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America Reads On-Site Coordinators, from l-r, Miranda Edler of Forreston; Alicia Pachla of St. Charles; Eric Born of Menomonee, WI; America Reads Director Jon Jones; Bill Erickson of Joliet; Rebecca Peak of Winchester; Krisha Otto of Farmer City; and Stacie Pettigout of Granite City. Not pictured is Kayla Starman of Macomb.
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WIU Continues Its Commitment to America Reads

April 17, 2007

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MACOMB, IL -- Reading is a skill that is developed not only in the classroom but also in the home and the community. At Western Illinois University some students are doing their part in helping local elementary age students fine-tune their reading skills.

As part of the federal America Reads Challenge initiative, Western students are serving as tutors for students at Lincoln, Edison, St. Paul and Calvary Baptist schools in Macomb. WIU began its participation in the federal program in Fall 1997. Jon Jones, WIU curriculum and instruction professor and WIU Reading Center director, said the program, coordinated through the Reading Center in the department of curriculum and instruction, has grown dramatically since its inception. Each semester, approximately 105 WIU students serve as tutors for more than 100 elementary age children.

"When we began this program 10 years ago the teachers indicated an interest in an after-school program, so we started providing one-on-one tutoring twice a week for children with any kind of reading difficulty or need, and that commitment to the schools has continued to evolve over the years," Jones said. "Comments from teachers and parents have been positive, and we have been fortunate to be able to continue the program each academic year since its beginning."

He added that, since funds that make the program possible originate with the federal government, the work of Rita King in the WIU Financial Aid office have been crucial to the program.

Cindy Dooley, chair of WIU's curriculum and instruction department, said through programs such as this, Western's pre-service teachers gain "valuable teaching experience."

"At the same time they are gaining experience they are performing a tremendous service for the young children in the schools and the community," Dooley said.

Bill Erickson, a graduate student from Joliet (IL) and one of the on-site coordinators for America Reads, said this service provides extra assistance at no cost to the school district or the participants.

"You really can't underestimate the tutoring instruction for the kids; it's a powerful learning tool," he added.

According to Jones, the volunteer tutors typically work four days a week with one to three students at Lincoln, St. Paul's and Calvary Baptist schools, and with small groups at Edison. Sessions are one-hour long for each student or group. The grade school teachers recommend students, with parental approval, for the tutoring sessions, Jones added.

"The students have demonstrated improvement in basic reading skills, in following directions on assignments and an increased interest in reading on their own," Jones said.

If parents or teachers are concerned their children or students aren't developing reading skills, or don't seem to be progressing in school, the WIU Reading Center will provide assessments, free of charge. The center is located in Horrabin Hall 46 on the WIU campus.

Jones said reading skills and literacy should begin at home when a child is quite young. Besides reading to children from birth, parents should also make books important.

"I also tell parents to engage their children in conversation as much as possible. A child has to have adequate oral language development before she/he can learn to read," Jones explained. "Give your children a wide range of experiences during their first five years and talk about these experiences with them. It does not necessarily have to be anything outstanding, even a trip to the store can elicit discussion."

Reading to children at an early age, encouraging them to talk and encouraging their interest in books and reading significantly increases their chances of reading and learning success, he stressed.

"We are glad to provide the tutoring service to the elementary school students, and also to help children through assessments conducted at our Reading Center," Jones said.

For more information on the America Reads initiative or the WIU Reading Center, contact Jones at 309/298-1750 or HJ-Jones1@wiu.edu.




Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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