Monday, March 12, 2001
Forty-two Ohio Reads volunteers are helping some third-graders become better readers.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Retiree Toni Salerno and third-grader Sara Gatta sit at a desk in a Washington Elementary School hallway, huddled over a book.
Sara reads aloud while Salerno sits nearby, helping the pupil pronounce unfamiliar words and explaining definitions.
Salerno is one of 42 adult volunteers helping Niles third-graders from each of the district's five elementary schools to read.
Gov. Bob Taft initiated the Ohio Reads program to help pupils pass the fourth-grade proficiency test.
Salerno works with three pupils each Thursday at Washington Elementary School.
"I do it in my spare time," said Salerno, who is retired after 20 years of running the Niles Senior Center. "It sounded like a wonderful thing to do."
First year: Ohio Reads started in some school districts last year, but this marks the first year for Niles schools. All of the districts in Trumbull County are recruiting Ohio Reads tutors to help their pupils, according to the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
Niles' program started out with 30 volunteers at an orientation session last month but ballooned to 42 volunteers after the governor unveiled billboards promoting the reading program.
"I'm just amazed at how it's snowballed," said Mary Lou Kosinski, literacy specialist and Ohio Reads coordinator for the school district.
Volunteers are matched with pupils according to their schedules. The sessions, conducted during the school day, continue through the end of the school year. Kosinski said the program may expand to second-graders next year. People interested in volunteering here may contact Kosinski at the board of education office at (330) 652-0269. Niles residency isn't a requirement.
Story: Salerno and Sara, 9, were reading "Ali Baba Bernstein," one morning last week. The book tells the tale of a boy, David, and his frustrations about his name.
"There are other boys in his class named David so he wants to change his name," Sara said.
David searches through the Manhattan telephone book, looking for a new first name.
"That's a really thick phone book," Salerno explains to her pupil. "That was a good one to pick because there would be a lot of names in it to pick from."
The two laugh. Salerno and Sara read materials approved by Sara's classroom teacher.
The 46 pupils who participate in the reading program were identified by their teachers. Some of the volunteers work with more than one child.
Volunteer Miriam Pantalone works with James Roland, 9, each week.
"He reads about a chapter every time I come," said Pantalone, a homemaker.
She got involved in the reading program because she has time to spare.
"To me it's great because I love working with children," the homemaker said.
Volunteers: The list of volunteers also includes a few students interested in teaching careers and retired school personnel.
"I think reading is very important," said Lou Tabor, a retired principal who also was a teacher.
He and his pupil meet weekly and have been reading "Ramona the Pest."
"To this point, I'm learning from him," he said.
Nick Bernard Sr., a school board member and retired principal, also participates in the program.
Advice: Dick Bullock, a retired high school guidance counselor, said people shouldn't shy away because they feel intimidated by the idea of teaching. He pointed to a booklet that he brings with him to each session, reminding the volunteers of steps to follow at each reading session.
Bullock and his student meet twice a week.
"His teacher said he needs some help with comprehension so we work on questions about what we've read after each session," he said.
Bullock also believes he gets something out of the meetings.
"It's just the enjoyment of seeing him read and I just feel like I'm helping," he said.