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A middle school reading program from E3
The middle grades are pivotal in the development of literacy skills. It
is during these years that students shift their focus from learning to
read to using reading to learn. Strong literacy skills in grades
6 through 8 pave the way for success in high school and beyond. And
while we've made great strides in elementary reading skills, these
skills drop dramatically in middle school and high school. In fact,
nearly half of all students do not meet the tenth grade standards for
reading in Oregon. ( See benchmarks.)
Literacy Partners connects community volunteers with identified
students who share their love of reading and help students improve their
reading skills by doing simple reading excercises.
Community Update
With E3's help, the Corvallis Literacy Partners program began in the fall 2006. Volunteers from the business community began mentoring and sharing their love of reading with middle school students in two Corvallis middle schools. Mentors met for one hour per week with students for the purpose of improving the students' enjoyment of reading as well as their fluency and comprehension skills.
Over thirty sixth grade students, who nearly met the OSAT reading assessment, participated in the program. Teachers, students and mentors all report success with the program during its first year. Teachers report student improvement in reading skills, and mentors described how much they enjoyed working in the program. Plans are underway to expand the program to more schools and students in the fall.
If you are interested in getting involved in Literacy Partners in Corvallis contact:
Jim Hogeboom
Corvallis School District
(541) 766-4856
Thanks 2006-2007 Employer Partners!
Borders Books
Central Willamette Community C.U.
Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition
Country Financial
Fewel, Brewer & Coulombe Attorneys
Hewlett-Packard
OSU Federal Credit Union
Samaritan Health Services
Windermere Realty
Founding Leadership Team
Co-Chairs:
Julie Manning, Samaritan Health Services
Dawn Tarzian, Corvallis School District
Team:
Tricia Berry, Borders Books
Mike Bostrom, ATS Systems
Dawn Granger, Cheldelin Middle School
Marcy Eastham, Hewlett-Packard
Lynn Egli, Hewlett-Packard
Sid Elliott, Hewlett-Packard
Nick Filker, Citizens Bank
Victoria Fridley, Central Valley SMART
Jim Hogeboom, Corvallis School District
Fred Kane, Corvallis Public Schools Foundation
Patrick Manning, Corvallis High School Student
Mike McInally, Corvallis Gazette-Times
Claudine Oriani, OSU Federal Credit Union
Carrie O'Bryan, Linus Pauling Middle School
Kathleen Petrucela, Community Volunteer
Mysty Rusk, Corvallis Benton Chamber Coalition
Karen Steele, 509J Library Services
Terry Thompson, Benton County Juvenile Department
Sandy Torgrimson-Fox, Central Willamette Community Credit Union
Carol Lee Woodstock, Woodstock's Enterprises
James Wickman, Linus Pauling Middle School
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