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In the words of Dr. Alex Granzin, School Psychologist with the Springfield Public Schools of Oregon, “If you are not learning to read, you are being left behind in probably the single most important process that occurs in early schooling because it’s the key to everything else that occurs.”  Currently 70% of Oakland’s public school 3rd graders are reading below benchmark.  The purpose of the Faith Network Excel Reading Clinic is, in short, to reduce rates of reading failure of students in low-income communities of Oakland/East Bay.

Directed by a professional with expertise in reading remediation who trains volunteers to work with children one-on-one, the Excel Reading Clinics are equipped to work with second grade students.  Any student who is referred to the clinic for reading assistance may receive tutoring for one to two hours per week. This may be in addition to any other pull-out program in which the child is enrolled.  Targeted students will be informally assessed to determine the level of his/her reading skills. In consultation with the teacher, a personalized program will then be designed for that student which will include exercises in a) phonemic awareness (a skill recognized by the State of California to be essential for proficient reading), b) learning the basic rules of the English language with special emphasis on phonics, and c) applying those skills in the reading of books (guided by the tutor) that are within the child’s current reading level. The program also offers games and computer activities that reinforce skills learned each week. At mid-year and at the end of the year, a follow-up assessment will be administered. Clinic staff will seek to engage parents as partners in the reading remediation process at home.  Faith Network does not charge for tutoring services.
 
PROGRAM DIRECTOR:  Carolyn Piraino joined the Faith Network staff as Director of Excel Reading Clinics.  Carolyn is an experienced tutor, literacy trainer and a certified Educational Therapist.  Carolyn is currently pursuing a Masters of Education at Holy Names University.

OUTCOME:  By the end of the school year ,70% of the students enrolled in the Excel Clinic will be reading fluently with understanding, at or above grade level. It’s an exciting day when our children who are ‘learning to read’ discover the joy of ‘reading to learn’.

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