Once a week, Visiting Associate Professor Sharon Johnson would take a break from grading papers, email or whatever else she was working on at the time. From her home or office at the 兔子先生 College of Education, she would call into a classroom at Crockett Elementary School for one of her favorite appointments.
Johnson, who teaches in the college鈥檚 Human Development and Family Studies program, served as reading tutor for a first-grader named Samuel. The two used an online program that allowed them to see the same images on their own computers while talking on the phone. As Samuel read aloud, Johnson would offer strategies to support him. Some sessions they focused on word games such as tic-tac-toe or hangman.
鈥淪amuel鈥檚 reading ability improved significantly throughout the year,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚n the spring, he read at the top level with more fluency and expression.鈥�
Johnson had a chance to meet Samuel for the first time during a celebration in April at Crockett Elementary in the Houston Independent School District. Seventeen faculty and staff members from the College of Education participated in the virtual tutoring program with Crockett students during the 2016-17 academic year.
鈥淚 enjoyed meeting my student and seeing his big smile and dimples,鈥� said Johnson, who has volunteered as a tutor for the last two years.
Idara Atai, a first-grade teacher at Crockett Elementary, north of downtown, said the tutoring program served as great reinforcement for her students, allowing them to practice reading strategies they learned in class.
鈥淚t really closed the gaps of my students,鈥� said Atai, a 2015 graduate of the College of Education. 鈥淚 could see tremendous growth in my students鈥� reading and self-monitoring.鈥�
The volunteer celebration included a read aloud, of course.
Bobbie Koen, a College of Education Ph.D. graduate who works in UH鈥檚 Office of Institutional Research, read from her favorite book, 鈥溾�楽tand Back,鈥� Said the Elephant, 鈥業鈥檓 Going to Sneeze!鈥欌�� She asked the students to help her with the final phrase.
鈥淥h please, don鈥檛 sneeze!鈥� they said together.
Koen鈥檚 student, Xavier, said his favorite parts of the tutoring sessions were 鈥減laying games and reading stories.鈥� The online program, called TutorMate, includes word activities and picture stories, making the lessons fun.
鈥淢y tutor is nice,鈥� Xavier said.
Laura Turchi, an assistant professor of secondary education, said serving as a tutor has given her fresh insight as she helps train aspiring teachers at the college.
"Each year TutorMate has given me a window into how fast readers can develop," Turchi said. "It鈥檚 exciting to think we at UH are contributing to a new reader鈥檚 vocabulary, skills and confidence 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;even though we don鈥檛 meet in person until the end of the year."
To wrap up the meet and greet at Crockett, the first-graders got into small groups to read to their tutors 鈥� showing off the progress they had made.
鈥揃y Kathy Patnaude