The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 24 December 1980 — Page 11

School news

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READING CAN BE PLEASANT — Reading tutor Sally Wise helps two Milford students improve their reading skills. Mrs. Wise tries to make reading a pleasurable experience for the youngsters she serves. Mrs. Wise is one of nine special reading tutors employed by the Lakeland School Corporation. (Photo by Terri Chilcote) t

Reading tutors help Lakeland students catch up to age level

By TERRI CfIILCOTE You hear a lot these days about students graduating from high school unable to read. The Lakeland Community School Corporation is doing something about that problem. In fact, it has been doing something about it for the past 11 years. Through the special help of reading tutors, Lakeland elementary and junior high students receive individual instruction with any reading problems they might have. The program attempts to help students read at the level appropriate for their age level. The Lakeland School Corporation employs nine reading tutors. Lorita Randall and Diane Jordan help students at North Webster Elementary and Cindy Ruch is at North Webster Junior High. At Syracuse Elementary are Delores Boyer, Teresa Caudwell and Anne Spurling and Leticia Clevenger tutors at Syracuse Junior High. Elizabeth Shaw is the reading tutor at Milford Elementary and Sally Wise serves at Milford Junior High. J K The special reading program is federally funded with Title I funds. These funds are funneled through the state education department and are earmarked for supplemental programs which are designed not to replace services normally supplied in the classroom, but to provide additional instruction. Special reading students spend 15 minutes a day with the reading tutor. Some need to work with the tutor only two or three times a week while other students are

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tutored every day. Some students only need to be tutored for one school year and others receive tutoring year after year. “What we re trying to do is to make students comparable readers to thfcir age level,” explained Nancy Nelson, reading specialist for the Lakeland School Corporation. “We play a lot of catch up,” she added. She pointed out the program’s purpose is to attack reading comprehensive problems and improve reading skills. Apparently the special reading program in schools works. In a comparison of reading gains of Lakeland students enrolled in the special reading program with special reading students throughout the state. Lakeland reported substantially higher gains at each grade level. The following figures represent reading gains during the 1978-19795ch00l year: Grade two — Lakeland reading gain. 8.8; overall state gain, 6.25 Grade three — Lakeland gain, 16.4; overall state gain. 4.95 Grade four — Lakeland gain. 6.5; overall state gain, 4.26 Grade five — Lakeland gain. 7.0; overall state gain, 4.06 Grade six — Lakeland gain, 7.3; overall state gain, 5.10 Grade seven — Lakeland gain, 6.4; overall state gain, 4.28 Grade eight Lakeland gain. 11.7; overall state gain, 3.20 Mrs. Nelsorj admitted one reason for Lakeland’s large gains is the overall state figures include large inner city schools which often have “hard core problems” that Lakeland schools don’t experience. However, Mrs. Nelson feels one reason the Lakeland program

has been so successful is it’s tailored to individual students' needs whereas some school systems simply purchase “prepackaged" programs from publishing houses. By using a large variety of materials and resources, tutors are able to “custom-fit” the program to the student. “We have a lot of different materials. . We adapt the medicine to the disease,” Mrs. Nelson explained, but stressed, “What makes our program work is the girls (tutors* who work with the kids.” When a teacher discovers a student is having difficulty reading, she or he will point out the areas the student is having trouble in to the reading tutor. The tutor, in turn, selects materials and resources that are designed to correct those problems. Students are placed in the special reading program by teacher recommendation, test scores and parent recommendation. Each tutor has been trained in the appropriate and effective use of the materials. These materials include books on a wide variety of subjects, phonic word drill cards, games and work sheets. Students are tested weekly to determine their progress. Common Reading Problems A common reading problem among elementary students is phonics while comprehension is a prevalent problem among junior high students. Transposing letters and lack of vocabularly are other frequent problems. According to Mrs. Nelson, some children have trouble with vocabularly because their parents seldom have conversations with them. Their vocabularly is limited because they seldom hear or participate in adult conversations. Children can fall behind in their reading skills due to illness or poor attendance. Some students have had their education frequently interrupted because their families move around a lot. Another culprit is switching school systems in which different teaching methods are used. 9 ome students just need a little more individual instruction to catch on. Milford Junior High reading tutor Sally Wise sees 52 students a week and tries to make reading a pleasurable experience. She enjoys being with the children. “I love to read and then reading with them makes it nice,” she remarked. She has served as a reading tutor since September, but worked with learning disabilities in the school system for four years. “We re fortunate to have her move upstairs to our department,” stated Mrs. Nelson. She also pointed out, “It takes the right type of person (to be a reading tutor).” To qualify as a tutor, a person must have a high school diploma and a strong desire to help children. Mrs. Nelson said she often gets discouraged when a student remains in the reading program year after year. “I wonder how have I helped these students,” she sighed. But then she reminds herself of where the student might be if he or she had received no tutoring at all. Mrs. Wise said she doesn’t get discouraged with this type of student, because she sees the student’s day-to-day improvement.' She compares the student’s reading skills when he or she entered the program with the student’s reading level at present. This helps her realize the progress made. Wawasee High School’s language arts classes take up where the special reading program leaves off. High school students are placed in classes appropriate to their language skills and receive further help, if needed, with any remaining problems.

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THE CHRISTMAS CAROL — Milford third graders performed Charles Dickens* “The Christmas Carol” for their parents Monday evening, Dec. 22, in the school gym.

