Reading Buddies-Motivational Instructional Strategy Paper
Click on the above link to access the artifact
Reflection
Students who are struggling readers have a difficult time in all aspects of education. In this motivational instructional strategy, Alice Buffett Middle School implemented a reading buddies program with their 5th and 6th graders and an Educare Center in downtown Omaha (4.1 Networking with the library community). Students at Buffett loop, which means that they stay with the same team of teachers for two years. On team 5A, teachers and students worked together to put together a service learning program where the 5th, and then the following year, 6th, graders would travel by bus and read to the students of a headstart program in order to help them receive extra reading experience as well as make a connection with older readers (Standard 2.4, Literacy Strategies). The hope was, that the younger students, who were from low income families, and often had little to no prior experience with reading, would enjoy reading with the older students, and it would help them in their current and future education (Standard 2.3, Respect for Diversity). The older students also collected new and used books to bring to the children, read with them and then send them home in order to help them create their own libraries and cultivate a love of books (Standard 2.1, Literature, Standard 2.2 Reading promotion).
The only part of this project that proved to be difficult was the transportation to and from the Educare center. There were over 150 students and staff that needed to get down to the center and back in one day. Students were split into two reading classes, with each class lasting for 90 minutes. The bus ride to the center was approximately 30 minutes from the middle school, which gave the students about 20-30 minutes to read with their partners. At times, it was difficult to get everyone loaded on the buses and to the center and back in the 90 minute allotment, but the other teachers were understanding of the time restraints, especially in winter weather.
The middle school students, pre-school students, and the staff at both locations truly enjoyed all aspects of the project and learned that helping others is very rewarding.
The only part of this project that proved to be difficult was the transportation to and from the Educare center. There were over 150 students and staff that needed to get down to the center and back in one day. Students were split into two reading classes, with each class lasting for 90 minutes. The bus ride to the center was approximately 30 minutes from the middle school, which gave the students about 20-30 minutes to read with their partners. At times, it was difficult to get everyone loaded on the buses and to the center and back in the 90 minute allotment, but the other teachers were understanding of the time restraints, especially in winter weather.
The middle school students, pre-school students, and the staff at both locations truly enjoyed all aspects of the project and learned that helping others is very rewarding.