The UNC Charlotte Cato College of Education has received the 2018 Yachad Award from the Levine Jewish Community Center for the college’s work in support of the city of Charlotte. The award recognizes UNC Charlotte and the center’s collaborative work on a summer camp designed to help struggling students improve their reading while enjoying the fun and games of traditional summer camps.
Last summer, 60 second- and third-graders from three Title I East Charlotte elementary schools (Windsor Park, Merry Oaks and Winterfield) received two hours of intensive one-on-one or small group reading instruction every day, and spent a half-day enjoying traditional camp activities led by staff from the Levine Jewish Community Center (LJCC). Now in its third year, the program is part of a community-wide effort to address the city’s early literacy shortfalls. And new peer-reviewed research by Cato College of Education faculty reveals the program helps at-risk readers avoid falling behind during the summer and gives many a significant leg up.
Most strikingly, researchers found that in 2016 and 2017, rising third-graders made an equivalent of approximately 11-weeks growth in oral reading fluency during the course of the camp.
“One of my daughters has really struggled with reading,” said Carlos Morales, who had two children attending the camp. “I’ve noticed a big improvement in her reading ability. We’re moving into chapter books now, which is something we wouldn’t have even considered trying before.”
After a half-day of reading instruction, campers romped about the Aldersgate Retirement Community’s sprawling East Charlotte campus under the supervision of staff from the LJCC. The campers played flag football and soccer, marveled at a magician and visited Charlotte’s Discovery Place science museum.
“When we look to award the Yachad Award, we look at our community partnerships with a lens of partnerships that embrace the value of togetherness,” said Peter Blair, CEO of LJCC. “The reading camp was a partnership in which both UNC Charlotte and the LJCC invested our time, our energy, our community’s resources, our staff, our facilities and our intellect, toward the common goal of ensuring that everyone has a chance to grow in Charlotte.”
In bestowing the award, LJCC offered its appreciation to Cato College of Education Dean Ellen McIntyre for her leadership; Bill Anderson for his consummate guidance and daily operational leadership; David Flores for his inspiring passion and endless energy; Sil Ganzó, executive director of Our Bridge, for partnering to meet the needs of the community; and Daniela Mickey for directing the LJCC Camp portion of the program.
Photo, left to right, David Flores, CMS; Daniela Book, JCC Camp director; Dean McIntyre; Bill Anderson; Sil Ganso, Our Bridge; and Peter Blair, CEO of the Levine Jewish Community Center.