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How Utah is implementing the research findings in the National Research Council Report, "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children."
The Governor of the state of Utah has mandated the implementation of a statewide literacy project. Part of that project, called UTAH READS, is related to early experiences in reading. The Governor?s wife is spearheading this part of the project designed to make parents aware of the importance of reading aloud to their children. Another part of UTAH READS will focus on helping struggling and nonreaders at all age levels. Early childhood and daycare centers and community-based programs for volunteer tutoring are being designed to focus specifically on the activities discussed in the NRC Report that foster reading growth. Professional staff development is also being implemented through leadership at the Utah State Office of Education to retrain teachers in the skills they need to prevent reading difficulties in all children. The UTAH READS project is just getting underway, and our representatives from Utah hope to capitalize on the successes of other states as they have begun comparable projects in their states.
Literacy Volunteers of America has been successfully implemented in dozens of schools across Utah. One woman, Kaye Warner, has donated enormous amounts of time and energy to solicit funding and volunteers for the project. Over a five-year period Mrs. Warner, along with Roseanne Bowman, has put together a volunteer tutoring project called "I Can Read." Mrs. Bowman has donated her considerable expertise as a Reading Recovery teacher and resource specialist to develop the project, and she currently trains teacher trainers and volunteers of all age levels. The PTA has also donated their time and energy to organize the training programs. Thanks to Mrs. Warner, many schools now have tutoring projects designed to give the extra help needed for nonreaders and struggling readers.
Mrs. Kaye Warner
Literacy Volunteers of America
Wasatch Front
175 N. 600 W.
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
(801) 582-2896
[Vermont]