Young Graduates of USM Program Improve Reading/Writing Skills
July 29, 2004
A USM professor and his graduate students have spent the
summer helping 75 children, ages 6 to 16, become better readers
and writers. USM Professor of Education Michael O'Donnell
started the USM Summer Reading and Writing Workshop 35 years
ago to give graduate students experience working with children
to improve literacy skills. The 2004 program includes children
who are ESL (English as a Second Language) students. They
are referred to the program by teachers and parents.
Students are tutored five days a week, two hours a day by
graduate students, most of whom are experienced teachers completing
the requirements for a USM master's degree in literacy. Students
select books and choose writing topics that hold special interest
for them. "They receive lots of positive feedback,"
O'Donnell has said. "It is not unusual for our students
to experience dramatic gains in their reading and writing
skills."
GRADUATION CEREMONY: A special ceremony will be held
at 10:15 a.m. this Friday, July 30, in Room 10 of Bailey Hall
on USMÕs Gorham campus. Each of the students will receive
awards, certifying successful completion of the program. About
150 people --friends and family members -- are expected to
attend.
MORE INFORMATION: Please call Bob Caswell or Judie
O'Malley of USM Public Affairs at 780-4200 (o), or at home,
839-2026 (Caswell), 839-6402 (O'Malley). USM Professor Michael
O'Donnell can be reached at 780-5069 (O) or 854-2373 (H).
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