April 2018 Newsletter
Celebrating 15 Years of
Turning the Page on Childhood Literacy!
Super FAST WORDS that all children need to know!

You read them so effortlessly, you don't even realize you're doing it. They are the 100 most common words - known as "sight" or "fast" words - 
that serve as the foundation for reading and writing fluency and comprehension. Examples include: that, from, would, people. ( Click here to view the complete list. )

Most of these words cannot be "sounded out" because they do not follow basic phonetic principles. When children develop automaticity with fast words, they are able to focus their efforts on decoding complex words .  

"Sight words account for up to 75 percent of the words used in early reader books," says Marla Guziec, Site Coordinator for 1st and 2nd grade at Forrestal Elementary School. "In fact, the first 100 sight words represent more than 50 percent of English text."

Word Wall list on the bottom right

Reading Power tutors work closely with children to learn the first 100 fast words during 1st grade. Individual  Word Wall charts are proudly displayed and used at every tutoring session as children mark the words they've mastered and take on new challenges. 

Each day, the tutor and student choose a fast word to learn. They write it on a white board, look for it in books they're reading and practice using it in a sentence. Then the child takes the word home to write it five times or more, and to look for the word in books. 

"Some words don't have meaning (for example: of)," explains Marla, "so it's important to use it in a sentence to attach meaning to the word." 

Once a child has mastered the list of 100 fast words, he or she is awarded a Reading Power Certificate of Accomplishment,  and an opportunity to lap the room for high fives and congratulations.

"It's a big accomplishment to learn all 100 fast words.  It means so much to these students," concludes Marla. "I never get tired of seeing their joy!"
 

Did someone forward this email to you?
Text LEARNTOREAD to #22828
and join the conversation!

 
Tutor Spotlight:  Beverly Jones

Beverly Jones knows a thing or two about teaching children, having spent 33 years as an educator in North Chicago. Bev taught 5th grade for most of those years, and remembers well how a lack of confidence cast a long shadow over struggling readers. "The first thing we had to do was convince them that they could do well," she says.
 
Beverly retired in 2011 and began tutoring with Reading Power at Beulah Elementary School in Zion shortly thereafter. "Honestly, I was a little afraid of teaching the 'little people,'" she admits. But after receiving comprehensive training and seeing the program in action, she was hooked.
 
"I just fell in love with it," she says. "I was very impressed with the training they provided, the direction we received, and the enthusiasm that everyone at Reading Power has for helping children."
 
Bev also loves the friends she's made among the network of tutors. "We're a very diverse group of people from different socio-economic backgrounds, but with a shared commitment to children."
 
Thank you, Beverly, for your dedication to Reading Power!
 
Readers Write and Writers Read.

In education, one practice that no one argues with is the need for explicit instruction in reading and writing. Learning to read and write use the same cognitive processes, so it's only natural that they should be taught, and learned, at the same time. In fact, much of the same language is used to prompt students during instruction. 

For example, when a child struggles with comprehension while reading, a teacher may ask, "Does that make sense?" While writing, a teacher may ask, "Is that what you wanted to say?" 

In Reading Power tutoring sessions, children write about what they read. We support the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, and agree with child literacy expert Dr. Steve Graham that, "Comprehension improves when students write about what they read and read about what they write." 

Better readers are better writers, and better writers are better readers!


CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

You can make a difference in our community by becoming a Reading Power volunteer tutor.   Learn More. 


Reading Power Open Houses Open Eyes

Mike Redding (center) talks with CEO Kathy McFarland and Tutor Wayne Rhodes
Kiwanis member Mike Redding didn't really know what to expect when he entered the Reading Power classroom at Forrestal Elementary School in North Chicago. It didn't take long before he knew that something very special was happening.

"I can't tell you how powerful it was to see Reading Power in person," Mike says. "To see how these little kids open up in the one-to-one relationships that they establish with volunteer tutors is very powerful. The kids are genuinely excited to be there. You can feel the buzz in the room."

If you and your organization would like to see Reading Power in action, let us know by clicking here

Everybody Loves a Parade! 

This is a big year for Reading Power. Not only are we celebrating our 15th anniversary, but we are being honored on Lake Forest Day by the American Legion for our  contributions to education.

To celebrate our good fortune, Reading Power will be marching in both the Lake Bluff 4th of July Parade and the Lake Forest Day Parade on August 1.


Will YOU be joining us?  No hard work is required. We're asking everyone to dress  as your favorite book character or to wear a Reading Power t-shirt.  Add a comfortable pair of shoes and a smile and you'll be ready to march!

ALL GROUPS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US - GIRLS SCOUTS, BOY SCOUTS, BOOK CLUBS, ETC! The more the merrier!
 
Click here to let us know your interest and we will keep you in the loop on the plans. 
 
Reading Power Tutors Are Invited to a 
Tutor Appreciation Reception


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018
5 pm - 7 pm
The Church of the Holy Spirit
400 E Westminster Ave, Lake Forest
Wines and hors d'oeuvres
 
Our Mission

Working in partnership with underserved schools, 
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day 
for children in prekindergarten through 2nd grade.  

Our mission is to accelerate children's literacy learning, 
and to develop in them a love of reading and writing. 
All children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.


 
Reading Power Board of Directors


Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman
Germaine Arnson
Ann Bates, EdD
Kathleen Cowie
John Davidson 
Mark Goodman, JD
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
Marra Lochiatto

Melinda Mooney
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Betsy B. Rosenfield
Frank Sibley
Nancy Smith, CPA, CMA
Tad Alexander Walgreen
Mary Weber
Tom Wood
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus


 
Stay Connected 
with Reading Power
736 N. Western Avenue, Suite 226
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Learn more at Readingpowerinc.org