Intermountain AmeriCorps: Washington Reading Corps (WRC)

The mission of the Washington Reading Corps (WRC) program is to improve the reading abilities of K-6 students across Washington State and to be a positive mentor to those targeted students. This is achieved through research-based tutoring of struggling readers and effective collaborations among schools, families, community members, National Service, local businesses, and state partners. It is also achieved by developing a caring relationship with the students, cultivating a love of reading and learning within those students, and providing a nurturing and safe environment that will build a child's confidence.

Both WRC tutors and VISTA members become an integral part of the school team to help struggling readers. They also participate in service activities and training with other members across North Central Washington. This allows for sharing of ideas and building lasting relationships with other dedicated individuals to impact the lives of children.

Washington State Governor, Gary Locke, started the WRC program in 1998. The program has seen unparalleled success and is recognized as making a difference for children and communities all across the state of Washington.

What you may be doing as a WRC member:

  • Tutor students one-on-one or in small groups
  • Promote family literacy
  • Engage students in cross-age and peer tutoring
  • Host community volunteers serving as reading tutors
  • Develop community partnerships to sustain reading activities
  • Develop and implement service-learning projects with youth
  • Organize and participate in community service projects

2008-2009 Service Term Sites

We may bring on sites in different locations in subsequent years, but all will have a literacy focus at the elementary or preschool level.

GRANT ELEMENTARY(East Wenatchee)

  • Washington Reading Corps Site Since: 2005
  • Number of Members: 4 Reading Corps, 1 VISTA
  • Student Enrollment: 441
  • Percentage of ESL or ELL students: 30.3%
  • Grade Levels: K-4

Grant Elementary has a 53% poverty rate, along with a 34% ESL population. In addition, 17% of Grant's population has been identified as migrant. Student movement during the school year is often due to parents' work opportunities, poverty, homelessness, and availability of affordable housing. Because migrant parents often have low levels of education and limited English, they are frequently unable to help their children at home.

Grant Elementary website

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PAUL RUMBURG ELEMENTARY (Entiat)

  • Washington Reading Corps Site Since: 1998
  • Number of Members: 3 Reading Corps, 1 VISTA
  • Student Enrollment: 200
  • Percentage of ESL or ELL students: 27%
  • Grade Levels: K-6

Entiat is a small, rural school with a poverty level of over 50% as well as a high rate of single-parent families. Because low-income housing is readily available but middle- or high-end housing is harder to come by, Entiat has a preponderance of low-income families. Most of Entiat's students are bused in-- some from a distance, which limits how many students can be reached by after-school tutoring as there is no school transportation available. The reality of the need for both parents in a family to be working allows for fewer opportunities for parent volunteers.

Paul Rumburg Elementary website

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EAST OMAK ELEMENTARY (Omak)

  • Washington Reading Corps Site Since: 1998
  • Number of Members: 4 Reading Corps, 1 VISTA
  • Student Enrollment: 444
  • Percentage of ESL or ELL students: 7%

HOSTS Language Arts program is a nationally recognized, supplemental language arts program that incorporates mentors to work with students one-on-one or in small groups. HOSTS is Omak's main intervention tool to target struggling readers. It uses on-going assessments in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and com comprehension to determine student’s individual needs and develop an individualized plan.

Omak School District website

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RED ROCK ELEMENTARY (Royal City)

(3 Reading Corps positions still open)

  • Washington Reading Corps Site Since: 1998 (with Intermountain since 2007 )
  • Number of Members: 4 Reading Corps
  • Student Enrollment: 721
  • Percentage of ESL or ELL students: 57.8%
  • Grade Levels: K-5

Red Rock is located in a small, rural farming community. Many of its students are migrant, have limited English proficiency, and are impoverished. The nearest city is about 35 miles away. The focus of the Reading Corps volunteers would be on migrant students who missed a portion of the regular school year by traveling to Mexico or other areas for work during the winter months. They would also be working to enhance the education of students who are already reading at grade level.

Red Rock Elementary website

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HEAD START EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
(Wenatchee, East Wenatchee,
Cashmere, Peshastin)

  • WRC Funding Since: 2006
  • Number of Members: 5 Reading Corps, 1 VISTA
  • Grade Levels: Preschool (ages 3-5)

The Early Learning program is a relatively new program designed to provide direct service to preschool children. Members support young children and their families in preparation for language and literacy instruction in the K-12 setting. Specifically, Reading Corps members provide pre-literacy activities that involve reading and writing the alphabet, enjoying and appreciating reading, and increasing spoken vocabulary. The VISTA member focuses on family involvement, planning and implementing Family Literacy Nights.

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What do past members have to say about WRC?
"I really wanted to work with a program that worked strictly with improving literacy in kids. The WRC program was the perfect fit!"

TERM LENGTH
10.5 Months:
September 1, 2008-
July 15, 2009
We are looking for a few people to start on November 1st. Give us a call!

QUALIFICATIONS

Interested in working with youth.

Committed for 10 ½ months.

Mature and self-motivated.

Willing to work collaboratively.

Self-motivated with the ability to function with minimum supervision while remaining accountable to the site and regional offices.

Excellent communication and relationship building skills.

Ability to coordinate activities and collaborate with other programs.

Proficiency in basic computer applications.

Adaptability and skills to succeed within diverse environments.

Background and/or experience in education, training, or tutoring.

 

BENEFITS

$4725 education award

Monthly living allowance of $925

Health care

Childcare (according to eligibility)

Gain experience in tutoring and mentoring

Gain experience in the education field

 

VISTA vs SET/WRC

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VISTA AND OUR SET and WRC PROGRAMS

VISTA members provide "indirect" service while SET and WRC members provide "direct" service. By this we mean that VISTA members concentrate mainly on the program development and sustainability side of the site. VISTA members help organize Family Literacy Nights, go to community meetings, ask for donations from community businesses and organizations, recruit volunteers for the school, and keep information important to reading tutors organized. VISTA members do not participate in as much hands-on tutoring as SET and WRC members. They typically will tutor about 2-3 hours a day.

VISTA members serve a 12-month term (starting November 26th).

VISTA members receive a relocation allowance. The relocation allowance is received approximately two to three months into service (Ask our recruitment coordinator or supervisor for more information).

We prefer VISTA members to have a vehicle (for going to community meetings, picking up donations, etc.). We have had some VISTA members come without vehicles, but it is definitely easier if you have a vehicle you can bring.

VISTA members recieve travel reimbursement during the week for driving to community meetings and picking up donations, but not daily travel to sites. SET and WRC members do not recieve travel reimbursement for daily travel related to their site responsibilities.