DPS Reading Corps
• Students\' lives hanging in the balance
• Photos: Reading Corps volunteers
• Read Bobb\'s full remarks to the Reading Corps
About 2,500 of them came to a rally and training session at Renaissance, a cheerful and driven bunch that overflowed parking lots, forcing many to take shuttle buses from nearby schools.
Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager for DPS, called them champions for children and said that they will help the district meet its 2015 goal of every student reading at grade level or above by third grade.
There are other reading mentor programs around the country, said Richard Long, a director at the International Reading Association, a group based in Newark, Del., adding that in the case of DPS, "the size and the quickness ... is very impressive."
Leading by example
Bobb is leading by example. He stood before thousands of volunteers who have signed up to help tutor Detroit students and said he has signed up to tutor at Jamieson Elementary School.
And he made an admission.
"Not much intimidates me ... but I am totally intimidated," the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools said about reading through the stack of materials that volunteers received.
Although student scores on a national exam prompted the creation of the Reading Corps volunteer program, Bobb told the crowd that showed up for Saturday\'s kickoff that DPS also has discovered, through a survey of principals, that 52% of students in the district are not reading at grade level.
After a rally, the nearly 2,500 volunteers broke into small groups for an orientation aimed at helping them be effective tutors for prekindergarten students. Included was a 10-page handout that breaks down what the tutors are supposed to do each time they meet with their students, including descriptions of various tasks. A separate 50-page handout shows them how to help the students with learning the alphabet.
"We want them to walk away with a feeling this is something they can do," said Barbara Leatherwood-Peteet, a Reading Recovery teacher who helped lead one of the training sessions.
The volunteers were given tips on how to read to children, how to talk to them about the text they read and ask questions about it. Most important, they were given instructions on how to start their mentor relationship: In the first five minutes of the first session, for instance, the volunteer should share a brief story about his or her experience in school, ask the child about his or her school experiences and read "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
Seeing such a large group come out, Leatherwood-Peteet said, "was inspiring. I\'m hoping their interest will continue to grow."
Eunice Rose of Southfield signed up to volunteer because "I\'m sick of these children not knowing how to read. It\'s very sad."
She said it\'s important, though, not to blame teachers.
"If they don\'t have books in their homes, if they\'re not read to from the time they\'re infants, then teachers have a horrible time getting them to learn to read. So obviously the teachers need help. And that\'s what we\'re here for."
Last week, DPS announced that more than 20 businesses and organizations had signed on, offering a combined total of more than 10,000 volunteer hours from their employees and members. Those groups will get on-site training on yet-to-be determined dates.
Volunteers were entertained Saturday by student groups. They also heard from speakers including Free Press Editor and Publisher Paul Anger; Yvette Bing, Mayor Dave Bing\'s wife, and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh.
Pugh told the crowd that it doesn\'t matter how many new buildings are erected in the city, nor how many businesses are attracted to the city if the school district doesn\'t improve.
"It will not matter if our children do not learn the way they deserve to learn," Pugh said.
"You mean hope to a lot of children," he told the volunteers.
Bobb said he\'s optimistic that with the help of the volunteers, the district can and will change.
"We can win the battle for our children," Bobb said. "Failure is not an option."
Contact LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com
Related content
How to become a reading tutor
To sign up, call 313-870-5669 or go to the DPS Web site: www.detroitk12.org/readingcorps.
• All volunteers must get a criminal background check and 4-6 hours of training.
• Volunteers are asked to commit to mentoring two students at least 30 minutes each a week." />
DPS Reading Corps
• Students\' lives hanging in the balance
• Photos: Reading Corps volunteers
• Read Bobb\'s full remarks to the Reading Corps
About 2,500 of them came to a rally and training session at Renaissance, a cheerful and driven bunch that overflowed parking lots, forcing many to take shuttle buses from nearby schools.
Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager for DPS, called them champions for children and said that they will help the district meet its 2015 goal of every student reading at grade level or above by third grade.
There are other reading mentor programs around the country, said Richard Long, a director at the International Reading Association, a group based in Newark, Del., adding that in the case of DPS, "the size and the quickness ... is very impressive."
Leading by example
Bobb is leading by example. He stood before thousands of volunteers who have signed up to help tutor Detroit students and said he has signed up to tutor at Jamieson Elementary School.
And he made an admission.
"Not much intimidates me ... but I am totally intimidated," the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools said about reading through the stack of materials that volunteers received.
Although student scores on a national exam prompted the creation of the Reading Corps volunteer program, Bobb told the crowd that showed up for Saturday\'s kickoff that DPS also has discovered, through a survey of principals, that 52% of students in the district are not reading at grade level.
