The Tiger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 2, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 29, 2000 Page: 3 of 8
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February 29,2000 ♦ The TIGER ♦ Page 3
SPC, Local Elementary Schools Building New Literacy Partnerships
Accounting
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Drafting
Drama
Economics
Education
Electrical & Power Transmission
English
Government
■
History
Health Information Technology
Humanities
Mathematics
Nursing
Office Systems Technology
Psychology
Reading
Speech
.....
Program Utilizes College Students as Reading Mentors
Submitted by Roland Ruiz
The AmericaReads Challenge,
a Federal Work Study program
that pays college students to serve
as elementary school reading
mentors, is reaping rewards for a
growing number of SPC students
and the elementary schools where
they serve.
Through the innovative pro-
gram, students commit anywhere
from 15-25 hours a week as read-
ing mentors in community el-
ementary schools and in turn get
paid $7 an hour. Currently, more
than 25 students serve as America
Reads mentors, spending their
time reading with students at one
of five SAISD elementary cam-
puses - John T. Smith, Dorie
Miller, Ferdinand Herff, Eloise
Japhet and Artemisia Bowden.
America Reads, which pays
participating students a higher
hourly wage than any other Fed-
eral Work Study program cur-
rently available, also provides
benefits that go beyond purely
financial reward and directly im-
pact one of the community’s most
pressing issues, that of literacy,
according to Diego Bernal, SPC
director of student financial ser-
vices.
“We’ve already heard reports
that participating elementary stu-
dents are learning to read and that
many have raised their reading
levels. This is a very essential
program that serves as a win-win
for all involved,” Bernal said.
“As an institution, we are helping
to meet the financial needs of our
students in a way that encourages
them to invest of themselves in
our community. Our students get
hands-on job experience in an
educational environment where
they woiktogetherin small groups
and share learning experiences.
And, the elementary schools get
much-needed help in their mis-
sion to raise the reading levels of
their students.”
According to Bernal, the pro-
gram is successful largely be-
cause of the student mentors ’ high
level of motivation and sensitiv-
ity to the needs of the elementary
youngsters.
As part of the screening pro-
cess to become a mentor, college
students are asked to submit a
narrative explaining why they
wish to participate and then must
undergo an orientation session
conducted on-site at the desig-
nated elementary school. Other
factors such as a student’s major
field of study also are considered.
A good number of students
participating in America Reads
are education majors, such as
Monica Arellano, a second-year
student with plans to teach at the
high school level. This experi-
ence has introduced her to both
the challenges and rewards of the
teaching profession.
“What I enjoy most is the way
the children respond after I read
to them. They’re always excited,
eager to leam and energetic,”
Arellano said. “I hope through
this experience to leam how to
redirect student discipline and be
able to know how to observe and
assess students individually.”
Steven Martinez, a second-
year music major who often in-
corporates his guitar playing into
reading lessons, has found the pro-
gram tobe anideal training ground
for his future in education.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get the
kids going. It takes a lot of en-
couraging. The most rewarding
thing about it is that they ’ll ask for
me even before I get to the class-
room,” Martinez said. “I don’t
remember anyone going into my
classroom when I was in third
grade and reading to me. I think
it’s great.”
Topics
Wed., LLDC 112
Thurs., NTB 107
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Note-taking Skills
March 1
March 2
How to Write a Research Paper March 8
March 9
Improving Concentration
March 22
March 23
Memory Techniques
March 29
March 30
Learning Styles
April 5
April 6
Test-taking Strategies
April 12
April 13
Excelling on Essay Exams
April 19
April 20
Stress Management
April 26
April 27
Enhancing Creativity
May 3
May 4
If scheduled times are inconvenient, special arrangements can be made for
SPC students. Group help and individual counseling are also available. For
more info, call Inkie Gillian at 531-3544 or stop by LLDC 112.
ALL SESSIONS ARE FREE, however, a donation of canned goods
for the Equity Center's Food Bank would be appreciated!
Take an extra class
in only eight weeks!
uim£
Register now
for Flex II!
Web and phone registration
now through March 20
Register by phone at 301-2520
For web registration, log on to
www.accd.edu and click on
Student Information Access
and On-line Registration.
On-campus registration
is March 8 and 9
Classes begin March 20
ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE
A (point of (Pride in Hie Community
www.accd.edu
For more information call
733-2020
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Candia, Patti; Christine, Glynis & Agold, Cynthia. The Tiger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 2, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 29, 2000, newspaper, February 29, 2000; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth648348/m1/3/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting St. Philips College.