Fresno READS
Fresno Reading Enrichment and Academic Development through
Service
By: Erik Nelson
Fresno READS
 "What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge,
not knowledge in pursuit of the child"
- George Bernard Shaw
 The Federal Government's America Reads program
challenges communities around the nation to mobilize an
army of tutors to ensure that every child can read by the end
of the 3rd grade. In response to this challenge, California
State University, Fresno has developed the Fresno Reading
Enrichment and Academic Development through Service
program (Fresno READS).
Fresno READS Mission Statement
 Young people are the future of our country and education is a
primary cornerstone in the development of our youth.
Fresno READS places a highvalue on the importance of
reading and literacy skill development ofelementary students
in the Fresno area. This project will foster readingskills in
elementary students through one-on-one tutoring and
mentoring, along with other associated activities. At the same
time, the project will focus on providing meaningful
academic, personal and professional development
experiences for the mentor/tutors involved.
Project Goal
 The primary goals of Fresno READS




are to:
Increase student reading ability for
those students involved in Fresno
READS.
Substantially increase in the number of
mentoring/tutoring hours provided
through Fresno State sources.
Provide a positive, rewarding
experience for Fresno READS mentors.
Substantially increase in the number of
students, staff, faculty and emeriti
involved in reading enrichment
activities. (An annual goal of providing
600 Fresno READS mentors is set for
this project.)
"Think Outside the Box"
 There are many ways that this term can be defined. The way it is
being applied to Fresno READS is that the children being tutored
are living inside a box. Inside of that box is everything that they
know; their education, their family, and their dreams.
 A Fresno READS tutor represents the first peek outside of the box
for many of these children. The tutors represent all of the things
that are out of reach such as; an older person who understands
what they are going through, the importance of education, a larger
world than they are accustomed to, and most importantly a peek
at bigger hopes and dreams than they may have been exposed to.
 Fresno READS tutors have the opportunity to make a positive
difference in the lives of these children. Tutors must not only teach
their children how to read, they must help their children to love to
read!
Receiving Academic Credit for Being a
Tutor.
 For the last several years, Students
for Community Service (SCS) has
engaged students in thousands of
community service work each
semester. Since the Fall of 1990, the
Community Service 101 course has
generated over 150,000 hours of
community service. In response to
the America Reads Challenge,
students in the Students for
Community Service/Community
Service 101 course are encouraged
to engage in service work related to
education and tutoring. Visit the
Students for Community Service
web site for more information.
Tutors will be required to:
 Set regular, scheduled days and times to meet with their
pupils.
 Tutors are asked to make a year-long commitment.
 New tutors will be required to attend a Tutor Training
Course at California State University, Fresno. Tutors will be
paid and can receive academic credit for this course.
 Tutors will also be required to: maintain a professional
appearance and conduct at all times; attend training; keep all
scheduled tutoring appointments; keep records of student
work; report on tutoring activities, pupil progress and
concerns; and conduct evaluations as needed.
Fresno READS Schools
 S.M.I.L.E. Center
Site Supervisor:
Don Romsa
 Wolters Elementary
School
Site Supervisor:
Julie McSherry-Ramos
 Stone Soup
Site Supervisors:
Melissa Snider
Kathy Garabed (Executive
Director)
 Vinland Elementary
School
Site Supervisors:
Pauletta Williams
Robert Avedesian
(Principal)
Tutoring/Mentoring through other
Service-Learning Courses
 Service-learning is an educational approach which involves
students in community service work directly related to the
academic content of a particular course. Service-learning
provides students with the opportunity to relate classroom
learning to community problems, in turn giving them the
chance to understand the practical applications of the
materials they cover in class. A number of departments and
instructors are involved in service-learning approaches.
Those related to tutoring/mentoring and the Fresno READS
project include: Child Family and Consumer Studies,
Chicano-Latino Studies, Speech Communication, Education
and Human Development, and Sociology.
Helping Hands
Interested ?
 Chris Fiorentino
Students for Community Service
Coordinator
California State University, Fresno
5150 N. Maple Ave M/S JA 120
Fresno, CA 93740-8026
Joyal Administration Building Room
274
Phone: (559) 278-7079
Fax: (559) 278-6483
Email: chrisf@csufresno.edu
 Brad Huff
University High School
2355 E. Keats M/S UH 134
Fresno, CA 93740-8010
Phone: (559) 278-8263
Fax: (559) 278-8263
 Melissa Snider
Kathy Garabed (Executive
Director)
Stone Soup
1345 E. Bulldog Lane, Ste. 4
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: (559) 224-7613
Fax: (559) 224-2981 Pauletta
 Williams
Robert Avedesian (Principal)
Vinland Elementary School
4666 N. Maple Ave
Fresno, CA 93726
Phone: (559) 248-7300
Fax: (559) 294-7331
References
 http://www.csufresno.edu/scs/reads/index.html