Minnesota Reading Corps, a strategic initiative of ServeMinnesota, demonstrates how service and science can accelerate improvement in both students and systems. By mobilizing the people power of AmeriCorps, Reading Corps provides evidence-based literacy interventions and data-based assessments to children from age three to grade three. The purpose of the initiative is to help every child become a successful reader by the end of 3rd grade.
The program began in Head Start agencies in 2003 but due to its successful results, it quickly grew to serve children ages 3 - grade 3 throughout the state. It is an AmeriCorps affiliated program made up of members who serve a year at a site such as Sibley East in order to make an impact in that community. Members serve a total of 1720 hours as full-time or 920 hours for part-time tutors, fulfilling an 11 month commitment with AmeriCorps.
Using the latest research on reading intervention strategies and guidance from literacy experts, Reading Corps is a critical link in literacy acquisition. It provides what struggling readers need - individualized, data-driven instruction, one-on-one attention, well-trained tutors, instruction delivered with fidelity, and the frequency and duration necessary for student achievement.
For teachers, regularly delivering individualized, one-on-one instruction can be difficult, if not impossible. Because Reading Corps tutors are focused solely on providing reading support, they can target instruction and dedicate the time needed for each student.
Tutors commit to a year of AmeriCorps service, receive rigorous training and ongoing support throughout the year from literacy coaches, and use assessments to ensure their efforts produce the desired results - helping children achieve grade-level reading proficiency.
These members are placed as literacy tutors to emerging readers in sites to implement research-based, early-literacy strategies. In preschool settings, the MRC Tutors work directly in the classroom assisting the teacher in creating literacy-rich environments. For K-3rd grade, the MRC Tutors work one-on-one providing additional practice for readers. School-wide, students are tested for reading proficiency and those scores are then used to determine who is eligible for the Reading Corps program.
The Tutors meet the students daily for 20 minutes delivering research-based interventions and follow a Response-to-Intervention (RTI) approach. This means that progress is monitored weekly and evaluated monthly to deliver appropriate interventions based upon each student’s needs. There are ten interventions used that progress from discerning letter sounds, to phonemic awareness, to developing fluency and expression.
State of Minnesota
Minnesota State Department of Education explanation of MTSS: click here
Sibley East Schools Implementation of MTSS
Sibley East Public Schools offers a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) district-wide in an effort to support the academic achievement for all students. We measure this academic success three ways:
- Daily classroom formative and summative assessments
- Quarterly FASTBridge assessments, and
- Yearly Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) starting in 3rd grade.
Explanation of formative and summative assessments: click here
Explanation of FastBridge assessments: click here
Explanation of Minnesota MCA's: click here
The above measures allow our students to move into and out of intervention groups as their needs change.
Our Response to Interventions (RTI) are usually in small groups, and we utilize researched-based strategies to meet student needs in the following areas:
Elementary Middle School High School Explanation of Response to Interventions (RTI): click here
Response to Intervention (RTI)
RTI is the practice of providing high quality instruction and research based interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make changes in instruction, and applying child response data to important educational decisions. It is preventative and reactive.
Contact: Linda Willhite
School Social Worker
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Hello! My name is Michelle Halverson, and I am the new school social worker at Sibley East Elementary. This is my 7th year working as a school social worker. Prior to coming to Sibley East Elementary, I worked two years at Red Rock Ridge Learning Center in Windom, MN and the past four years as a school social worker at Delano Elementary in Delano, MN. I am so excited to be part of the Sibley East Elementary team.
My goal this year is to help build and develop a strong social and emotional program at Sibley East Elementary. My desire is for all students to develop and demonstrate the five social/emotional competencies (CASEL) :- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision Making
For additional information, please visit my home page by clicking the link below:
Michelle Halverson, MSW, LICSW
School Social Worker
Sibley East Elementary
507-237-3325
To learn more, please click HERE
Contact: Mary Beth Schwirtz
