BLACKSBURG – The Rotary Club of Blacksburg has just finished the first of two Listening to Readers Programs in first and second grade classrooms at Prices Fork Elementary School. Volunteers spent two days per week for six weeks listening to beginning readers read aloud to them. Each student read aloud for 20 minutes to a Rotary volunteer. Each Rotary volunteer worked with two students each session. That adds up to an impressive 93 volunteer sessions of 40 minutes each (62 hours) and 186 20-minute reading sessions for students. As much as possible volunteers worked with the same students week to week and were able to develop trusting relationships. Grand total: a minimum of 279 smiles and dozens of hugs!
Reading is a complex cognitive skill that requires many hours of practice to become proficient. Early elementary students are working hard to meet the third grade proficiency skill set. As with all skills, many hours of practice are necessary to achieve the goal. Rotary volunteers enjoyed supporting beginning readers practice their reading skills.
Thanks to the 18 members and seven spouses who made it happen: Patrick Moran, Gunin Kirin, Leslie Jester, Christy Brown, Ben Jackson, Jeanne Jeffers, Emily Gibson, Hank Johnson, Jim and Sue McAlister, Natalie and Alec Siegel, Michael Abraham, Judy Ridinger, Steve and Rosemary Cole, John and Jenny Sutphen, Jamie McReynolds, Jeff and Jane Hammell, Dave Erickson and Bruce Roulstone.
Rotary Club of Blacksburg
