Why 6th Grade
Although research shows that it is more cost-effective to intervene in teaching reading in early primary school than in higher grades, all children deserve opportunities to restore learning motivation.
Program Definition
A USF Research Team led by USF Sarasota -Manatee Campus Dean of Education, Dr. Cheryl Ellerbrock, and Assistant Professor of Literacy Studies, Dr. Lindsay Persohn, collaborated with Booker Middle School (a Title 1 school supporting low-income students) Principal Dr. LaShawn Frost and her team, to design a pilot study intended to support student growth in Literacy. Two College of Education doctoral students, Dulcey Hunter and Karyn Mendez, also participated in the project as members of the USF research team.
The idea developed by this team was a unique pairing of a college student( near peer) and a 6th grader to meet once a week in the school library where the students were able to find books on topics they were interested in and thereby spur their interest in reading.
The initiative paired 24 USF students with 27 Booker Middle 6th graders in mentorship and tutoring to encourage positive reading experiences and to promote a lifelong love of reading. Prior to working with their mentees USF students participated in professional development from the USF Research Team and Booker Middle School Teachers to learn how best to interact and motivate a 6th grader. This development carried on throughout the school year.
Each Friday, Booker Middle students met in the school library with their USF mentors in a group coined Secret Society of Readers commonly referred to as SSR.
During SSR, which took place during lunch and a following advisory period, the 6th graders were provided with time for reading with their mentor, as well as guidance and encouragement to interact with and around books, building a positive relationship with books.
“The Booker Middle School Literacy Program has given our dedicated undergraduate and graduate students at the University of South Florida a chance to foster positive relationships with young adolescents while supporting literacy learning through in-classroom tutoring and one-on-one student mentoring. This opportunity has positively impacted everyone involved—university and middle school students. USF is extremely grateful to be part of this amazing partnership with Booker Middle and The Henson Fund.”
— Cheryl R. Ellerbrock, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Middle Grades and General Secondary Education Campus Dean, Education