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Booker Middle School Reading Program

Objective

Raise literacy rates for 6th grade students whose reading scores require reading intervention.

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

Pilot

In working with Booker Middle School Principal Dr. LaShawn Frost, we determined a need for in-classroom aides who could perform push-in interventions and also act as one-on-one mentors for reading. We partnered with the College of Education at University of South Florida to provide for undergraduate and graduate students to fulfill program execution. A key component of the program is the Secret Society of Readers, in which students are assigned to college mentors for fun and dedicated one-on-one quality time to read together, discuss books, and explore reading.

Results

The one-on-one ongoing relationship with a college student often of similar background helped increase the motivation to read and thus improved not only literacy but other school behaviors, such as attendance and in-classroom behavior.

An unintended result was the benefits to the mentors who, while paid $20/hour, gained personal growth and satisfaction.

The Booker Middle Reading Program has positively impacted our 6th grade classrooms, both the teachers and the students. The teachers greatly benefit from having additional instructors in the classroom to do push-in lessons and tutoring, and the students cherish the one-on-one time they have with their USF tutors during Secret Society of Readers sessions. Not only are reluctant readers excited about reading, but we've also seen positive improvements in attendance and behavior. This is a program that works.

—Dr. LaShawn Frost, Principal, Booker Middle School School

1700

Nearly 1700 Students enrolled in Summer Learning before COVID

92%

Promotion rate for
Gocio Pre-K students,
compared to 54% for other Pre-K students.

+15%

Increase in Reading Levels for Booker Middle School Students

360

Number of Students in this Year's Academic Initiatives