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The Who?, What?, When?, Where?, and
Why? of America Reads:
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What?:
America Reads is a national initiative that challenges all Americans to
help children read well and independently by the end of third grade.
In South Florida, Miami-Dade College, Miami-Dade County
Public Schools, and a host of local colleges and universities have joined
forces to provide individualized tutoring to several thousand struggling
children each week at 52 elementary schools and after school programs
throughout the county.
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Who?: Local colleges and universities hire
students in the Federal Work Study Program, and Miami-Dade County Public
Schools provides tutors with an orientation and training and on-going in-service support.
America Reads tutors are placed at elementary schools or community
after school sites that participate in the program.
Tutors are from Miami-Dade College, Florida International
University, University of Miami, Barry University, Florida Computer and
Business School, Miami Ad School, National School of Technology, and the
Technical Career Institute. At any given time there are approximately 300 students
working as America Reads tutors.
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When?: Tutors must work 10 – 20 hours a week.
Tutors see a limited number of students and provide one-on-one 30
minute individualized tutoring sessions several times a week for each
child with whom they work. Tutoring
takes place during regular school hours or after school, depending on the
site.
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Why?: There are many reasons to be an America Reads tutor!
Make a difference in a child’s life by giving them the gift of
reading; learn skills that will help you as a parent, friend, and
grandparent later
in life; enhance your resume; be part of an
important national initiative; make an invaluable contribution to our
community by getting children on the right track; have fun;
gain work experience; feel great for the difference you can make!
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Where?: Locally; Miami-Dade College, Barry University,
Florida International University
and the University of Miami actively recruit, train, and hire college
students to tutor.
For 35 years,
AmeriCorps*VISTA has been helping bring communities and individuals out of
poverty.
Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve in
hundreds of nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the
country -- working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create
businesses, increase housing opportunities, to bridge the digital divide.
AmeriCorps*VISTA leave behind all lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest
problems.
For more information on AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA please check
their website at http://www.americorps.org/vista/index.html
Receiving Federal Work-Study is mandatory for our
tutors; THIS IS HOW TUTORS GET PAID. Here
are three easy steps to guide tutors in the right direction.
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Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
months before the tutor wants to join the America Reads program.
This form can also be completed on-line. Click here for FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov
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The
FAFSA form will ask for a school code. There will be a listing of school codes
that correlate to your specific
campus. Make sure that the six-digit school code is accurate.
If the code and the school do
not match, this will cause a delay in your processing application!
For example,
Miami-Dade College North Campus’s school code is 010223.
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Answer
YES to receive Federal Work Study on the FASFA form.
And then the on-line work is done!
Or stop by the campus Financial Aid
office to pick up a form in person.
Q: What is the America Reads Challenge?
A: America Reads is a national campaign that asks Americans to get
involved in helping children read well and independently by the end of
third grade.
Q: Who are the children that are tutored?
A: Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ first-graders
whose reading skills need improvement.
Q: Where can I tutor?
A: Selected Miami-Dade County elementary schools and
community agencies.
Q: What are some benefits of working with the America
Reads Program?
A: Some of the benefits are the ability to:
- Change
a child’s life forever
- Build your resume
- Receive on job training
- Obtain Professional Experience
- Gain skills that increase your parenting/mentoring effectiveness
- Earn Extra Money
Q: What are the requirements for becoming a
Miami-Dade College America Reads tutor?
A: The Requirements are:
- student must be eligible for Financial
Aid/Federal Work Study.
- student must be enrolled for and maintain at
least 6 credits.
- student must have at least a 2.0 GPA.
- student must be available during school hours.
Q: How much are tutors paid?
A: $6.50 an hour through Federal Work Study.
Q: How many hours per week can tutors work?
A: 10-20 hours a week.
Q: What hours can tutors work?
A: There are opportunities to work Monday through
Friday 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. but most sites are at elementary schools that are
open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Q: When are tutors paid and how often?
A: Miami-Dade College tutors are paid every
other Friday from Federal Work Study.
Q: Do tutors receive mileage reimbursement?
A: No, tutors do not receive mileage reimbursement.
Q: Is training provided for tutors?
A: Yes, all tutors
must attend a two-hour orientation and then complete a four-hour training
on the America Reads curriculum. Tutors
who complete the orientation and training and are hired by an America
Reads site will be paid for these hours.
There will be mandatory refresher trainings every 6 weeks. All tutors must attend and are paid for these trainings.
Q: When can tutors start to work?
A: After attending a New Tutor Training, held several
times each semester.
Q: When is the next training?
A: See America Reads Calendar (spring calendar is being written at the
moment. please check later for availability)
Q: Whom do I contact if I want to start tutoring?
A: Contact your Campus’ America Reads Coordinator:
See Civic Responsibility
Page
“As
an America Reads tutor for 2 years, I have learned the true value of
patience. It is taking time
out from your busy schedule; it’s setting no limitations on showing
kindness, and it’s having the courage to take charge in any situation.
These are just a few things that have helped me to become an
effective tutor by getting involved in the children’s lives.”
Jennifer Meda, Miami-Dade College Tutor
“Teaching
a child to read can be frustrating at times, but when that child reads
that first sentence without your help, you get a feeling of success. I
think that most tutors feel happier than the child who reads the
sentence.”
Alegna
Reyes, Miami-Dade College Tutor
"America
Reads is the life line for reading success for first graders!"
Annie
D. Lavender, Reading Coordinator
“America Reads was the best program that came
about because it proved successful in my students’ lives. My students feel more secure with their reading and more
proud of themselves, therefore, it makes me happy to see my students
enhance their skills in life. America
Reads is a success for our kids today.
I would not think of changing a thing about our program.
I'm proud of the kids in our program because they are happy to see
me the next year and they are doing much better then they did before.
That's a big gift to me.”
Johnnie WIlliams, Miami-Dade College
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