On April 10th, 2000, The Student Employment Office hosted an event to recognize students who participated in the Americorps Program.
I am a non-traditional student at UCCS in the Teacher Education Program. I am married with two grown children, one of which is a teacher in Colorado Springs. This is my second term of service in the AmeriCorps Program. I am currently student teaching at a low socio-economic school in Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs. It has been my pleasure to work with students in both the fourth and second grades. Working with these students has been a fulfilling experience. Many of my students are struggling in the area of literacy. As a teacher candidate, one of my requirements is to conduct a teacher work sample. The area in which I chose to concentrate my work was literacy.
I believe that this is one of the most important content areas of education — one in which children of poverty are struggling. It is essential for every society to have a literate citizenship. That is why I chose this particular area of focus for my work sample. I began with a small group of struggling readers — second graders working at the pre-primer level. In other words, these were students who were unable to accurately read entry level first grade materials. Some of these students were reading less than 15 correct words per minute in timed readings. The work sample is an intense unit of instruction. I chose to use a research based strategy of instruction called repeated readings to help students increase their reading fluency. We began reading at what is referred to as their independent level — a level at which the student can read the text with at least 97% accuracy. Students would reread passages a number of times and then read for a timed reading. Like any other skill, the more practice, the better the students were able to read — even unfamiliar texts. As students were able to increase their correct words per minute to a goal of 90 they were moved to the next level of text gradient.
It was truly rewarding to see the results. Students were excited about their growth — growth that allowed them to read at a higher text level with greater fluency. There is something intensely satisfying about celebrating success with your students. It is not just about helping students to read better, it is helping them to build confidence in themselves and their abilities. After the sample was completed this students were reassessed with a district assessment. All of the students in the group read an increased number of words correctly in this post-assessment. The students who scored in the teens and low twenties almost doubled their scores. Students reading in the high forties and low fifties realized a twenty word increase. Although these students are still considered at risk or at some risk of not making second grade benchmarks by the year's end, a significant growth in their reading skills was realized. Certainly, having the opportunity to serve them and contribute to their success is what this program is all about.
I appreciate having the opportunity to share my work with you and to share what I, as an AmeriCorp member, have been doing this past year. Thank you for inviting me.
I had always wanted to be a nurse. I believed I had a blessed life and knew that I needed to give back. That's one reason I went back to school as a "non traditional" student. I have 9 children and 7 grandchildren and figured I was going to get older whether I went back to school or not. I am finishing my 5Th year in a 6 year program in the nursing department at Beth-El. I have enjoyed my time in Americorps working with patients this semester at the Lighthouse which is part detox, part mental health. I have learned so much about that under-served part of the community. I have learned so much from the patients and know that many of those with addictions, are also dually diagnosed with mental illness. I have appreciated those professors of mine who take the time to explain to me what is going on with patients and who answer my thousands of questions. I am especially grateful for my clinical instructor who is seriously ill in ICU who has spent extra time helping me find answers, and who is a great example to me of a person who volunteers without expectation of thanks or reward. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of Americorps and appreciate all the volunteers who give of their time and set an example to me and my peers.