Oh, The Places They'll Go! |
|
The summer 2021 program is off and running! Our students are showing up, eager to learn, and enthusiastically committed to our program. Due to work commitments, many families in our program are traveling this summer. Students have logged into their tutoring sessions from Puerto Rico, California, Idaho, a road trip to Texas, and even Italy!
55 volunteer tutors received up to 15 hours of training to ensure our students continue to make literacy gains this summer, no matter where they’re logged on from. As Site Coordinator Marla Guziec notes, “Many tutors are continuing with their students from the school year, so they’ve just picked up where they left off. It’s summer and we’re all having a lot of fun as well. Any reading is good reading!”
|
|
The Tough Task Ahead for First Grade Teachers |
|
In the excerpt below from Education Week, author Madeline Will gives readers a look ahead at the challenges facing first grade teachers in the fall. |
|
Author Robert Fulghum famously wrote, “All I need to know I learned in kindergarten.” But the pandemic meant that many students missed that pivotal school year or experienced a more disrupted version. And now, first grade teachers will have to fill in the gaps. “The hardest part will be the variability,” said Deborah Stipek, a professor of education at Stanford University who studies early childhood education. “Some of the kids will be gung-ho and ready for first grade curriculum as planned, and others, both academically and socially, are going to be clueless. We’ve got a huge gap in what children’s experiences have been this year.”
If done right, educators say, this year will be an opportunity to engage young children who have had an unusual start to their schooling career. Providing intensive, one-to-one tutoring is one key component to future success. Research shows tutoring is an effective way to address content or skills gaps, and it can also boost students’ confidence.
Click HERE to read the full article.
|
|
Reading Power Tutors - Making Connections, Leading the Way |
|
Connections allow the Reading Power family to DO MORE together to foster the promise of literacy. The relationships between students and Reading Power tutors help make learning possible. Meet former Reading Power parent and returning tutor Neva S-R.
|
|
Reading Power tutor Neva and her sons Elijah (middle) and Anthony (Right) |
|
RP: Neva, how did you get involved with Reading Power?
Neva: I was introduced to the program through my son Elijah, who was a Reading Power student during his first grade school year many years ago. Almost immediately, I could see the program worked. His reading improvement was so dramatic. I wanted to ensure other students in the community received the help my son had, so I started tutoring the very next school year.
|
|
RP: From a parent's perspective, what did Elijah take away from the program?
Neva: At the time, I was working a lot and didn’t have a lot of extra time to work with Elijah on his reading. Reading Power was a huge help. He enjoyed his time with his tutor and took pride in what he was doing and learning. Reading Power changed his whole trajectory. It gave him the confidence in himself to get ahead.
RP: As a tutor, what did you get from the experience?
Neva: I work as a 911 operator which can be a stressful, draining job. I walk away from each tutoring session with happiness and positivity. It refuels me. The connections I made with my students were such a joy. They are just a breath of fresh air. I took a break last year, due to COVID-19, but I can’t wait to get back into the classroom this fall!
|
|
Help Us DO MORE: Become a Reading Power Tutor |
|
Reading Power is expanding to reach MORE students in MORE schools during the 2021/2022 academic year. So much of the success that children experience in Reading Power is due to the strong relationships that young children form with our tutors. New opportunities are available in North Chicago, Zion, and Waukegan.
- Prekindergarten Green Bay and Beulah
- Kindergarten LEARN 6, 10, and Beulah
-
First and Second LEARN 6, 10, Beulah, and Oakdale (Waukegan)
Click HERE to become a tutor.
|
|
There are so many ways to get involved and support Reading Power this summer. We look forward to seeing you soon! |
|
|
|
Lake Forest Day Parade
It’s a great day for a parade! Join us on Wednesday, August 4th as we march in the Lake Forest Day parade. Meet us at Egg Harbor at 8 a.m. before the parade for breakfast, or at our assigned spot (#25) in line. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. PLEASE RSVP HERE
|
|
Calling All Past, Present, And Future Tutors!
Reading Power is expanding to reach MORE students in MORE schools during the 2021/2022 academic year, and we need your help! Please join us on Wednesday, September 1st at 10:30 a.m. at the Art Center of Highland Park for our combined Tutor Appreciation and Fall Kickoff Meeting. We are excited by the return of in-person tutoring this year and need your help more than ever.
Please click HERE to RSVP
|
|
|
|
|
Play for Literacy Golf & Games
Tickets to our inaugural Play for Literacy Golf & Games event at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest on September 13th are now available! Sign up for golf single and foursome tickets, canasta learn and play, and/or our cocktail reception.
|
|
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.
|
|
Reading Power Board of Directors |
|
Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Kathleen Cowie, Secretary
Jim Young, MBA, Treasurer
Ann Bates, EdD
John Davidson
Rob Davis, JD, MBA
Suzanne Surkamer Dobbins
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
|
|
Rahul Malhotra, MBA
Melinda Mooney
Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Arthur Turner
Mary Weber, MA
Tom Wood
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
|
|
|
Reading Power Program Staff |
|
Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Executive Director of Programs and Operations
Kate Burke, BS, Marketing and Communications Manager
Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant
Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager
Kristin Fine, MEd, Associate Director of Programs/Site Coordinator
Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator
Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator
Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator
Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator
Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator
Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator
Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Marion Schmidt, BS, Site Coordinator
Karen Uihlein, MA, Assistant Site Coordinator
|
|
SHARE this email with your friends and help us GROW to reach more children!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
