TAYLOR READING CORPS: Summer program continues

The Taylor Reading Corps’ second summer program continues this week at McDowell Elementary School.

Theme of the opening week was “auto biography.” Students started creating biography books. Last Wednesday marked day two of the Autobiography Week. The children finished their autobiographies, which were read to their groups during story time.

Three national junior honor society students from Allen Park Jr. High started volunteering that day, and there will be more to start on a later date.

July 1 was the first day of space week. We started with the activity “moon tennis,” which focused on blend words. Kids started creating moon print pictures using balloons as paint brushs. The kids were read a story about the moon and a poem about the planets.

The children continued to get to know each other with an icebreaker. Exercised the brains with “Brain Gym” and read some stories.

The Taylor Reading Corps could use a few recycled items to aid in children's education over the vacation months. Emily Sweeney, who is coordinating much of the program, needs the following:

•                Yogurt containers

•                Paper towel and/or toilet paper rolls

•                Tissue boxes

•                Cereal boxes

•                Coffer containers

•                Pringles cans

•                Masking tape

The TRC plans to have children building a "recycled city including towers and buildings" so anything that you'd like to donate would be very helpful.

The TRC office (22755 Wick) is located in the Par-Wick Plaza near Sax Pharmacy, which is at Wick Road and Pardee. The office is open during regular business hours weekly. For further information, call (313) 769-6730 or click on the TRC Web site by clicking here.

The TRC is also actively seeking adult volunteers mentors for the next school year. The program is expanding to include second-graders and next year will aid preschool, kindergarten, first- and second-grade students.

Volunteering is easy. Each mentors get a child and meets with them, at their school, for two, one-half-hour sessions each week throughout the school year. The TRC provides training and support.

National studies have shown that if pupils fall behind in reading proficiency by the end of the third grade, they stand an highly increased measure of failing to perform standard work throughout their educational careers, and have an increased chance of failing to graduate.

The TRC is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that recruits, trains and supervises adult reading mentors to work in the Taylor School District. This past year, the TRC mentored children in preschool, kindergarten and the first grade. Next year, it plans to expand its effort to the second-grade level.