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DECEMBER 2003

Give the Gift of Reading:
Reading Reform Begins at Home
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Susan J. Moesker

In any given New York City classroom, when children sit at desks with textbooks open, how many of them actually understand the words printed on the page? According to Beth Fertig's recent series, "Reading, Writing and Reform" on WNYC radio, only about 40 percent of elementary and middle school students are meeting state standards.

The existence of a crisis is obvious; the question remains, what can be done? Recognizing that reading is the basis of all learning, the New York City Department of Education, under the leadership of Chancellor Joel Klein, has implemented a new curriculum intended to boost reading scores for the 2003-/04 school year. If children cannot read, they will not be able to master any academic subject matter.

The good news is that research indicates that 90 to 95% of all children can learn to read at grade level with appropriate intervention. A caring adult-a parent, grandparent or mentor-can impact a child's reading skills by spending fifteen minutes per day reading to a child. It is also important to remember that as adults, we are role models: children must see us reading to want to become readers themselves.

It is never too early to start-the Einstein tapes for babies, a video series, full of classical music and colorful graphics and designs, are pre-reading stimulation aids for preschoolers. Unfortunately, too many parents cannot afford resources such as these that would otherwise be available and helpful. According to Sandy Feinberg, the Director of the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach, NY, any books read aloud and displayed to young children can have the same effect as the Einstein tapes. The New York City Public Libraries are a rich resource, which families and children should visit. Many families who cannot afford to buy books are unaware that books and videos can be taken home for a designated time and then returned to their local library branch once they sign up for a library card.

To promote reading and proficiency in the English language, Mentoring USA's trained mentors help children in our initiative English as a Second Language (ESL) Mentoring Program. When English is not spoken in the home, reading is of paramount importance to reinforce the subjects learned at school. Our Mentoring USA mentors, through the use of curriculum materials, improve reading comprehension. It is beneficial for ELLs (English Language Learners) to hear English pronounced by native speakers.

The Mentoring USA program is an affiliate of HELP USA, the nation's largest provider of transitional housing for the homeless. Mentoring USA provides mentors to children in HELP USA's shelter facilities in New York City, including locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Westchester County.

Mentoring USA also reinforces reading through the "ethnic heroes" library component of our BRAVE (Bias-Related Anti-Violence Education) Juliana Cultural Diversity initiative. Each youth receives free books from Mentoring USA that are read and discussed during weekly mentoring sessions. Our trained mentors receive activity books in training, which contain curriculum that refers back to the books that the pairs have read together. The intention of BRAVE Juliana is to promote global peace through understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Reading books is a great way to travel all over the world without ever leaving New York City!

As the holiday season approaches, consider the gift of books for that special child in your life. The holiday season is an excellent time to plunge into the BRAVE Juliana Diversity Booklist, as it features books about holidays celebrated in different cultures throughout the world. This can be a springboard to discussion about, and acceptance of, the differences between youth and their mentors, who may well practice different religions and celebrate different holidays. Consider giving a child a bookstore gift certificate, to engage the young person in the process of becoming an active, discriminating consumer of literature. In most cases, a good reader is also a good student with good grades. We adults have a responsibility to help each child succeed to read.  It is a great gift to give a child the joy of reading.#

Matilda Raffa Cuomo is the former First Lady of the City New York. She is Founder and Chair, Mentoring USA and Chair, National Committee for Advanced Placement Italian Language Course & Examination. Susan J. Moesker is the Director of Programs at Mentoring USA.

 

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