Reader Leader Program Burnett Elementary School

Why are Reader Leaders Valuable? Reading is one of the most important and fundamental skills that a child will ever learn. It is used throughout one’s entire academic career and is used across all content areas. In grades Kindergarten through 2 nd students learn to read. In grades 3 rd on up students read to learn. Reading is necessary to prepare students to be lifelong learners.

Continued: Reading is the key to knowledge. Burnett is striving to help all students meet grade level standards in reading. Burnett wants to instill an enthusiasm and excitement for reading in our students.

History The Reader Leader Program, at Burnett Elementary School, began in September 2009, as a method to involve parents, family members and community in modeling reading to students.

Program Specifics Parents, family members and Community volunteers are recruited, at the beginning of each school year, from face to face contact, school newsletter, PTA Meetings and from Burnett’s Partners in Education. Potential Reader Leaders are then scheduled for a 45 minute Orientation/Training. In the training, the mission and goals of the program are reviewed.

Continued: Also, support is provided to program participants by Burnett’s Assistant Principal, the Title I Parent Outreach Facilitator and the Media Center staff.

Training Before You Read – Participants are trained in Reading preparation techniques. Such as; Pre- reading a book, using stick notes, etc. While you Read – Reader Leaders are given techniques to keep students actively involved such as; asking “What do you think will happen nest” After you Read – R.L.’s are given summarizing strategies such as; reviewing the story with students.

Modeling The Assistant Principal or POF will, during the training, select a book and read it thus “modeling” before volunteers the techniques of Reading.

Research and statistical information is provided to Reader Leader volunteers. Research facts based from the book, “Ten Facts Parents Should Know About Reading” by Jim Trelease, is provided to R.L. volunteers. Facts such as; “Across the world, children who read the most read the best.” Listening Comprehension comes before reading comprehension.

Program Basics The POF provides the classrooms and schedules the R.L.’s to read. The Media Center assists the volunteers in book selection. They also may provide additional coaching. Each R.L. reads at their own convenience. Some read every week, some once a month, some once a semester. The average reading time is 20 minutes.

Some of Burnett’s Reader Leaders

Burnett Reader Leader

Another Burnett Reader Leader.