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Reading Program Seeks Volunteers

Posted on: Thursday, 6 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By Susie Gran SGRAN@ABQTRIB.COM / 823-3682

The largest tutoring army in city schools -- one boasting 640 volunteers -- needs you.

Albuquerque Reads, a program credited with boosting the reading skills of kindergartners, is flush with success. But even with a vibrant cadre of helpers, it needs to find more.

Example: A Southeast Heights school that wanted to be included this fall in Albuquerque Reads was turned down due to a shortage of tutors, said Bernadette Sanchez, Albuquerque Public Schools volunteer coordinator.

"We didn't expand, because we didn't get all of the days covered by tutors," she said.

The program is signing up substitute tutors, hoping to make them permanent for the waiting schools next fall, Sanchez said. The substitutes will fill in this year when regular tutors are absent.

Albuquerque Reads is a venture between the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the school district that sets out to teach kindergartners how to read.

Volunteers, many from the business community, are now tutoring 255 children.

As with teaching ranks, tutors need substitutes they can count on so students don't miss a session.

"You don't want a student without a tutor," said Donna Farrell, a Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce employee who tutors.

Farrell spent Monday morning at Atrisco Elementary in the South Valley with two kindergartners.

"It was my first tutoring today. I felt so good," she said. "Here is something that makes a difference. You are not moving mountains. You are doing a little bit.

"I left asking, 'Is this for me or for the children?' "

Substitutes will work in the three schools where Albuquerque Reads has tutors scheduled three days each week October through May.

Last year, 525 volunteers tutored at three schools. Of those, 115 returned to tutor again this year.

Bel-Air, Atrisco and Wherry elementary schools launched their tutoring this week. Each school sends kindergartners to tutoring three times per week for half an hour with Albuquerque Reads volunteers.

Emerson Elementary, the next school on the waiting list, did not get to start the program. Schools must budget for the program in advance, because a part-time teacher and part-time teacher's assistant must be dedicated to the program, Sanchez said.

Next fall, Albuquerque Reads wants to add at least two more schools. Eventually, 20 Title I schools will be served by Albuquerque Reads under an ambitious seven-year timeline.

Title I schools are in neighborhoods where most children qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches.

Michael Seeliger, a Chamber of Commerce vice president, said Albuquerque Reads' annual budget of about $100,000 is raised through sponsorships. It pays for the books and supplies, volunteers' background checks and an appreciation luncheon for tutors and students.

To cover most of Albuquerque's Title I schools, 10,000 to 15,000 tutors will be needed, Seeliger said.

Sanchez said the district and chamber are discussing the possibility of applying for grants to help promote and manage the program.

Hundreds of children are improving in reading, according to data gathered from the three schools.

After nine months of tutoring, 72 percent of the kindergartners were reading at or above grade level. Another 21 percent was on the verge of reading at grade level. Most of the children entered kindergarten unable to recognize letters of the alphabet.

"I see Albuquerque Reads closing the (achievement) gap," Sanchez said.

SIGN UP

Albuquerque Reads needs substitute tutors who will help kindergarten students learn to read. For information: Call Angie Gurule or Bernadette Sanchez at Albuquerque Public Schools, 855- 5275, for information on training and criminal background checks. Call Michael Seeliger of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, 764-3733 or 764-3736, to sign on as a volunteer or for information on how to get your business involved. On the Net: Forms and brochures are available at www.abqchamber.com.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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