All trainings will at the 4Cs store
171 SW Monterey Rd.
Call for directions: 221-8777
Please bring you own chair

Training for former tutors:
Thursday, Oct. 16th, 3-5 p.m.: Grades 1 and 2
Thursday, Oct. 23rd, 3-5 p.m.: Grades 3, 4 and 5

Training for new tutors:
Thursday, Oct. 30th 3-5 p.m. Grades 1 and 2 (Port Salerno)
Thursday, Nov. 6th, 3-5 p.m. Grades 3,4 and 5 (J.D. Parker)

The 4Cs Literacy Programs

Our Store Literacy program promotes the reinforcement of pre-literacy skills, as well as teaches reading skills to elementary school age children.

In 2007, under the guidance of one of our dedicated volunteers, retired teacher, Betty Mulligan, we grew our in-store literacy program by expanding the literacy area in the store and materials that we could offer to our clients. In the store we see approximately 1000 children each year, mainly pre-school age children, who are not on level to begin kindergarten. In addition, our in-store program works with many children who have not attended any type of pre-k program and have had no early reading intervention.

Our in-store literacy program utilizes volunteers who speak both English and Spanish to read to the children who visit our store. In addition they facilitate skills lessons, assist parents with reading techniques and furnish the materials needed on child’s grade level, to help the child read at home. A volunteer offers each child who comes to the store two books to take home with them. Videotapes in Spanish are used to instruct parents on the value of reading, and to encourage parents to have children read once they return home.

Volunteering in the literacy area of our store offers an opportunity to work with children on their reading skills as their parents shop. Volunteers are always needed on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., as well as Fridays from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. Please call the 4Cs to find out more about volunteering: 221-8777.

The 4Cs “Reading on Wheels” Literacy program was developed in response to a need at two county Title One schools. The program was developed as a structured and more consistent way to outreach to additional children in need of assistance in reading skills at two local elementary schools; J.D. Parker Elementary in Stuart, and Pt. Salerno Elementary in Pt. Salerno.

Our Literacy Coordinator, Ms. Mulligan has on her own, recruited and trained 43 reading tutors, who are providing intervention in reading to 103 students at Port Salerno and J.D. Parker elementary schools. The population served in this program are students in grade 1 through 4, who are reading below grade level, and are at-risk for promotion. The 43 reading tutors that were recruited for this past school year received 6 hours of training in the areas that the schools have requested, including: fluency and comprehension. Our volunteer literacy coordinator works closely with the reading specialist, administrative staff and teachers at each school.

The program takes place during the morning hours of the school day, mainly on a weekly basis, from January through April. On average, each tutor works with two children individually, for 40 minutes each, in the classroom setting.

In our “Reading on Wheels” program, the children participating have been identified by their teachers as being at-risk in the following five areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

For our “Reading on Wheels” program we look at FCAT and Dibels testing scores. According to FCAT results for J.D Parker elementary school for 2007 only 61% of 3rd graders and 65% of 4th graders scored at a level 3 or above in reading. At Port Salerno elementary school only 66% of 3rd graders and 69% of 4th graders scored at a level 3 or above in reading. For the younger grades 1st and 2nd, who are not FCAT tested, we rely on their Dibels scores. At J.D. Parker 41% of the children scored in the moderate to high risk in letter recognition and 53% for initial sounds. At Pt. Salerno 50% of the 1st and 2nd students scored at the moderate to high-risk levels for difficulty in reading.

All of the 103 children in the two schools that we work with are struggling readers. Our tutors hope to help the children increase their Dibel or FCAT scores.

Because of the low school reading test scores that children had received in school, we felt our tutors could make a difference and by the end of the school year 2008, they had.

The students were pre-tested and post-tested at the end of their 12-week, one-on-one tutoring sessions. We are awaiting year-end results.

If you are interested in tutoring a child in reading for 12-weeks in the upcoming school year, we would be excited to hear from you. Please call us at the 4Cs: 772-221-8777.