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Show School & Student News, Times Newspaper Page B6 Thursday, January 30, 2003 Reading programs designed to help Orchard Elementary studentf V rf ft Jr'sl - axSW&g 14 Vye wit Toys j ; ! berg ftlifflr iiSslHi iJ i I A Tradition of Quality since 1904 Prvl'i76 St. George 373-5193 50 East Tabernacle SCARLETT M. BARGER Times Reporter In addition to Alpine School District's Balance Literacy Program, Orchard Elementary is using two other programs to help students stu-dents learn how to read. "I Can Read," is a division of "Utah Reads," and funding fund-ing for it is matched by the state, said Jean Nelson, Orchard teacher on special assignment. This program is mainly used for grades K-3, K-3, but anyone can use it. "Next Step," spearheaded by fifth grade teacher Sandi Akagi, is for children third grade and up and helps them build on basic reading skills. Both programs solicit assistance from trained parent par-ent volunteers, Nelson said. College students and grandparents grand-parents also come in. "It is fabulous," Nelson said. "We absolutely love having volunteers come in." "We've asked teachers to submit names of students who may be struggling," she said. In both programs, students stu-dents are tutored for half an hour, twice a week. Because students bond quickly with their tutors, tutors must commit to being there every week, Nelson said. Most volunteer vol-unteer for two hours a week. The school has spent money on supplies that the state has matched in books and tutoring materials. Nelson said it is nice to see state funds in effect at her school. While the "I Can Read" program has been in place for about three years, "Next Step" was started this year for the first time. s ' Fifth grade teacher Sandi Agakl helps Sarah Colorado tice her reading skills as part of the "Next Step" progra Akagi said she felt badly when students were falling through the cracks in her classroom, and she didn't know what to do about it. "Every year, I had a few students that were very low readers." She attended a workshop at the University of Utah on "Next Step" last summer, in hopes of improving her teaching abilities. Now Akagi not only has several parent volunteers who work with students one on one, but several other parents have asked for program pro-gram materials, so they can work with their children at home. Akagi said children in her program are progressing progress-ing greatly. She tutors one girl, for example, who started start-ed out at a second-grade beginning reading level. Now, five months later, she is well into a third-gri 1 reading level. Akagi said that if cj;: dren do not learn howl read well, they can have! ficulty with other subjel Reading is the most iid tant thing in education;! "It's a reading woi'f Nelson agreed. "Every d : is precious, and we b such a short time them." Orem resident Ka -: Valentine has volunte as a tutor in the pasta will start volunteer again soon. "I really 1 working the one-on-oi she said. Valentine said shefet - like she's making a -J ence by helping chile. master a life skill. "Iff worthwhile thing, It's i to see them progress." a v7nn 6D) V- J Finally, there is a safe and effective alternative for patients wanting obesity surgery. The Lap Band Call us, we can help you make the right decision. 801-465-1175 ext.ll Robert V. McKeen M.D. and New "Uw Bariatrics "The firsfr center in Ufah for Lap Band placement- fi-he surgical freafmenf of obesity." I&ft<t Financin9 Available Vi- 1)1 30 |