GRANT RECIPIENTS GET YELL CHECKS FOR LITERACY WORK

Students in the Edward M. Spicer Tutorial program at St. James AME Church will soon have a new computer to aid their studies, thanks to a $900 YELL grant.

"We're going to get some programs for the computer that will give them some word recognition skills and some language skills," said Juanita Spicer. In addition, she said, students will be able to learn some "basic computer skills."

The program is open to students of all ages who need extra help with homework or developing skills. Students will be allowed to work on the computer after they finish their homework, Spicer said.

The tutorial program is one of six YELL for Newspapers allocation grants awarded to agencies promoting literacy in Cape Girardeau. Donald G. Sherwood, chairman of the 1995 YELL campaign, announced the recipients Tuesday.

"This year's campaign was a great success," said Sherwood. Funds for the grants were raised in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. Grants were administered by the Area Wide United Way.

Overall, approximately $35,000 was raised in this year's YELL campaign. Of that total, $18,000 was raised through the sale of YELL newspapers in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. Volunteers raised more than $14,000 in Cape Girardeau, more than $3,200 in Jackson and more than $1,000 in Scott City.

Sherwood said the goal for newspaper sales was $15,000. "We exceeded the goal that we had in mind," he said. "We especially want to thank the public, because without their support, we wouldn't have made the money we made."

The Southeast Missourian's Newspapers in Education program will receive $9,000 from YELL newspaper direct sales, plus approximately $17,000 in advertising revenues from the special newspaper, said program coordinator Kim McDowell.

Also receiving grants are the Cape Girardeau Public Library, $2,000 for Reading Is Fundamental; Cape Girardeau Vo-Tech, $1,500 for adult literacy tutoring; May Greene School, $1,000 for the Ready to Read project; Salvation Army, $1,000 for computer and books; and L.J. Schultz School, $500 to purchase books for the Reading Fair.

"This is going to buy a whole lot of books" for the Ready to Read project, said Barbara Kohlfeld, principal at May Greene. Through the computerized, accelerated reader program, students in grades 2-6 earn points for reading books and completing comprehension tests. A goal is set for each grade level, and last year, Kohlfeld said, 99 percent of the students acheived the goal for their grade levels.

"We're working to make the transition from extrinsically motivated to read by getting a reward to being intrinsically motivated by the love of reading," Kohlfeld said.

The grant will be used to complete the library used for the computerized program.

At L.J. Schultz, the grant will purchase books to be awarded to students for reading under the Reading Fair program, said Bonnie Matzat, a language arts and reading teacher at the school.

"The books that we are able to purchase with this money will be given to children as incentive rewards," Matzat said. Students have to read so many books to qualify for the rewards. Once that goal is reached, she said, "they will be able to select a book of their choice."

Response to the program last year was "overwhelming," she said. "Many of the students were so thrilled when they got to to have their very own book," Matzat said.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library's grant will also be used to buy new books, said Elizabeth Ader, library director. The books will go to students participating in the library's summer reading program.

"The books are used as incentives and to help the children build their own libraries at home," Ader said. "We've found it to be very successful."

Last year, almost 1,200 children participated in the program at the Clark Street library and at the library's Homework and Literacy Center.

Sandi Hendricks, coordinator of the adult literacy program at Cape Girardeau Vo-Tech School, said YELL grant funds will be used to purchase a CD ROM computer for the program.

"That way they can see and hear the word as they're trying to improve their reading skills," Hendricks said.

Last year, approximately 500 people participated in the program.

In Scott City, the Riverside Library branch received $500 for a supplemental reading enrichment program for young readers.

In Jackson, Immaculate Conception School received $500 to start a whole language literature-based reading program for kindergarten students.

St. Paul Lutheran School, also in Jackson, received $500 for a computerized accelerated reading program. Students earn prizes based on the number of books they read.

The Jackson Public Library received $500 to help young adults improve reading, vocabulary and math skills needed for GED passage.

The Riverside Library branch in Jackson received $500 for a supplemental reading enrichment program for beginning and young readers.