After a rally, the nearly 2,500 volunteers broke into small groups for an orientation aimed at helping them be effective tutors for prekindergarten students. Included was a 10-page handout that breaks down what the tutors are supposed to do each time they meet with their students, including descriptions of various tasks. A separate 50-page handout shows them how to help the students with learning the alphabet.
"We want them to walk away with a feeling this is something they can do," said Barbara Leatherwood-Peteet, a Reading Recovery teacher who helped lead one of the training sessions.
The volunteers were given tips on how to read to children, how to talk to them about the text they read and ask questions about it. Most important, they were given instructions on how to start their mentor relationship: In the first five minutes of the first session, for instance, the volunteer should share a brief story about his or her experience in school, ask the child about his or her school experiences and read "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
Seeing such a large group come out, Leatherwood-Peteet said, "was inspiring. I\'m hoping their interest will continue to grow."
Eunice Rose of Southfield signed up to volunteer because "I\'m sick of these children not knowing how to read. It\'s very sad."
She said it\'s important, though, not to blame teachers.
"If they don\'t have books in their homes, if they\'re not read to from the time they\'re infants, then teachers have a horrible time getting them to learn to read. So obviously the teachers need help. And that\'s what we\'re here for."
Last week, DPS announced that more than 20 businesses and organizations had signed on, offering a combined total of more than 10,000 volunteer hours from their employees and members. Those groups will get on-site training on yet-to-be determined dates.
Volunteers were entertained Saturday by student groups. They also heard from speakers including Free Press Editor and Publisher Paul Anger; Yvette Bing, Mayor Dave Bing\'s wife, and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh.
Pugh told the crowd that it doesn\'t matter how many new buildings are erected in the city, nor how many businesses are attracted to the city if the school district doesn\'t improve.
"It will not matter if our children do not learn the way they deserve to learn," Pugh said.
"You mean hope to a lot of children," he told the volunteers.
Bobb said he\'s optimistic that with the help of the volunteers, the district can and will change.
"We can win the battle for our children," Bobb said. "Failure is not an option."
Contact LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com
Related content
How to become a reading tutor
To sign up, call 313-870-5669 or go to the DPS Web site: www.detroitk12.org/readingcorps.
• All volunteers must get a criminal background check and 4-6 hours of training.
• Volunteers are asked to commit to mentoring two students at least 30 minutes each a week." />
DPS Reading Corps
• Students\' lives hanging in the balance
• Photos: Reading Corps volunteers
• Read Bobb\'s full remarks to the Reading Corps
About 2,500 of them came to a rally and training session at Renaissance, a cheerful and driven bunch that overflowed parking lots, forcing many to take shuttle buses from nearby schools.
Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager for DPS, called them champions for children and said that they will help the district meet its 2015 goal of every student reading at grade level or above by third grade.
There are other reading mentor programs around the country, said Richard Long, a director at the International Reading Association, a group based in Newark, Del., adding that in the case of DPS, "the size and the quickness ... is very impressive."
Leading by example
Bobb is leading by example. He stood before thousands of volunteers who have signed up to help tutor Detroit students and said he has signed up to tutor at Jamieson Elementary School.
And he made an admission.
"Not much intimidates me ... but I am totally intimidated," the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools said about reading through the stack of materials that volunteers received.
Although student scores on a national exam prompted the creation of the Reading Corps volunteer program, Bobb told the crowd that showed up for Saturday\'s kickoff that DPS also has discovered, through a survey of principals, that 52% of students in the district are not reading at grade level.
After a rally, the nearly 2,500 volunteers broke into small groups for an orientation aimed at helping them be effective tutors for prekindergarten students. Included was a 10-page handout that breaks down what the tutors are supposed to do each time they meet with their students, including descriptions of various tasks. A separate 50-page handout shows them how to help the students with learning the alphabet.
"We want them to walk away with a feeling this is something they can do," said Barbara Leatherwood-Peteet, a Reading Recovery teacher who helped lead one of the training sessions.
The volunteers were given tips on how to read to children, how to talk to them about the text they read and ask questions about it. Most important, they were given instructions on how to start their mentor relationship: In the first five minutes of the first session, for instance, the volunteer should share a brief story about his or her experience in school, ask the child about his or her school experiences and read "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
Seeing such a large group come out, Leatherwood-Peteet said, "was inspiring. I\'m hoping their interest will continue to grow."
Eunice Rose of Southfield signed up to volunteer because "I\'m sick of these children not knowing how to read. It\'s very sad."
She said it\'s important, though, not to blame teachers.
"If they don\'t have books in their homes, if they\'re not read to from the time they\'re infants, then teachers have a horrible time getting them to learn to read. So obviously the teachers need help. And that\'s what we\'re here for."
