Program teaches struggling children to read in local elementary schools

Whether one is a circus clown or a financial wiz, anyone can volunteer to help Bloomington’s children learn to read better by participating in the Community Partners in Reading program. 

The Monroe County Community School Corporation started the program five years ago to help struggling second graders learn to read. Since then community and IU student volunteers have dedicated their time to give children in need extra instruction and personal attention.

Community Partners in Reading requires its volunteers to commit 75 minutes a week to the program. The children’s individual progress levels are assessed each week.

Volunteers spend the first 15 minutes of each session preparing to focus on the incoming child’s specific needs, said Marilyn Schwartzkopf, literacy coach.

Once the child is comfortable, they can proceed to one on one reading for 15 minutes. After reading a small book, the student practices five minutes of vocabulary. The last 15 minutes are spent playing a game. Some of the games include hangman, bingo and jumpstart frog.

Academic benefits are not the only way the program helps children, Schwartzkopf said.

“The social emotional aspect is just as important as the learning aspect,” Schwartzkopf said.

Tom Bunger, an attorney of Monroe County Community School Corporation and a five-year CPR volunteer, has been involved with the program since it first began.
Bunger said volunteers benefit from the program just as much as the children.
“There wasn’t a time after that hour that I didn’t feel good,” Bunger said.

Bunger said seeing a child succeed makes him feel accomplished.

Senior Danya Greenberg, who has been active in this program for one year, strongly recommends becoming engaged with the community through this organization.

The skills volunteers develop can help everyone because every profession involves learning from and teaching others, Greenberg said.

Anyone can become involved in the program. Those interested can contact Schwartzkopf at her office phone 330-7700, or via e-mail at mschwart@mccsc.edu. There are 75-minute training sessions before starting with the program, which will meet at Grandview Elementary School and Summit Elementary School beginning in February.