E.L.V.I.S.: Expert Literacy Volunteers in Schools

Urban School Welcomes Retired Teachers as Expert Literacy Volunteers

Teachers always appreciate extra help in their classrooms. In urban schools, the need has perhaps never been greater than today.

A team of faculty in the School of Teaching and Learning identified retired teachers as an untapped pool of experts to further the work of teachers. With Assistant Professor Adrian Rodgers taking the lead, they collaborated with President Judy Valentine of the Columbus Education Association - Retired Teachers to recruit "post-service" teachers to launch an innovative model program called E.L.V.I.S.: Expert Literacy Volunteers in Schools.

The volunteers, who began training in autumn 2006 and tutoring in January 2007, work with children in small groups. They free the classroom teacher to concentrate on children experiencing the greatest difficulty learning to read and write.

Some volunteers will also train the next wave of retired literacy volunteers, creating a sustainable program and a model that can spread to other schools.

"One key to the project is how we created and delivered high-level support to the volunteers," says Rodgers. "This included a two-hour session on campus, created and led by retired teachers Rose Mary Estice and Linda Scott, who served as clinical faculty for the college's Reading Recovery program."

The team also developed instructional materials for the volunteers' use. "Over the last 20 years, our college has gained experience and scholarship in literacy learning and teacher professional development that places us in a unique position to prepare expert volunteers," says Associate Professor Emily Rodgers. "This project capitalizes on our scholarship in new and useful ways."

Professor Patricia Scharer contributed her expertise about children's literature and small group literacy instruction and Professor David Andrews contributed his expertise regarding urban partnership development. Monica Gant, principal of the Weinland Park Elementary School near campus serves as another critical partner in the effort.