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

How to Implement an America Reads Tutoring Program or a Family Literacy Project on Your Campus

• Begin by visiting the America Reads website at www.ed.gov/americareads
  • Link to "Resources and Research" which is listed as a header on the Introductory Page of the America Reads website.
  • Some Resources that you will find helpful include:
    • The America Reads Challenge Resource Kit;
    • Reading Helpers: A Guide for Training Tutors;
    • Read*Write*Now! Kit; and
    • Simple Things You Can Do to Help All Children Read Well and Independently by the End of Third Grade;

• Contact a colleague at one of the participating universities to talk with them about their America Reads program.
  • For a list of colleges and universities, that have voluntarily provided us with information on their program, visit the America Reads Online Directory or see the College/University Honor Roll.

• Identify and contact potential partners where America Reads and Family Literacy work-study tutors can be placed.
  • Talk with someone from the local school district, the state department of education, or the college/school of education at your university to inquire about the preschools or elementary schools in your area where partnerships exist.
  • Call the toll-free family literacy hotline at 1-877-FAMLIT-1 for locating family literacy programs in your community or for general information about family literacy visit the family literacy web site at www.famlit.org
  • Contact community organizations that have an interest in children's literacy such as youth groups, boys and girls clubs, bookstores, local PTAs, childcare centers, religious organizations, or libraries as possible sites for tutoring.

• Advertise tutoring opportunities to the work-study students at your institution.
  • Send a personal letter to all work-study students informing them about the tutoring possibilities as part of their work-study employment.
  • When students are notified of their federal work-study award, send them information about tutoring opportunities.

• Send copies of the WE WANT YOU brochure, available through EDPUBS 1-877-4ED-PUBS, to administrative offices on campus, such as the school/department of education, the provost office, the office of student life, the service learning office, and the office of student affairs to inform them about the tutoring opportunities. Ask for their assistance in recruiting work-study students as tutors.

• Prepare an article for the campus newspaper that describes the America Reads Challenge, the Family Literary Program and the Community Service requirement. The America Reads office (202) 401-8888, will be happy to assist you with anecdotes as well as descriptions of programs on other campuses.

• Plan for tutor training. Faculty in the school/college of education, or school district, or literacy organizations in your community may provide training. The FWS student may be paid for a reasonable amount of time spent in training.
  • In addition to the America Reads website, check for training materials at the National Service Resource Center
  • A tutor training video, "Delivering Effective Tutor Training" the April 26, 1999 National Satellite Teleconference is available through EDPUBS.

• The federal government does not require additional paperwork for meeting the tutoring requirement. Information about the number of tutors and the community service requirement will be recorded on the FISAP annual report.

For additional information contact:

The America Reads Challenge
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-0107
americareads@ed.gov
1-800-USA-LEARN

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