Welcome New Investee: Team Read!
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Awfully can be an awfully hard word to learn. When Tristan stumbled on this tricky word in one of his books: "It's awfully hard to count the flock," his tutor Edna was ready with a variety of methods to help him decipher the word:
1. Looking at the word in the context of the sentence
2. Breaking down the word into manageable chunks ("awful" and "ly")
3. Talking about why the author used this word.
4. Adding the word to their vocabulary list for further review.
Edna uses these methods, and others she learned in her tutor training, to help Tristan develop his vocabulary. In no time, Tristan had learned a new word and was barreling forward with his reading.
Since October, Tristan and Edna have met like this twice week, and it’s paying off in a big way! Tristan has advanced his reading level by a full year, and he’s not alone.
Each fall, Team Read works closely with teachers to target the 2nd and 3rd graders in their classrooms with the greatest need for Team Read’s reading intervention. On average, 75% of the students referred to the program in September are reading a year or more below grade level, but by mid-May…
- 50% of the 2nd graders and 40% of the 3rd graders have gained more than a year and a half in reading skills
- 65% of the 2nd graders and 50% of the 3rd graders are reading at or above grade level
- 90% of teachers and 95% of parents report increased reading skills as a result of participation in Team Read
Results like these are part of the reason SVP’s Out of School Time Grant Committee is so excited to support Team Read, particularly in light of the American Educational Research Association’s 2011 study, which revealed that:
“A student who can't read at grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time.”
Team Read is helping change the odds for hundreds Seattle kids through their tutoring program. But that’s not all.
All of Team Read’s tutors are carefully trained middle and high school students. Through Team Read these teens get meaningful work and volunteer experience that supports academic growth, leadership development and fosters a commitment to community service.
“Team Read is a unique program that impacts its teen volunteers as much as its participants,” shares Grant Committee member Laurie Rosini. “They’re also at that optimal point to scale their program. As one committee member put it: ‘just add water....’”
We are delighted to welcome Team Read, and look forward to the work ahead, especially with an Executive Director who is as committed as Maureen Massey!
“We’re really honored and excited because we know that being an SVP grantee has transformed organizations,” shares Maureen. “We also know that like most things, we’ll get out of it what we put into it—so the Team Read staff and board are ready to roll up their sleeves to build an infrastructure to match the quality of our programs.”
More about Team Read
Team Read helps Seattle's public elementary school students achieve reading success. They believe reading is fundamental to all learning, and the gateway to achievement.
Pairing teen tutors with second and third grade students who are reading below grade level, they create reading teams who work together one-on-one after school. For one school year, these teams meet twice a week at selected schools to improve the students’ reading, comprehension and vocabulary.
Team Read helps to develop elementary students’ reading skills while providing middle and high school coaches with meaningful learning opportunities. Coaches simultaneously gain work experience, responsibility, personal satisfaction and a rewarding understanding of community service.
Learn more about Team Read and how you can get involved. If you are interested in using your unique professional skills to help strengthen Team Read please contact Mike Quinn.
Thank You to Our Other Four Finalists!
After a rigorous six month process, the Out of School Time Grant Committee had a difficult choice to make between five organizations that are making a huge difference in our community. We would like to recognize and celebrate our other four exceptional finalists:
We are so grateful for the work you are doing for kids in our community!
