JMCSS ‘Team Read’ helps 2nd graders with reading
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Tuesday marked the beginning of another school year for “Team Read” in the Jackson-Madison County School System. “Team Read” serves 474 second graders in the school system, giving them individual attention to help expand their reading ability. After the first year of the program, the school system has expanded from three schools to six for the 2015-2016 school year. The district says it modeled the program from one in Memphis that saw a 115 percent increase in second graders’ word recognition with the added one-on-one help. “Then they go back to the classroom and take that knowledge and the concepts that they learn working with their coach and mentor back into the classroom into the other studies that they’re doing,” Community Engagement Coordinator for the Jackson-Madison County School System Kim Butler said. The school system said their goal is for every second grader in the program to be able to read the 1,000 words in their packet. Volunteers say they feel like being able to give their time back is an investment in the community. “It’s the best thing I do,” volunteer Susi Yanessa told WBBJ. “I’m retired now, and in my free time this is the best thing I do, because I get to come in and meet the kids and make a difference in their life, hopefully.” Volunteers, many of whom are partnered with their church, commit to work with two students, 30 minute each, once a week for the entire school year. “To let our good works shine in such a way that people will see the glory of God, so for me, this was a way to be able to do that,” volunteer Chuck Maxwell said. “The blessing is supposed to be given to the children, and of course in return we are the ones who get the blessing because you become an important part of their lives and someone that they value and that they see as I care, and I’m going to be invested in them,” volunteer Andrea Stevens said. School system officials said they’d like to make the program district wide, but to do that it needs volunteers willing to help. For more information about Team Read or how to get involved, contact Kim Butler via email at kdbutler@jmcss.org or by phone at 731-664-2532.
