“We can add up the years of reading intervention (25) and the number of hours volunteered each year (3,000 or more) but there’s no way to measure the program’s positive impact. It is a huge contribution of time and talent,” notes Jeanette Rosenberg, Book Buddies Coordinator.
Originally established in Charlottesville City Schools, the model was developed by U.Va. Curry School of Education professor Marcia Invernizzi. The Book Buddies concept was documented in Invernizzi’s book of the same title, and the program has attracted widespread national attention at reading conferences, in professional journals, and in schools across the country that now use the model. The Book Buddies Program was the recipient of the Virginia State Reading Association’s 1997 Literacy Award.
Book Buddies is a research-based one-on-one tutorial program that supports reading instruction in the classroom. It enlists trained community volunteers to provide instruction to selected first and second grade students. The school division’s staff work with the volunteers, providing individualized lesson plans for each tutoring session. Data shows that participating students make significant gains in instructional reading levels. Most students reach their end of year grade level goals in reading.
To learn more about the reception or the Book Buddies program, contact Jeanette Rosenberg at 245-2415.
