320 first-graders from schools all over Prince Georges County gathered in Cole Field House early Friday to celebrate Maryland Reads Day. The five hour event was hosted by the on-campus tutoring organization America Reads*America Counts, an organization that seeks to improve the skills of students who are falling behind in math and reading.
The Maryland Reads program is for first and second grade students who are behind in their reading level. Mentors engage in a reading recovery program and help build confidence within the students as well as develop skills and strategies for reading. At the end of the semester, the mentor and student work culminates at Maryland Reads Day.
More than 100 volunteers, including mentors involved in the America Reads program, joined the celebration. “The students were just amazed at the UMD campus, especially at Cole Field House,” said Alixe Siegel, an America Reads mentor and freshman early childhood education major. “Their faces lit up when they walked in and saw the stadium, and that excitement remained the whole day.”
The students watched a puppet show, made human sentences, and did activities that revolved around the book A Pocket for Corduroy. As the students raced to find words that rhymed, played Pictionary, and created their own Corduroy bookmarks, they were learning at the same time.
“I highly recommend anyone, even if you don’t work for ARAC, to volunteer for America Reads Day next year,” Siegel said.
The fun continues with Maryland Counts Day on Friday May 3. Maryland Counts is an after school program for fourth grade students who are struggling with math. Mentors work in small groups with these students and help them with their homework as well as review and introduce math concepts that the students find difficult.
Fourth grade students enrolled in the Maryland Counts program will come to the University of Maryland campus and enjoy math-related activities while exploring the campus.
The final ARAC event will be Partners in Print day on Saturday May 4. All families involved in the Partners in Print program, which holds literacy workshops throughout the year for families in local Prince Georges communities, will join the UMD community and discover resources and participate in activities that will help foster the spirit of reading within their family.