (405) 491-6381
We are placing students in two different districts that are close to the university.
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA
President: Dr. Roy Troutt
America Reads Contact: Darla Powell
Box 82345
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Email: dpowell@usao.edu
Website: www.usao.edu
Telephone: 405-224-3140 ext 353
Fax: 405 522-3176
Number of FWS Students: 3
Number of Districts: 1
Elementary Education majors are tutoring in an area elementary school. Both the tutors, the school as well as the children have been excited about the program.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
President: Robert W. Lawless
America Reads Contact: Kathy Brittingham
600 South College Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
E-mail: kathryn-brittingham@utulsa.edu
Telephone: (918)631-2526
Fax: (918)631.5105
Number of FWS students: 35 students as reading tutors
The University of Tulsa has an Office of University & Community Service which has contacted the elementary and middle schools within walking distance of the University of Tulsa. We have placed students in the classrooms for the Fall 1997 semester as assistants to the teachers. Once these students are familiar with the class, teacher and students we will begin to use them as reading tutors in the classrooms. The students help during school hours. This will be beneficial not only to the students but to the tutors because the teacher will be there to help with problems. The FWS students work with the elementary students in small groups or one on one.
We currently have 35 students placed in two elementary schools which serve K-5 grades. The University of Tulsa also has several students placed in the middle school close to campus. We have several elementary education majors who are placed in the elementary schools. This not only is valuable experience for these majors, but the FWS students have the background to assist the students better.
The University of Tulsa had started just placing a few students in the schools in the last two years. Since the America Reads Challenge, we have significantly increased the number of FWS students working in the classrooms and are developing on-going relationships with these schools.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
President: David L. Boren
America Reads Contact: Matt Hamilton
731 Elm Ave., Rm 125
Norman, Oklahoma 73019-2111
Email: mhamilton@ou.edu
Telephone: (405) 325-5505
Fax: (405) 325-0819
Number of Students: 21
OU's tutoring program for 1997/98 employed college students to work one-on-one with at-risk children (grades 1-3) in two schools in an urban district and one school in a rural district. Prior to beginning the tutoring, all prospective tutors were interviewed to determine their desire to help young children having trouble learning how to read. The tutors then participated in 15 hours of training by the program coordinator (a certified Reading Specialist), who also monitored the tutors periodically during the tutoring sessions, facilitated weekly problem-solving sessions, and acted as the liaison from OU to the schools. In addition, the coordinator tutored some children at one of the schools. The teachers reported an appreciation of the extra boost the tutoring gave to their at-risk children in reading, especially the positive effects on their interest and attitude toward reading. The tutors expressed feelings of accomplishment with the children in their reading and writing and an inprovement in the children's competence in themselves as readers.
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