Thursday, January 11, 2007 Older Editions

Calling all (literacy) volunteers

By April Guilmet

Volunteers wishing to join the Merrimack Valley Jewish Coalition for Literacy when they help out at Shawsheen School this winter need not be parents - or even be Jewish, for that matter.

They should, however, be open to the idea of spending an hour or so each week with a preschool child at risk for literacy difficulties, said Sherry Comerchero, the group's coordinator. Comerchero, a speech-language pathologist in the Haverhill school district, said that although literacy volunteer programs are already in place in schools throughout Andover, (including South Elementary and West Elementary), North Andover, Lawrence and Haverhill, the program at Shawsheen will be the first of its kind offered to preschool students.

"Usually it's kindergarten through third grade," Comerchero said.

She said that the effects of the one-on-one program on its pint-sized clients are obvious.

"Teachers aren't always able to provide that one-on-one attention. Neither are the parents," Comerchero said. She added that volunteers provide a unique environment for students to feel safe, comfortable and supported in their efforts at learning to read.

"All our volunteers are trained to help in various areas in the development of reading ability," she said. With preschool children, she noted, that entails looking at letters and their sounds, and the association of printed words with spoken words.

A generous grant from the Amelia Peabody Foundation recently supplied all 12 Merrimack Valley schools with materials for the literacy program, entitled "We Both Read."

An affiliate of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy, the group's main focus is combating illiteracy in the US, according to Comerchero. The group also receives funding from the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation and the Hadassah Service Organization. But she's quick to note, the five-year-old Coalition for Literacy is nondenominational, and is open to anyone wishing to impact a child's life.

Currently, Merrimack Valley Jewish Coalition for Literacy has about 80 volunteers, but more will be needed when Shawsheen's program begins next month. Claire Shaby, a teacher of students with learning disabilities at Shawsheen School, said she expects to need about 18 volunteers at the Andover K-2 school.

"At the preschool level, its a wonderful way to help kids appreciate books and writing," Shaby said. "And if you're going to encourage reading, you want to start as early as possible."

In addition to the "We Both Read" program, Shaby said the group will likely also use the "Lively Letters" program, which emphasizes the writing and reading of letters. All volunteers will receive two and a half hours of training as well as an information packet. "We talk to them about how to excite the children about books," Shaby said.

Children of all abilities benefit, she said.

"We can zero in on what's effective for each child to become a beginning reader," Shaby said.

According to Principal Moira O'Brien, the literacy program was first introduced to Shawsheen's staff earlier this week.

Following the volunteer training session, a volunteer and teacher coffee social will be held Feb. 9. The program itself begins March 5.

A training session for all prospective volunteers will be held at Shawsheen School on Feb. 7 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Comerchero encouraged those interested in volunteering to call the school at 978-623-8850.