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Show Students take reading challenge An after- chool reading upport program taffed almost exclu ively by tudents in reading and special education program at will expand from three to 15 weeks with the tart of the pring eme ter. "Our literacy program is in response to the national 'America Reads ChaUcngc, '" Verlinda Thomp on , associate professor in reading and faculty coordinator of the program , explains. "That challenge a ks every American to identify a role he or he can play in helping public chool teachers teach all children to read independently and well by the end of the third grade." "This year we have dedicated a block of$15,000 of work tudy money to help staff the reading clinics. Those students who qualify for work study can be paJd for their ervices." The program was started last emcster at Cedar City's East Elementary, headed by leaders of outhem tah 's tudent Literacy Council, after the ucces of a similar effort a year ago at Fiddler's Canyon Elementary . The literacy program, which ran for three weeks on a pilot basis during late ovember and early December, will remain at East Elementary chool, but it will he expanded to run though the entire spring emester. Forty· e en tudenlS, mainly from first and econd grade , received help for 90 minutes twice a week to impro c rca(.ling , kill. last seme ter. Twenty-two ·uu student! helped in the training. E ccpt for a $5 charge for rcfrc. hmcnt.. • Oeabs of the VV'orlb • Hattb-B1oW11 5lass • Marbles Galore rl'1e Hett1p Selectiott ~-Ori5ittal P~i1-1tm9 ,~1: · at 62 1/ 2 N . Mam 'to tke Chitta Garbett. "C ar Ciflf.Vtatt +J,)865- 1774 the reading assista11ce was free to participating tudencs. "We thjnk la t emester's pilot project was beneficial to both the elementary tudents and the university students who helped teach, " Thomp on said . Much of its success i due to the work of the university's tudent Literacy Council, which i led by Gretta Coleman, a enior from alt Lake City' Hillcrest High chool, and Julie Oakford, Simi Valley, Calif., a tudent senator for the College of Education. "But what we are doing i ju ta drop in the bucket. There is a trcmendou need out there. We don 't have enough volunteers to effectively addre s the problem, even in just this one school . "A broader effort is possible with continued networking among the district , university , parents, and community at large. With the recent notification from the governor's office that literacy will be empha ized in the years to come, Lhis state and our community will he challenged even more to fight the battle so that no child, not even one, should fail to learn to read and write, " Thomp on said. One teacher to a· ist each tudent is the current goal of the program at Ea t Elementary. Last eme ter the ratio was almo t two elementary students for each univcr ity tutor. Tl1omp on i . ceking more volunteers to as isl this semester, and heyond . Anyone willing to help may contact her at 865-8290 . Her e-mail addrc ·sh thomp. on._v@suu .edu. NOW RENTING 59 West Center Street 586-6831 r---- ---------------, : : : 2 Bth $4 O F F ANY ORDER OF $20 : OR MORE : 426 E. Nichols Canyon Cedar City Expires 2/15/99 : Ph: 856-1455, Fax 865-1427 : : L--------- ----------~ Open Mortda~ throu9h Frida~ 8 - 6 S at u rda ~ 9 4 3 BD 2BD 1 Bth All units feature Central Air, Gas Heat, Dishwa hers, Garbage Di po al, Covered Parking, Washer/Dryer, Cable, Extra Storage. We al o have two spacious clubhouses with kitchens for special events. Keep in shape by using our.Fitness Center and in the summer enjoy out outdoor swimming pool. For the children we have two playground areas. Stop by and let us show you our model unit and the features of affordable living at Kensington Apartment Communities Open man-Fri 9 to 6 • Income limits apply WE ARE ABIE 10 RENI'TO SI1JDENIS WHO ARE PART TIME, MARRIED OR HAVE OIIIDREN EQUAi. l100UIG OPPORlUMITY • \. |