Program

Fresno READS Program!

This film was funded by Associated Students Incorporated

Fresno READS Fact:

From kindergarten to the third grade, children learn to read. From the fourth grade on, they read to learn. If children are not at grade level by the end of the third grade, they will never catch up. Eighty percent of children who are illiterate spend a part of their adults lives incarcerated.

"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!

Fresno READS program

As part of the "America Reads" Challenge to mobilize an army of tutors to ensure that every child can read by the end of the 3rd grade, California State University, Fresno has developed the Fresno Reading Enrichment and Academic Development through Service (Fresno READS) project. This project recruits, trains, and places hundreds of students, faculty, staff and general community members as Fresno READS Mentors - reading tutors for children in Kindergarten through third grade. By focusing on the combined efforts of several existing programs and the development of new programs, the Fresno READS project serves to raise the reading and academic abilities of hundreds of children each year in the Central San Joaquin Valley.

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 of elementary students in the Fresno area. This project will foster reading skills 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.)

Who are Fresno READS Tutors?

Fresno READS Tutors are California State University, Fresno students who are paid through Federal Work Study and come to their sites free of charge! These students tutor elementary grade students in reading, and other necessary subjects. Their primary job is to promote an effective, supportive, and encouraging learning environment that will support the development of reading skills in their pupils. Under the direction of the Fresno READS Coordinator and a Site Supervisor, tutors will work with elementary school children in regular one-on-one sessions at Fresno area schools and nonprofit sites.

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.

Participate through Work Study. Each year approximately 40 students have are hired through Work Study to act as Fresno READS tutors. These students will work with elementary students and provide tutoring assistance to students at the K-6 levels. In order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid - Work Study positions through Fresno READS, students must be eligible for Federal Financial Aid - Work Study and must go through an application, screening, hiring and training process.

Receiving Academic Credit for Being a Tutor. For the last several years, Civic Engagement and Service-Learning (CESL) 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 Community Service 101 course are encouraged to engage in service work related to education and tutoring. Visit the Civic Engagement and Service-Learning web site for more information.

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.