Last week, DPS announced that more than 20 businesses and organizations had signed on, offering a combined total of more than 10,000 volunteer hours from their employees and members. Those groups will get on-site training on yet-to-be determined dates.
Volunteers were entertained Saturday by student groups. They also heard from speakers including Free Press Editor and Publisher Paul Anger; Yvette Bing, Mayor Dave Bing\'s wife, and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh.
Pugh told the crowd that it doesn\'t matter how many new buildings are erected in the city, nor how many businesses are attracted to the city if the school district doesn\'t improve.
"It will not matter if our children do not learn the way they deserve to learn," Pugh said.
"You mean hope to a lot of children," he told the volunteers.
Bobb said he\'s optimistic that with the help of the volunteers, the district can and will change.
"We can win the battle for our children," Bobb said. "Failure is not an option."
Contact LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com
Related content
How to become a reading tutor
To sign up, call 313-870-5669 or go to the DPS Web site: www.detroitk12.org/readingcorps.
• All volunteers must get a criminal background check and 4-6 hours of training.
• Volunteers are asked to commit to mentoring two students at least 30 minutes each a week.">
DPS Reading Corps
• Students\' lives hanging in the balance
• Photos: Reading Corps volunteers
• Read Bobb\'s full remarks to the Reading Corps
About 2,500 of them came to a rally and training session at Renaissance, a cheerful and driven bunch that overflowed parking lots, forcing many to take shuttle buses from nearby schools.
Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager for DPS, called them champions for children and said that they will help the district meet its 2015 goal of every student reading at grade level or above by third grade.
There are other reading mentor programs around the country, said Richard Long, a director at the International Reading Association, a group based in Newark, Del., adding that in the case of DPS, "the size and the quickness ... is very impressive."
Leading by example
Bobb is leading by example. He stood before thousands of volunteers who have signed up to help tutor Detroit students and said he has signed up to tutor at Jamieson Elementary School.
And he made an admission.
"Not much intimidates me ... but I am totally intimidated," the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools said about reading through the stack of materials that volunteers received.
Although student scores on a national exam prompted the creation of the Reading Corps volunteer program, Bobb told the crowd that showed up for Saturday\'s kickoff that DPS also has discovered, through a survey of principals, that 52% of students in the district are not reading at grade level.
After a rally, the nearly 2,500 volunteers broke into small groups for an orientation aimed at helping them be effective tutors for prekindergarten students. Included was a 10-page handout that breaks down what the tutors are supposed to do each time they meet with their students, including descriptions of various tasks. A separate 50-page handout shows them how to help the students with learning the alphabet.
"We want them to walk away with a feeling this is something they can do," said Barbara Leatherwood-Peteet, a Reading Recovery teacher who helped lead one of the training sessions.
The volunteers were given tips on how to read to children, how to talk to them about the text they read and ask questions about it. Most important, they were given instructions on how to start their mentor relationship: In the first five minutes of the first session, for instance, the volunteer should share a brief story about his or her experience in school, ask the child about his or her school experiences and read "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
Seeing such a large group come out, Leatherwood-Peteet said, "was inspiring. I\'m hoping their interest will continue to grow."
Eunice Rose of Southfield signed up to volunteer because "I\'m sick of these children not knowing how to read. It\'s very sad."
She said it\'s important, though, not to blame teachers.
"If they don\'t have books in their homes, if they\'re not read to from the time they\'re infants, then teachers have a horrible time getting them to learn to read. So obviously the teachers need help. And that\'s what we\'re here for."
Last week, DPS announced that more than 20 businesses and organizations had signed on, offering a combined total of more than 10,000 volunteer hours from their employees and members. Those groups will get on-site training on yet-to-be determined dates.
Volunteers were entertained Saturday by student groups. They also heard from speakers including Free Press Editor and Publisher Paul Anger; Yvette Bing, Mayor Dave Bing\'s wife, and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh.
Pugh told the crowd that it doesn\'t matter how many new buildings are erected in the city, nor how many businesses are attracted to the city if the school district doesn\'t improve.
"It will not matter if our children do not learn the way they deserve to learn," Pugh said.
"You mean hope to a lot of children," he told the volunteers.
Bobb said he\'s optimistic that with the help of the volunteers, the district can and will change.
"We can win the battle for our children," Bobb said. "Failure is not an option."
Contact LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com
Related content
How to become a reading tutor
To sign up, call 313-870-5669 or go to the DPS Web site: www.detroitk12.org/readingcorps.
• All volunteers must get a criminal background check and 4-6 hours of training.
• Volunteers are asked to commit to mentoring two students at least 30 minutes each a week.">
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