LIFRC Weekly Community Spotlight and Update

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LIFRC Community Update

September 27, 2022

Happy Tuesday!

Thank you so much for the positive responses to last week's missive.

We are so happy that we took the leap to do something different and that it was well received.

Your continued support and feedback helps motivate us each day, so thank you for all that you do.

--The LIFRC Team

Weekly Spotlight

Catch a sight word ball and read aloud the word your finger touches!

Did you hear the happy voices of young readers this summer?

We did!

Lopez Island Family Resource Center teamed up with the Lopez Elementary School and the Lopez Library to pair coaches with 14 students for one-on-one literacy tutoring that spanned the course of six weeks.

As we have seen throughout the nation, students struggled to learn the fundamentals of reading over a computer screen due to COVID closures. What a challenging learning (and teaching!) environment.

That's why literacy experts, Debbie Kosman and Katy Hill, worked quickly and effectively to create a summer reading program that focused on building students’ skill levels through the Science of Reading.

With amazing support from Malia Sanford of the Lopez Island Library, K-2 teachers, and Mary Fordham, the summer Reading Rangers program was born.

Besides boosting literacy skills, the program set out to focus equally on raising students’ confidence levels and making sure they had fun!

Here’s where balls, hopscotch, bubble wrap, and shaving cream come in to teach literacy!

Wait – teach reading with what?

Word family ladder!
Change one letter each rung to make a new word then jump to “ran”, hop to “fan”.

That's right! Research shows that kids need opportunities to move their bodies in order to fully engage their minds.

While the Science of Reading focuses mostly on a specific scope and sequence of phonics skills, that doesn't mean it has to be the boring skills and drills of the past.

Why sit there with flashcards while kids’ eyes glaze over when you can have them hop around the room to find the circle with the word you call out, or write it in shaving cream!

One of our happy learners feeling the letters.

But this program would not have been possible without the amazing response of our community members (psst, that's you!).

Those who heard the call to duty, committed a good portion of their summer to the program, spending three days per week -1 hour each day- for 6 weeks. Not to mention preparation time!

Working tirelessly to customize each lesson for specific learning needs, the connection tutors made with their students was visible in the smiles we saw throughout sessions, (and their willingness to keep showing up even when the beach might have been calling their names.)

Seeing their child excited about reading, parents made comments like “they are going to be in a much better spot this school year" and "the traction they are making with the one-on-one time is visible.”

Still, the best part of the program was the comments from the kids.

We heard things like, “I love reading now!” and “I’m glad I can read now because I won’t walk into a bear cave, because I’ll be able to read that is says BEAR!”.

Smiles and engagements aren't the only reason to celebrate and students weren't the only ones learning. Post-session assessments showed growth between 80% and 100% depending on the reading skill assessed and the team is now developing an even better program for the (near) future!

If you want to be part of that future, whether as a volunteer or as a paid Literacy Coach, please contact Katy Hill at katy@lifrc.org

I'm interested in knowing more

Updates and Reminders

We still have several temporary and possible long-term positions available. If you, like us, believe in building a foundation of well-being for all members of the Lopez Island community, take a look at our new "Work With Us" page to see what's available.

Take me to the job board!

Other Ways You Can Collaborate

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Consider making a one-time or monthly pledge to support the phenomenal work of our community leaders.

Donate today

P.O. Box 732 Lopez Island, WA 98261
(360) 468-4117 info@lifrc.org

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