America Reads provides an employment opportunity for students to go out into the surrounding schools and help tutor the children in their reading, math and science skills.
Senior Amber Walker, one of the America Reads student directors, said that Harding has had the program for 16–17 years.
“(The program) was started under the Clinton administration,” Walker said. “Any university or college that wants federal aid for the students — they have to have America Reads, or reach out to the community in some way.”
The America Reads program has seen growth since its conception.
“We only had four schools when I started directing and now we have seven schools, so it has definitely grown a lot,” Walker said.
The program has also grown from having 40 student tutors to 80 student tutors. Junior Celeste Bolen, one of the students who involved with America Reads, worked with students at Kensett Elementary.
“When I would work, we would go out into the hallway and take a book or two with us,” Bolen said. “I would help them read and guide them in the right direction.”
Bolen said she enjoyed her time working for America Reads. She said one lesson she learned was that at first, children might have difficulty with respecting authority. However, after they spend time with a tutor and get to know the person, they will obey. Bolen said being patient and not being afraid to put her foot down was key.
Walker also recalled one instance where she was speaking with one of the classroom teachers, David Berry. In this conversation he described one student he had that was in his sixth grade class but on a second grade reading level. After the America Reads tutor worked with the student, the student’s reading ability increased by three grade levels.
America Reads offers tutoring both semesters during the school year.