By JODI BROWN A new feature here at the library is our “Author of the Month.” We will feature a popular author and his her works each month, hopefully to familiarize our reading public with the author’s works, or reacquaint a reader with a favorite author whom they may have forgotten about. The spotlight falls on Faith Baldwin this month. At the time of the last publication (in our collection, 1977) Miss Baldwin was 84 years old. living in Norwalk, Conn., and writing a novel a year. The titles in our collection include: “Adam's Eden,” “Alimony,” “American Family,” “And New Stars Burn," “Arizona Star,” “Blaze of Sunlight,” “The Golden Shoestring,” “The High Road,” “The Juniper Tree.” “Betty and the Law,” “Make-Believe,” “Men Are Such Fools,” “No Bed of Roses,” “Rehearsal for Love,” “Station Wagon Set,” “Take What You Want,” “There is a Season,” “Thursday’s’ Child,” “Week-end Marriage," “The West Wind,” “The Whole Armor,” and “Woman on Her Way.” Come on in and be a Faith Baldwin fan! Afong with familiarizing yourself with authors who have been on our shelves for some time don’t forget about those new books. One of the most recent books which we’ve received is by Gloria Swanson. “Gloria Swanson, at 81, in full possession of all of her many strengths, and now the sole survivor of a lifetime filled with such adventures that no novelist could begin to imagine it, tells her own story in her own words, and leaves nothing out.” Her autobiography, entitled, “Swanson on Swanson” can be checked «yt at the library. “What on earth would a man do with himself if something did not stand in his way?” H.G. Wells. Richard Steele enters DePauw Richard Steele, r 3 box 52A Syracuse, has enrolled full-time for 1980-1981 classes avDePauw University, Greencastle? He is a freshman. The independent, four-year liberal arts university enrolled its largest class of new students in its 143-year history and its largest total enrollment in 11 years, according to first semester figures just released. Total combined enrollment ia the university’s College of Liberal Arts, School of Music and School of Nursing is 2,430.

WHO KNOWS? 1. Is the orange a vegetable, fruit, or a berry? 2. When it is winter in th& North Temperate Zone, what season is it in the South Temperate Zone? 3. When was slavery ended in the U.S.? 4. For what was uranium used before atomic energy was developed? 5. What is “cynophobia”? Answers Te Who Knows •sßop jo aeoj $ ssb|B Suijojoo joj X[uicpj -p pajja ojui luoM luauipuotuy qiuaajijqx aqi uoqM ‘S9BI ‘Bl JaquiaoaQ f •joiuiuns 'i 'Xuoq e si ji /A||U3iuß}oa i

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FOURTH GRADERS SING CAROLS — Music teacher Donna Pollen directs the Milford fourth graders in singtag carols for their parents. The Milford Elementary School Christmas Program was Monday evening, Dec. 22. All the grades had a part in the program. (Photo by Arch Baumgartner)

WHS Penny Pitch Wawasee High School Students have participated in a schoolwide Penny Pitch since 1972. Pupils ask other students, faculty and administration members to donate money for Christmas gift baskets later distributed to area needy families. “When the program began, it was through a Fort Wayne radio station. Then we« decided to continue the Penny Pitch but in our own area so area families would receive the baskets,” explained Myron Dickerson, Wawasee High School dean of students. This year, the Pitch was sponsored by the National Honor Society and offered class competition. Each class gathered a total of $1,464.39 for the baskets; the junior class placed first; sophomores were second; seniors placed third; and freshmen were fourth. The baskets, prepared by Klink’s Grocery, Syracuse, contain fruits, vegetables, meat and daily products. They were distributed to 30 families on Saturday. Dec. 20, under faculty sponsors &tan Grabowicz and Philip Fawley. “Family names were collected by the Honor Society through local agencies, clubs, churches and more,” commented Grabowicz. The largest amount ever raised by Wawasee High School f students through Penny Pitch was $2,823.98 during 1977, with National Honor Society sponsorship. The Penny Pitch was once a freshman class project. Girl Scouts have Christmas party By ANGIE KIRKDORFER Girl Scout Troop 125 had their Christmas party Tuesday, Dec. 16. They made stained glass ornaments. The girls also ate pizza and had a great and fun time!

Lakeland Loving Care staff have pot-luck Christmas dinner

A pot luck Christmas Dinner was held by the staff of the Lakeland Loving Care Center, Milford, in the Milford Apostolic Fellowship Hall, Friday, Dec. 19. Employees of the center presented gifts to John Perry, Orville Kilmer, Glennis Stump and Jim Synder. The volunteers were recognized and presented with a gift. The volunteers present were Priscilla Myers, Grace Shearer, Luella Walls and Ralph Neff. The entertainment for the evening was by Robb Brooks, Heidi Beer, Ben Beer and Suellen

The children had been rehearsing for several weeks under the direction of music teacher Donna’Pollen. (Photo by Arch Baumgartner)

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FOURTH GRADE CLASS PROJECT — The fourth grade class §f Mrs. Richard (Anni) Bender. Milford Elementary, made Mr. and Mrs. Snowman to hang on the classroom wall. Mrs. Bender stated the girls in the class worked on Mrs. Snowman and the boys worked on Mr. Snowman. Tbe students who didn’t get a chance to work on the snow people made Christmas greeting&which hang next to the figures. (Photo by Deb Fox)

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FIRST GRADE NATIVITY SCENE — Some of the first grade students at Milford Elementary took part in portraying individuals in the nativity scene. The first and second grade students presented a program at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, Dec. 23. Shown in front are Bobby Cross. Mason Robbins, Kerri Speicher. Tyson Barnett and Doug Free. Standing in back are Debbie Shirk. Shantel Miller and Erika Aechleman. (Photo by Deb Fox)

Free. The group sang Christmas songs for the staff. A Christmas! poem was read by the activity director, Joellen Miller. • Theentire group joined in the closing song of “Silent Night.” Stolen trash Bonnie Workman of Syracuse reported to the Syracuse Police Department on December 22 that someone took her trash. Closer to our hearts be the Christmas Spirit. —Charles Dickens

Wed.. December 24. ISM—THE MAIL-JOURNAL

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