AMERICA READS: LOCAL SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN CLINTON-SPONSORED LITERACY PROGRAM

About 35 education majors at Southeast Missouri State University recently started practicing what they'll later be teaching as participants in a national literacy initiative called America Reads.

Southeast is one of more than 280 colleges and universities participating in America Reads, a national project which funnels money into the Federal Work Study program and other service programs to promote literacy.

President Clinton introduced legislation called the America Reads Challenge Act in January. In April, Congress passed the five-year, $2.75 billion initiative, which aims to ensure every student can read independently and well by the end of third grade.

Clinton introduced the program in hopes of boosting American scores on standardized tests. In 1994, 40 percent of U.S. fourth-graders scored below the basic level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Research shows that children who cannot read well and independently by the end of third grade are less likely to succeed in school and more likely to drop out.

College of Education Dean Shirley Stennis-Williams said the new program will use students majoring in educational fields and who are participating in the Federal Work Study program to promote literacy. The students will be trained as reading tutors to work with preschool- and elementary school-aged children, she said.

The local program will be based at three schools and in nine daycare centers. University students will read books and cd-rom literature on computers to interest the children in reading, Stennis-Williams said.

"Instead of a failure model, we're taking an enrichment model to get them to love reading," she said. "Work-study students will work with children by reading from children's literature several days each week. They'll also introduce the children to reading on the computer."

Stennis-Williams said intermingling traditional books with computer "books" will keep reading from becoming stale for students. The technology brings the written word to life, she said.

"I've never known a person who loves to read who was not a successful reader," she said. "We hope it will not only benefit our children but will also inspire our teachers and our parents."

University students began working at sites with students Sept. 3. Sites participating in the program include Franklin, May Greene and Washington elementary schools.

After-school day care sites include Trinity Lutheran Day Care Center, Kinder Care Learning Center, St. Mary's Early Education Center, Christian School for Young Years, Early Childhood Center, After School Kids, Hakuna Matata Day Care, Greater Dimensions Day Care, A Small World Preschool and A Step At a Time Day Care.

Work-study student Jill Wolf signed up to be a reading tutor because she wanted experience working with children. The early childhood education major works in two-hour blocks twice each week. Wolf already has seen a response from the children she reads to.

"I think they're getting something out of it because everyday more of them are bringing me books to read," she said. "I think it was a great idea."

Susan Doering, another work-study student majoring in education, enjoys the challenge of working with older elementary-aged children. The younger children enjoy being read to, but older kids need more stimulation to hold their interest, she said.

"instead of reading to them, I let them read or choose the books," she said. "We also try to read books that lend themselves to activities like drawing pictures and coloring. Part of the strength of America Reads is it involves a lot of day cares and it's a program where there's a lot of options, which helps keep kids interested."

TIMELINE OF LOCAL LITERACY PROGRAM

April 26, 1997 -- Pres. Clinton sent legislation called The America Reads Challenge Act to Congress to help build a nation of readers. The act, a five-year, $2.75 billion commitment to local communities and organizations, will mobilize trained volunteer reading tutors to ensure that every student can read independently and well by the end of the third grade.

June 10 -- Southeast Missouri State University joins over 280 other institutions in signing on to the America Reads Challenge. Three elementary schools and eight after school day care centers agreed to collaborate with the university's College of Education to increase literacy primarily in children ages 6 to 8 years old.

July 1 -- The Department of Education waived the matching requirement for Federal Work Study students serving as reading tutors to preschool and elementary school-aged children. Commitments are not subject to federal audits.

Aug. 18 -- The first group of child care directors and staff from Cape Girardeau centers meet for orientation concerning their role and the reading mentors' role in the America Reads program. They received training in the types of reading experiences that children will receive through the program.

Aug. 25 - 29 -- Educators from Washington, Franklin and May Greene elementary schools are introduced to their roles with the program. During the same dates, about 40 reading mentors receive their initial introduction and training.

Sept. 3 -- Regular assignments begin. Reading mentors visit their sites Monday through Thursday for two-hour blocks.