Service Learning Tutoring Program
Service Learning Tutoring Pilot Project~ Fall 2007
This past fall the Service Learning Grant was used to pilot a literacy centered pilot project out of the NMSU-Grants Education Department. Linda Marion, Education Program Manager, offered her Introduction to Literacy students the opportunity to participate in the pilot project in lieu of completing half of the class's article review assignments due towards the end of the semester. Geneivieve Humenay, Service Learning Coordinator for NMSU-Grants, formed partnerships with Cubero Elementary and Mt. Talyor Elementary schools here in Cibola county. Both schools have been identified as needing help increasing their student proficiency scores in reading, so were happy to work with the Service Learning initiative at our campus. NMSU-Grants Literacy students received theoretical and foundational instruction in the college classroom as well as national tutor training as part of their course work. Sandra Rourke, Director of the Student Success Center at NMSU-Grants and a nationally certified tutor trainer, came into the college literacy class to prepare Professor Marion's students before they participated in their service learning hours. Once trained by Ms.Rourke and after months of Literacy instruction by Professor Marion, literacy students took their skills out in the community to help the partnership elementary schools tutor children in literacy instruction and curriculum. Mark Head, a teacher at Mt. Taylor Elementary and head literacy coach for the school, welcomed NMSU-Grants literacy students into his classroom and supervised them helping his students to improve their literacy skills. At Cubero Elementary, Charlotte Hemingway, teacher and literacy coordinator, also coached our NMSU-Grants literacy students on intervention strategies for struggling readers. Professor Marion's literacy students were able to contribute just over 20 hours of service learning- connecting their college instruction to real-life application while making a difference in our local school's efforts to improve the literacy of elementary students! Upon reflection, NMSU-Grants students appreciated the real-life experience of helping students they normally would not have been exposed to or given the chance to work with. A special thanks to Mark Head, Charlotte Hemingway, and the administrations of both elementary schools and the school district for allowing NMSU-Grants education students to form such a valuable partnership for our community! Also, a special thanks to Sandra Rourke for assisting the Service Learning program with her talents and skills! The Service Learning initiative is continuing this Spring 08 semester and more details of its success will be posted soon!
~Professor Linda A. Marion
Director, Service Learning &
Education Program Manager
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"The Service Learning Program is a proud recipient of a grant funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service Learn and Serve America Program through CNM Community College." |