New Students, New Schools, Same Excitement
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It was the first day of tutoring at the LEARN 6 charter school in North Chicago. As an enthusiastic group of first graders lined up to go back to their classrooms, Site Coordinator Marla Guziec asked, “How was your first day at Reading Power?”
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“I read three books today!” said one boy. And a little girl breathlessly exclaimed, “I learned how to read today!” as she skipped out of the room.
Reading Power has been working with the administration and staff of the LEARN 6 school for several months to prepare for the program’s introduction to the school, and all involved could not be happier.
“Everyone at LEARN 6 has been so wonderful and supportive,” said Site Coordinator Andrea Glickman. “They’ve welcomed us as a part of their team.”
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LEARN 6 Principal Kelly Tyson completely agrees. “There has been great collaboration and excitement about it, and that’s sometimes rare when volunteer organizations are involved,” she said. “But our teachers have confidence in the Reading Power tutors. They know they are professionally trained.”
The LEARN 6 charter school includes 490 students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. All children in North Chicago District 187 are eligible to attend either LEARN 6 or LEARN 10 charter schools; families simply need to apply. Students are chosen through a blind lottery in April each year.
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“Our student population is a direct reflection of the greater North Chicago community and its challenges,” Principal Tyson explains. “Our mission as a school is to prepare our children for college.” More than 85 percent of students who graduate from LEARN 6 attend a college prep high school. (One notable Reading Power graduate, Justin Hartley, who spoke at our 15
th
anniversary celebration, graduated from LEARN 6 and North Shore Country Day School, and just began his freshman year at Tulane University.)
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The Reading Power classroom is located off the front entrance hallway in a glassed classroom. “We should call this the fishbowl,” suggested one student. The classroom includes 10 tutoring stations that serve 60 students per week. First and second grade students receive one-to-one tutoring for 35 minutes per day, five days per week and kindergarten students receive three 20-minute one-to-one sessions per week.
“Our teachers are so excited to have Reading Power here working one-to-one with our kids,”
Tyson concluded. “We just don’t have enough hands to provide this level of individualized instruction that our students need.”
As another group of new Reading Power students enters the room, Site Coordinator Marla Guziec greets them and explains what they’ll be doing during their time in the Reading Power room.
“Do you mean we get to come here and read
every day
?” one boy asked.
How lucky we are to be able to bring the promise of literacy to young children every day!
Top left: Marla Guziec talks with new students. Middle: RP Director of Programs Lisa Bulzoni with LEARN 6 Principal Kelly Tyson. Lower: Happy new student with tutor Gerry Ryan.
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Zion Character Walk a Big Success!
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Reading Power partnered with The Coalition for Healthy Communities Literacy Task Force to participate in the 6
th
Annual Community of
Character
Walk in Zion on September 22. In attendance were (from left) Julie Collishaw, Cathy Keller, Sue Butman and
Daniela Cruz
. This family event attracted kids of all ages, and each child who came to the Reading Power booth went home with a brand-new book in either English or Spanish.
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Smart Giving, Big Benefits: Matching Grants
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Matching grants are an excellent and accessible way for employees and retirees to maximize the impact of their giving. According to Double the Donation, employees and their employers contribute an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion through matching gift programs every year.
While 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer matching grant programs, an estimated $4 million to $7 million in potential donations go unclaimed each year. These are missed opportunities to support important organizations like Reading Power.
Does your company offer a matching gift program? Many local companies do.
Did you know that stock donations are eligible for matching by most companies?
Appreciated stock is a great way to give and may bring tax advantages to the giver. I
t's a win-win for everyone.
Reading Power makes it easy to donate stock. Click below for more info.
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Social Emotional Learning and Literacy Work Together
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At Reading Power, establishing relationships and building trust are the foundations from which learning occurs. According to
Charles Leadbeater, "
Four aspects of building relationships are key: encouraging participation, providing recognition, helping students feel cared for, and fostering motivation."
Every day, in every tutoring session, these four components are woven into tutor/student interactions allowing for literacy and social emotional learning to take place.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been a priority in schools for many years but has recently gained more traction and priority. As
International Literacy
magazine points out, "The English Language Arts (ELA) period is an ideal time to provide students with opportunities to develop empathy, communication, and collaboration skills while improving literacy skills.” Reading Power is committed to providing students with highly trained, empathic tutors and quality text that engages, inspires and motivates learners.
Click here
to read more about Social Emotional Learning.
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Our Mission
Working in partnership with underserved schools,
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day
for children in prekindergarten through second 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.
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Reading Power Board of Directors
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Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Ann Bates, EdD
Kathleen Cowie
John Davidson
Mark Goodman, JD
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
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Melinda Mooney
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Nancy Smith, CPA, CMA
Mary Weber
Tom Wood
George Zorich
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
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Reading Power Program Staff
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Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Director of Programs
Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant
Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Sue Butman, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator
Kristin Fine, MEd, Site Coordinator
Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator
Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator
Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator
Cathy Keller, BS, Site Coordinator
Jenny Kronauer, BS, Assistant Site Coordinator
Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator
Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Kay Roller, Volunteer Site Coordinator
Marion Schmidt, BS, Site Coordinator
Karen Uihlein, Assistant Site Coordinator
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