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TI Volunteers Asked to Share Joy of Reading.........posted Jun 12, 2007

"Yasher koach" to nine Tikvat Israel members who generously volunteered time during 2006-07 to mentor second-graders in the Montgomery County Public Schools: Florence Banks, Mae Bernstein, Carol Chelemer, Ellen Eisner, Art Fabel, Marsha Fabel, Jesse Kaiser, Helene Kram and Sharon Laken.

These volunteers participated in the Ruth Rales Comcast Kids Network, a structured reading comprehension format for second-graders. Originally developed in Israel and adapted for use in this country, the program involves weekly, one-on-one reading sessions at the child's school. Training and tutoring materials are provided.

"This is the most productive thing I've done all year," says Marsha Fabel, who tutored at Shriver Elementary.

For most volunteers, the weekly duty is a "win-win" situation: Students benefit from the skill reinforcement, the personal attention and the friendship while volunteers are rewarded by the warm greetings and smiles they receive and the rapport that develops.

Of course, "seeing the light bulb go on "when a child "gets it" is a terrific feeling, says Art Fabel. "Nothing is more rewarding than hearing your student say, 'I love to read.'"

It's not too early to consider becoming a reading mentor for the 2007-08 academic year. Program participation requires attendance at one two-hour training session plus a commitment to one hour per week of tutoring during the school year (vacations and illness excepted). Tutoring time at most schools is late morning, but a few schools offer before- and after-school options.

Volunteers may ask for placement at a school that is convenient for them and also select their preferred day of the week. This year's volunteers tutored at Fairland, Germantown, Harmony Hills, Meadow Hall and Shriver elementary schools.

For further information, as well as the summer/fall training schedule, contact Eisner (eeisner@comcast.net; 301-598-0635).