Reading Buddies Skype Program
Service Project of the Year
Rotary Club of Reno Central
Project Title _ Reading Buddies Skype Program __
Project Chair _Shirley Folkins-Roberts_
Reading Buddies Skype Program
The Rotary Club of Reno Central has “adopted” Glenn Duncan Elementary School, a at risk elementary school in Washoe County. Glenn Duncan has the lowest literacy rate in the Washoe County School District. One of our Club goals is to improve the literacy of those students attending Glenn Duncan.
Hunsberger Elementary School has one of the highest literacy rates in Washoe County School District. As such, the project coordinators wanted the Hunsberger students to reach out to fellow students to improve literacy in the school district. The Rotary Club Reno Central in partnership with Glenn Duncan and Hunsberger has sponsored the Reading Buddies Skype Program between the two schools. Reno Central Rotary has participated in this program by funding the Skype equipment. The program was organized with a sixth teacher at Hunsberger and the Hunsberger parent student council advisor who is also a member of Reno Central. Reno Central Rotary also provided volunteers to assist with supervision at the schools.
Ten of the Hunsberger student council students have been matched up with ten fifth-grade students at Glen Duncan. Two students from each school per day read together via Skype. Skype is a computer service that allows the students to video conference between the schools. This program began in November of 2010 and continued through March of 2010, at which time Glenn Duncan went off-track (on vacation). The program will resume April 18th.
Mrs. Young, the fifth grade teacher at Glenn Duncan, has observed marked improvement in the literacy of her students. The students at both schools introduce themselves to each other and talk about their pets and hobbies. They then read books together. Mrs. Ritenhouse, the Hunsberger teacher has observed the Glenn Duncan student assisting the Hunsberger student in pronouncing Spanish words as well, so it both sides are learning.
This program also has wonderful secondary benefits of fellowship and respect for diversity. Students at both schools have had the opportunity to form a friendship with fellow students who live in different areas of Washoe County. These bonds lead to better understanding and appreciation of their respective cultures and communities.
This program is slated to expand. The Hunsberger principal, supervising teacher and Rotarian are working with the principal of Pine Middle School to form a reading buddy program at other schools that feed into Pine. Hunsberger will increase the program participants and determine which of the elementary schools require assistance with literacy. This program would provide an opportunity for kids to form bonds in elementary school with students with whom they will eventually attend middle school. This second phase of the program will begin in fall 2011.