Everything’s “Rosy” For New Reading Program
It’s not every day that United Way receives flowers from a grateful recipient of a United Way service. But that’s exactly what happened recently when Virginia Herrera sent a bouquet of beautiful pink roses in appreciation for the progress her daughter Ashley made while participating in United Way’s extended day reading program at D.K. Sellars Elementary School in Fort Worth.
The after-school program assists children who need extra help to bring up their reading ability to their grade level. It is part of United Way’s Learn Well education initiative dedicated to increasing the number of on-time graduations by focusing on critical moments along a child’s academic journey that can make the difference between success and failure.
“At the beginning, Ashley couldn’t read that well. The teachers said she was reading like a robot,” said Virginia (shown with her daughter in photo). “She reads with feelings now. She became more confident. Now, if she reads a word and it’s not correct, she goes back to the beginning of the sentence and tries again.”
A partnership between United Way and the Fort Worth ISD, the reading program provides two hours of tutoring three days a week to students who are not proficient readers in first through third grades. Each child receives plenty of individual attention since there is one teacher for every six students. The program focuses on reading, writing, phonics, word study and reading comprehension.
“The children get books that are on their reading level so they can read and feel like successful readers,” said Kena Brown, the Literacy Coach at D.K. Sellars Elementary School. To promote reading comprehension, the children take books home and discuss what happens in the stories with their parents. “It encourages parent involvement,” said Kena. “Sometimes parents don’t know what to do.”
The children also have opportunities to write about reading. During one exercise, they make their own books by re-writing a story they’ve read.
“She’s progressing. It’s wonderful,” said Virginia Herrera as she picked up Ashley at school on the program’s final day before summer vacation. “You always want your kids to accomplish, and Ashley benefitted a lot from this program.” Ashley’s opinion of the reading program echoed her mother’s sentiments. “It was pretty good,” she said.
During the program’s inaugural spring semester, 68 children benefitted at three Fort Worth ISD elementary schools. This fall the program will be offered in four additional Fort Worth schools.
