MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Educators often say “from kindergarten to third grade, children are learning to read, from third grade and beyond, children are reading to learn”.
Unfortunately, kids who miss out on that basic foundation, can’t build toward a positive future.
The good news is, we have the power to change that.
Here’s some information on how Team Read works and how you can join.
Seven-year-old Aubrey Malone is a second grader at Winchester Elementary.
Her mom Rekieta says she’s a bright student with a bold personality who takes the same approach toward school.
“That’s just a part of who she is, it’s never pressure getting her to do her homework or reading or anything, she just loves it.”
Aubrey’s teacher is Denise Wilson.
“Anytime you can excite a child, you’ve won that child over,” Wilson told WREG.
Ms. Wilson says she uses all sorts of techniques to keep the kids pumped up, especially about reading.
“We make it fun, where our games are even our sight words.”
Think of sight words as the building blocks for the foundation of reading.
“These are words they have to know the minute they see what it is,” explained Wilson.
Words like ‘and’, ‘you’, ‘that’.
Ideally students learn the first 300 sight words by third grade, a critical step toward becoming a fluent reader.
Dr. Cynthia Alexander Mitchell is the Director of the Division of Family and Community Engagement for Shelby County Schools.
She told WREG, “The first 300 words on a sight word list represent 65 percent of all written tests.”
Dr. Alexander Mitchell also says the implications extend far beyond the classroom.
“Even some states base the number of prison beds on the level of proficiency for 3rd grade.”
Roughly seven out of ten SCS third graders can’t read on grade level.
“You have students that enter school at different levels,” explained Dr. Alexander Mitchell.
Getting those students on track requires extra help.
That’s how Team Read was born.
“Team Read was actually an invention of a teacher and a principal in legacy Memphis City Schools. They had a group of volunteers from a church who really wanted to help,” said Dr. Alexander Mitchell.
Team Read uses “coaches” to tutor students who need additional help learning sight words.
This year, News Channel 3 is teaming up with SCS to recruit 1,000 volunteers and collect 10,000 books.
The books are geared toward students in pre-k through seventh grade.
The list includes book titles people will likely recognize like Dr. Seuss, Junie B Jones and Goosebumps.
“The child has a tutor, has a connection, has resources, so now you have ongoing wrap around support,” said Dr. Alexander Mitchell.
Once volunteers sign up for the program, they’ll go through training, be matched up with the school of their choice, then spend one hour a week inside the school helping two children.
Flora Childres is the principal at Winchester Elementary.
“This is one on one, an hour of power!”
Winchester is one of 40 Team Read schools.
Volunteers who commit to helping students at schools like Winchester, work with two students for 30 minutes each.
So, 1,000 coaches equals tutoring for 2,000 kids.
Childres said, “I’ve seen it make a difference, my children that have had tutors in the past, they went from struggling students to striving students to achieving students.”
Now, all we need is help from you to make that difference.
The kind of difference that could leave a lasting impact.
Ms. Wilson said, “We’re all in this to see our children succeed, because they’re going to run our world. I don’t know if I’m talking to the next mayor, or the next Governor or even the next president.”
Little Aubrey said of the new school year, “I’m going to do my work, get an E in conduct and come home with a good grade.”
Her mother added with a smile, “She makes me so proud.”
It’s clear, children fortunate enough to have support, experience success much sooner.
Success that benefits our entire community.