By: Erik Nelson Fresno READS Fresno Reading Enrichment and Academic Development through Service

Fresno READS "What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child" - George Bernard Shaw The Federal Government's America Reads program challenges communities around the nation to mobilize an army of tutors to ensure that every child can read by the end of the 3rd grade. In response to this challenge, California State University, Fresno has developed the Fresno Reading Enrichment and Academic Development through Service program (Fresno READS).

Fresno READS Mission Statement Young people are the future of our country and education is a primary cornerstone in the development of our youth. Fresno READS places a highvalue on the importance of reading and literacy skill development ofelementary students in the Fresno area. This project will foster readingskills in elementary students through one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, along with other associated activities. At the same time, the project will focus on providing meaningful academic, personal and professional development experiences for the mentor/tutors involved.

Project Goal The primary goals of Fresno READS are to: Increase student reading ability for those students involved in Fresno READS. Substantially increase in the number of mentoring/tutoring hours provided through Fresno State sources. Provide a positive, rewarding experience for Fresno READS mentors. Substantially increase in the number of students, staff, faculty and emeriti involved in reading enrichment activities. (An annual goal of providing 600 Fresno READS mentors is set for this project.)

"Think Outside the Box" There are many ways that this term can be defined. The way it is being applied to Fresno READS is that the children being tutored are living inside a box. Inside of that box is everything that they know; their education, their family, and their dreams. A Fresno READS tutor represents the first peek outside of the box for many of these children. The tutors represent all of the things that are out of reach such as; an older person who understands what they are going through, the importance of education, a larger world than they are accustomed to, and most importantly a peek at bigger hopes and dreams than they may have been exposed to. Fresno READS tutors have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of these children. Tutors must not only teach their children how to read, they must help their children to love to read!

Receiving Academic Credit for Being a Tutor. For the last several years, Students for Community Service (SCS) has engaged students in thousands of community service work each semester. Since the Fall of 1990, the Community Service 101 course has generated over 150,000 hours of community service. In response to the America Reads Challenge, students in the Students for Community Service/Community Service 101 course are encouraged to engage in service work related to education and tutoring. Visit the Students for Community Service web site for more information. Students for Community Service

Tutors will be required to: Set regular, scheduled days and times to meet with their pupils. Tutors are asked to make a year-long commitment. New tutors will be required to attend a Tutor Training Course at California State University, Fresno. Tutors will be paid and can receive academic credit for this course. Tutors will also be required to: maintain a professional appearance and conduct at all times; attend training; keep all scheduled tutoring appointments; keep records of student work; report on tutoring activities, pupil progress and concerns; and conduct evaluations as needed.

Fresno READS Schools S.M.I.L.E. Center Site Supervisor: Don Romsa Stone Soup Site Supervisors: Melissa Snider Kathy Garabed (Executive Director) Wolters Elementary School Site Supervisor: Julie McSherry-Ramos Vinland Elementary School Site Supervisors: Pauletta Williams Robert Avedesian (Principal)

Tutoring/Mentoring through other Service-Learning Courses Service-learning is an educational approach which involves students in community service work directly related to the academic content of a particular course. Service-learning provides students with the opportunity to relate classroom learning to community problems, in turn giving them the chance to understand the practical applications of the materials they cover in class. A number of departments and instructors are involved in service-learning approaches. Those related to tutoring/mentoring and the Fresno READS project include: Child Family and Consumer Studies, Chicano-Latino Studies, Speech Communication, Education and Human Development, and Sociology.

Helping Hands

Interested ? Chris Fiorentino Students for Community Service Coordinator California State University, Fresno 5150 N. Maple Ave M/S JA 120 Fresno, CA Joyal Administration Building Room 274 Phone: (559) Fax: (559) Brad Huff University High School 2355 E. Keats M/S UH 134 Fresno, CA Phone: (559) Fax: (559) Melissa Snider Kathy Garabed (Executive Director) Stone Soup 1345 E. Bulldog Lane, Ste. 4 Fresno, CA Phone: (559) Fax: (559) Pauletta Williams Robert Avedesian (Principal) Vinland Elementary School 4666 N. Maple Ave Fresno, CA Phone: (559) Fax: (559)

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