Based on the national movement entitled America Reads, KidsRead is a literacy program that assists school-age children in the local Indiana area.
The targeted grade levels, K–4, are tutored in reading and writing concepts and fundamentals. The main focus of the KidsRead activities and the interaction between child and tutor is on reading; however, the improvement of writing is an equally important goal. All activities are planned for one-on-one tutoring, with a college student acting as the tutor. The children are recruited through letters and forms sent home to parents by the Indiana Area School District, as well as by word of mouth.
Each tutoring session is built around what the student wants to read—or needs to read for specific school assignments. Within a session, the student may read aloud with the tutor, read aloud alone, work on vocabulary or comprehension strategies, or engage in writing activities. The coordinator brings structure to the program, but the tutors are the driving force in the program.
KidsRead sessions take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings at the Indiana Free Library and follows the IUP Academic Calendar and the Indiana School District calendar. The fall 2011 program begins the week of September 26, 2011, and will continue until the middle of December.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 9, 2011
Tutor Information
The program relies on consistency and tutor commitment for a semester. Fall and Spring tutor recruitment is completed separately each semester. Online registration is not available. Students can apply by picking up an application at the Office of Service Learning.
Tutors are required to have current copies of the following clearances:
Once registered, tutors are required to sign up to attend a one-day training session.
Assigned Training Dates:
- Tuesday, September 20, 2011; 5:00–7:00 p.m., 305 Pratt Hall
- Wednesday, September 21, 2011; 5:00–7:00 p.m., 305 Pratt Hall
If students have any questions regarding the program, please contact the Office of Service Learning at 724-357-3103 or via e-mail at service-learning@iup.edu.
Parent Information
Online registration is not available. A letter and application is sent home to parents by the Indiana Area School District at the beginning of each academic year for the fall and early January for the spring. Please check with your child's homeroom teacher. The Indiana Free Library also provides applications for the program. After our office receives and processes your form, a confirmation letter and schedule of sessions will be sent in the mail. If you do not hear from us after sending in an application, please contact us right away to ensure your child's participation in the program.
If parents have any questions regarding the program, please contact the Office of Service Learning at 724-357-3103 or via e-mail at service-learning@iup.edu.
