Oak Park reading program a success
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY,Acorn Newspapers ONCE UPON A TIME- Red Oak Elementary School volunteer Evelyn Ross reads "The Little Red Hen Makes Pizza" to Robbin Lund's kindergarten class last Wednesday.

Every Wednesday morning a special visitor comes to Robbin Lund's kindergarten class at Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park. Evelyn Ross, a retiree, is a volunteer reader for the class. Each week she arrives with a new book and a puppet or other accessory to entertain the children with.

The children love Ross for her warmth and enthusiasm, according to Lund.

"She is adorable, very grandmotherly," Lund said. "The kids love seeing her name on the agenda and often cheer and comment about her upcoming visit. . . . They really enjoy the way she reads to them and has them interact as well."

Ross's visit is part of a new program called Oak Park Reads, which the Oak Park Unified School District implemented in the fall. Community volunteers come into classrooms to encourage reading among students or to strengthen the reading skills of individual students. Volunteers are matched with classes based on the ages they prefer to work with as well as their availability and corresponding classroom schedules.

"Reading to children is a powerful way to help build literacy skills. This is true even for older children who are already confident readers. Adults should read stories to them that are beyond their level to decode but that they are still able to comprehend," said Oak Park Schools Superintendent Tony Knight, who initiated the Oak Park Reads program.

The program has been a success on many levels, according to Knight. The volunteers and children enjoy the interaction, and the teachers appreciate the extra help the volunteers provide, he said.

"There just isn't enough time in the school day for enough of these activities without the outside help," Knight said.

Volunteer Ron Brody began reading Beverly Cleary books to Janet Levine's secondgrade students at Oak Hills Elementary. The children enjoyed the stories so much they began reading other Beverly Cleary books on their own, according to Levine. When Brody, a retired teacher, was unable to come to the classroom for several weeks due to eye surgery, he was missed by the students.

"We sent him get-well notes while he was out. The kids asked about him, and now he is back. It is a success story," Levine said.

In Nicole LoBianco's kindergarten class at Red Oak, volunteer Helena Marks works oneon-one with students.

"I love having Helena, and the students enjoy having her in our class," LoBianco said.

On a recent Wednesday morning, Ross sat in a rocking chair in front of 19 kindergartners seated on a colorful rug. Ross held a camel puppet and the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."

After reading the story, Ross asked the children to come up with their own ideas for what they would give the mouse. The enthusiastic answers included ice cream, sprinkles, chocolate frosting and a bagel hat, enticing giggles among the children. Before Ross left, she and the students sang "The More We Get Together," something they do each week.

"I look forward to sharing my Wednesday mornings with you every week," Ross told the children.

Ross has been coming to Lund's class for several months. A retiree, she taught for 12 years at a Thousand Oaks preschool, and before that she spent 13 years as a playground supervisor at Brookside and Oak Hills elementary schools in Oak Park. She also worked for an after and before-school program run by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. After retiring in February of 2006, Ross missed working with youngsters.

"My favorite part of teaching was circle time and that oneonone interaction with children," Ross said. "They're like sponges. Everything I said and did, their eyes lit up."

The most important thing about teaching is to get students excited about reading, Ross added.

"Books are so important in developing a child's imagination," Ross said. "When children can read on their own it gives them self-confidence, makes them feel good about themselves."

Ross chooses the books she reads to the class and always brings a book and puppet or stuffed animal from the library "to get the kids' attention." She tells the children the items are from the library to encourage them to visit the library, check out a book and read. Ross feels very welcomed by Lund and the children.

"She is a fantastic teacher and has the class so well-organized," Ross said. "I really enjoy coming into her classroom every week."

To volunteer for the program, call the district office at (818) 735-3200.