"I liked having the APIE tutors come to my class. I'm excited - because of them I got to learn something new. Everybody deserves the chance to learn something new. Because of them we're probably going to be the best readers in the world."
- - Mark, 6th grade student in Reading Classroom Coaching
Program Overview
6th Grade Classroom Coaches share a love of reading with students, increasing fluency and comprehension for increased learning outcomes. Reading is key to success in all other subjects. A student who struggles with reading in 6th grade is likely to have difficulties in Science, History, Math and other subjects. Help build stronger readers by volunteering as a Classroom Coach.
As a Reading Classroom Coach, you will...
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Provide consistent, positive support as a mentor/tutor for 2-3 middle school students in reading
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Apply interactive learning tools to engage students in building critical reading skills
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Support teachers by providing differentiated, individualized instruction
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Model cooperative behavior to strengthen individual and group skills
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Motivate students by bringing your energy and enjoyment of reading, making the concepts in stories more relevant
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Show students you care about them and their academic success
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Celebrate student success
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Experience the reward of knowing you helped another person
How it Works:
The Middle School Reading Classroom Coaching program is offered to sixth grade students. Each week, a team of volunteers spends 45 minutes in their assigned classroom, working in small groups to build reading skills.
This program has received grant funding to add classes in 7th grade at Webb Middle School in 2011-2012 and expand the Reading Stars books on tape program.
Volunteers Receive:
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A curriculum workbook with exercises for group reading, conversations about stories, plays, poems and other texts
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Initial and ongoing training
- Weekly support from a dedicated coordinator
- Guidance from teachers and coordinators on applying the tool
- Interaction and shared learnings with other volunteers
Read Volunteer Alejandro Dominguez's story in our Volunteer Spotlight or watch his video on our YouTube channel here.
Download a program flie for Middle School Reading Classroom Coaching.
View which schools participate in Middle School Reading Classroom Coaching.
Volunteer and see how much fun learning can be:
Questions: Please contact 512.637.0900 or apie@austinpartners.org
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Read about our Elementary School Reading Program
- Learn more about our Classroom Coaching Model
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Read about our program Successes.
This program is funded by:
3M Foundation
Andy Roddick Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
Applied Materials Foundation
Impact Austin
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
And our founders
Austin ISD and
The Austin Chamber of Commerce
The Difference Reading Success Makes
ACT’s study, The Forgotten Middle, concludes that middle school years are the most pivotal in a student’s education. This study shows if a student is not on a college ready path by the time he/she graduates 8th grade, it is too late.
American readers get off to a fast start during the elementary grades but begin to falter during early adolescence. A good start is critical but not sufficient, and middle school students deserve continued and systematic instruction in reading.
Students look for help from parents during the fifth-grade year, while teachers become more important during the sixth-grade year - a shift as pre-adolescents struggle to form an identity independent of family. Students still continue to desire adult assistance throughout the transition.
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SOURCE
ACT, The Forgotten Middle. (2008)
National Middle School Association (2003) and, Radcliffe, Caverly and Franke, Improving Reading in a Middle School Science Classrooms. (2008)
Arowosafe and Irvin (1992)
