University of Houston’s College of Education Promotes Literacy with TutorMate Program - University of Houston
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University of Houston’s College of Education Promotes Literacy with TutorMate Program

COE TutorMater tutors and their studentsFor the second year, the College of Education (COE) participated in the TutorMate program through Innovations for Learning.  TutorMate is a nationwide program aimed at improving literacy by increasing the reading levels of children at a young age.  The program is currently being offered only in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and has thirty schools participating at various locations.

TutorMate allows students in HISD who need extra tutoring in reading to partner with a volunteer who tutors the same student at least once per week, all year, in order to raise their reading level.  The classrooms are equipped with a computer installed with the TutorMate software that allows the volunteer to phone in to the classroom and conduct sessions via computer.  The student and volunteer work on reading skills through the use of sight words, reading books, and playing games such as tic-tac-toe.  Bernice Roberts, COE Office of Graduate Studies academic advisor, said her student’s [Loren] “greatest accomplishment is increasing four reading levels during this year.”  Roberts is “so proud of the progress Loren made!”

Laura Lee with Crockett Elementary studentsNine volunteers from COE volunteered at least thirty minutes once a week to tutor first grade students at Crockett Elementary.  Volunteers for the 2015-2016 school year included:  Andrea Burridge, Delandra Hampton, Sharon Johnson, Bobbie Koen, Laura Lee, Bernice Roberts, Kristi Santi, Holly Tarasevich, and Laura Turchi.  Allison Leedie, who works for Innovations for Learning [TeacherMate], said “for many students the feeling of having a caring adult to read with just them once a week is the most important part of the TutorMate experience.”

The highlight of the program is the end of the year party when the tutors go to the school and meet their students face to face.  One student said the best part of the program was “playing tic-tac-toe”, while another “enjoyed reading the books”.   Ms. Munfus, one of the host teachers, said “TutorMate has been such as asset to the academic achievement of my students providing that one on one intervention piece my students needed.”

COE presented each student with a COE string backpack filled with goodies.  The host classroom teachers, Ms. Munfus and Ms. Saker-Martinez, received a backpack as well, filled with items donated from professor Norma Olvera’s Bounce program and books for their classroom library.  The books were donated by associate professor Kristi Santi, and assistant professor Laura Turchi.  Santi’s research interests involve early reading instruction in k-3 and Turchi specializes in English Language Arts.  Santi said “The importance of such a program at an early age is the help it provides students to gain confidence in their reading abilities that will hopefully translate to higher academic gains in their school careers.”

COE is already planning for next year.  If you are interested in being a TutorMate volunteer for the 2016-2017 school year, please contact Laura Lee for additional details.