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Faith Network designed the three-tiered Succeeding by Reading (SbR) initiative to advance student achievement in the area most critical for academic success: literacy. Research demonstrates that children become readers when they have been supported in their own efforts to learn to read, saturated with age-appropriate books and surrounded by role models who read.
MODULE I: SUPPORT STRUGGLING READERS – EXCEL READING CLINICS
This module features the Excel Reading Clinics, which provide individualized instruction and reading support for school-designated primary grade students who have fallen or are falling behind with their reading skills. Excel offers no-fee, one-on-one weekly “pull-out” tutoring sessions held during school hours to students referred to us by school personnel.
Tutor Training: Volunteer tutors receive initial training from our reading remediation expert. We provide mid-year refresher training opportunities for continuing tutors. In addition, experienced tutor coordinators at each clinic provide ongoing in-service support for tutors working with individual students.
Individual Tutoring: The referred students are assessed to determine their reading skill level. In consultation with the teacher, we develop a customized program that includes practice with phonics, sight words and leveled reading fluency. The tutors use a variety of teaching tools and games to accommodate different learning styles and reinforce skills. At the end of the school year, we re-assess the students to determine their progress.
Reading Recitals: At the end of the school year, each clinic celebrates the children’s accomplishments and applauds the families for their support. Children receive a small gift to commemorate the event and a certificate of accomplishment. Selected children are asked to read aloud excerpts from their favorite book. When possible, we also invite special guests to deliver a brief message of encouragement and inspiration to the children.
MODULE II: SECURE COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES
This module focuses on equipping school libraries so that students have the resources they need to become avid readers and enthusiastic learners. In 2009, Faith Network collected data on 20 OUSD school libraries at schools that we serve and found that 20% are understaffed and 40% are underfunded, have outdated or insufficient books and are open less than 10 hours per week. This situation appears to have worsened. We observe that library staffing changes and cuts over the past two years have adversely affected school library services at many of the schools we serve.
MODULE III: STRENGTHEN SCHOOL-HOME PARTNERSHIPS
This module is designed to strengthen the partnership between school and home, while developing a broader and deeper support network for emerging readers.
Literacy Take-Home Bags: An abundance of studies on literacy show that a rich home literacy environment leads to oral language development, vocabulary acquisition, early reading skills, reading comprehension and good reading habits. A 2009 California state-administered questionnaire showed that students who had access to books at home or who read for fun scored higher than their peers. Children who begin elementary school with limited exposure to books face a learning gap that widens as they move to higher grades.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Rebecca Buckley
