Reading Clinic

Introduction
Contact Information
Instructional Program
Becoming a Tutor
Enrolling a Student

Introduction

Welcome to the OSU Reading Clinic! The OSU Reading Clinic is part of The Ohio State University, School of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education. Its purpose is twofold:

to provide undergraduate and graduate students working on an Intervention Specialist license or on Reading Endorsement with clinical experiences teaching students with difficulties in learning to read and write
to provide clinical services for students in the community who suffer such difficulties

Contact Information

OSU Reading Clinic
The Ohio State University
059 Ramseyer Hall
29 West Woodruff Ave
Columbus, OH 43210-1177

Phone: 614-292-7716
Email: edtl-rclinic@osu.edu

Instructional Program

At the OSU Reading Clinic a comprehensive, developmentally based approach to literacy instruction is used.

Initial and ongoing assessment is a critical part of this approach. At the beginning of each quarter, student word knowledge is assessed using informal word identification and spelling inventories. Based on these results and the case study from the previous quarter (when available), students are placed in instructional level reading selections and appropriate word study activities. Throughout the quarter, checks of speed and accuracy and brief spelling tests are used to insure that students continue to work at their instructional level. At the end of the quarter, an informal reading inventory is administered to assess student progress. Each instructional program is designed to meet the needs of the individual student. Depending on these needs, components of the program regularly include:

guided reading at the student's instructional level
comprehension activities that engage the student before, during, and after reading
repeated readings of easy and/or familiar texts to promote fluency
hands-on word study activities including work with magnetic letters, pattern cards, and word cards for word building and sorting
writing activities focused on skills for effective communication

Work on word attack strategies, spelling strategies, and meaning vocabulary are also regularly addressed during reading and writing activities. Word games, free reading, and reading to the student are optional activities that are regularly incorporated during time remaining in the tutoring session.

Assessment results, a description of instructional objectives, activities and accomplishments, and recommendations for future work are included in the Case Study Report prepared and shared with the parents/client at the end of each quarter.

Becoming a Tutor

OSU students wishing to become tutors must enroll in EDU T&L 671, Clinical Practice in Treating Reading Disabilities (5 quarter hours). But first they must successfully complete the prerequisite course, EDU T&L 670, Remedial and Clinical Reading Instruction, within eight quarters prior to enrolling in 671. Permission to enter the course is required. Students can obtain such permission by contacting the Drama, Language Arts, Literature, and Reading secretary in 200 B Ramseyer Hall, 29 West Woodruff Ave, or at 614-292-0711. It is important to contact the secretary once registration is available the previous quarter in order to secure the desired tutoring time and to give Clinic staff adequate time to match tutors and students.

Each tutor works with one student for approximately 25 hours during the course of the quarter. Responsibilities include: assessing student needs, delivering instruction appropriate to those needs, and preparing a case study report for parents, future tutors, and other professionals involved in the student's education. Tutors are observed and advised on a regular basis by the Clinic Director, the course instructor and/or an experienced graduate teaching assistant. In addition they attend 35 hours of class meetings during the quarter.

EDU T&L 671 and the tutoring experience are offered each quarter. In Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters, tutors work with children for one hour a day, three days a week. Tutoring takes place Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at either 3:15 PM, 4:15 PM, or 5:15 PM. In addition, there is a three and one-half hour class (7:00 PM- 10:18 PM, on Wednesday in Autumn, on Monday in Winter and Spring). In Summer Quarter, tutoring is done one hour a day, five days a week (Monday through Friday) during the first six weeks of the quarter. Tutoring times are at either 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, or 3:00 PM. Class time is 12:00 PM - 1:48 PM, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. University rules require that tutoring begin only after the first class meeting, so tutors should not arrive at the Clinic before that class.

Enrolling a Student For Tutoring

The OSU Reading Clinic provides one-to-one tutoring services for students struggling to learn to read and/or write. Students are tutored by university students studying to obtain an Intervention Specialist teaching license or by experienced teachers working to obtain a Reading Endorsement. Tutors are instructed and supervised by experienced university doctoral students and the Clinic Director.

Schedule

The Clinic schedule follows the University schedule for classes. Students are tutored one hour a day, three days week, during Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters. Tutoring is done on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at either 3:15 PM, 4:15 PM, or 5:15 PM. In Summer Quarter, students are tutored Monday through Friday during the first six weeks of the quarter (typically from mid-June through late July/early August). Summer tutoring times are: 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, or 3:00 PM. Overall, students received approximately 25 hours of tutoring per quarter.

Cost

Effective Autumn Quarter 2005, the cost for tutoring is $200.00 per quarter. The cost is reasonable at approximately $8.00 an hour. However, if parents can demonstrate the need for financial assistance, the cost of the service may be substantially reduced.

Enrollment

Prospective clients or parents who are interested in enrolling their children in the Clinic should call 614-292-7716. If you reach the answering machine message, please leave your name and telephone number. A member of the Clinic staff will answer or return your call. After obtaining basic information from you about your child's situation and determining that she or he is an appropriate candidate for our program, the staff member will enter your child's name on our referral list. We use this list to contact parents/clients before the beginning of each quarter, when we need additional students. The number of students needed depends upon the number of university tutors who enroll in the associated course, so the number of students with difficulties that can be served varies from quarter to quarter. However, we are often in need of students, and even when we have a long list we often contact parents/clients at the end of our list.

Each student enrolled in the Clinic is evaluated at the end of each quarter to determine if they need further services. If that is the case, and if enough university tutors are enrolled for the following quarter, the student is invited to return the next quarter. If a lower number of university students enroll, decisions about who will be invited are made based on instructional need and attendance records from previous quarters.

At the end of each quarter, parents/clients receive a Case Study Report that provides information about assessment results, details about the instructional plan and activities, evaluation of student progress, and recommendations for future work. Upon request, a copy of the report can be sent to a school, a counselor, or another education professional.