Letter – IsleREAD makes a difference
Published 6:06 pm Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Editor, The Smithfield Times:
Smithfield Kiwanis Club would like to recognize the following IsleREAD community volunteers whose weekly tutoring commitment greatly impacted PALS test scores for Hardy Elementary kindergartners this past school year: Chris Andress, Terry Andrews, Barbara Arrington, Stephanie Annas, LaSondra Adams, Marie Arinello, Amy Bowman, Beth Butner, Cindy Byrd, Retecka Bright, Susan Cooper, Betty Dupee, Liz Finan, Bonnie Franklin, Mary Ann Fry, Sarah Garner, Susan Grice, Scharnelle Hamlin, Shannon Henry, Linda Lytton, Diana Mills, Ana Montiel, Janet Moore, Tammy McFarland, Valerie Neal, Jane Nogiec, Rose Packard, Claire Phillips, Cathi Pope, Nancy Saint, Amanda Shannon, Laura Jo Sullivan, Connie Wykle and Christine Zugay.
IsleREAD’s mission is to work with county schools to augment their efforts to bring at-risk students up to reading standards with their peers. PALS refers to Phonological Awareness Literacy Screenings. PALS screening is done with kindergarten students in the fall and again in the spring. Ms. Alicia Reeves, Hardy Elementary reading specialist, shared fall and spring test score results with IsleREAD Team members and thanked the team for its significant contribution. Student scores on letter identification and letter/sound recognition improved by 51% from fall to spring. These skills were targeted by IsleREAD tutors in their weekly coaching sessions.
Linda Lytton
IsleREAD Program Coordinator
Smithfield Kiwanis Club
Smithfield