Welcome to The Reading Lab by Freedom Readers

For children in Kindergarten through 5^th grade

Since school buildings have been closed for several months, many families are worried about children’s academic performance. Some parents feel overwhelmed by the demands of working while teaching. Help is on the way.

The Reading Lab is a new service offered by Freedom Readers designed to support parents and caregivers who are concerned about their child’s progress in literacy. This service is offered in addition to the after school and summer literacy program and Advanced Placement Prep program we already offer.

A visit to The Reading Lab will help answer the following questions:

• How is my child doing in reading?
• What can I do to help my child read better?
• What are some books that might be a good fit for my child?
• How can I get on-going, consistent support to help my child reach her reading goals?

What Does a Visit to The Reading Lab Entail?

Step One: Call 843-331-8526 or email tracy@freedomreaders.org to schedule a 30 minute appointment.

Step Two:  Attend the meeting in person at our office (1012 16^th Ave NW #114 Surfside Beach) or virtually on Zoom. The participants will be:

• At least one adult parent, guardian, caregiver, or designee
• The child to be assessed
• A literacy professional (reading coach, reading teacher, administrator, etc)
• Freedom Readers staff member

Step Three: Receive your personalized prescriptions for reading improvement

Step Four: Request a tutor for your child, if necessary

Step Five: Schedule a follow up meeting with your assessment team in 8 weeks

What is the Structure of The 30-Minute Initial Assessment?

Families will choose in-person on online format

1. Introductions
2. Caregiver shares concerns, asks questions (these may also be submitted ahead of time)
3. Child takes short reading assessment which may involve identifying letters and sounds or reading a passage depending on grade level. Assessment focus on fluency and/or comprehension
4. Child will complete an interest inventory which consists of series of short questions concerninginte what the child enjoys.

Follow-Up

5. Freedom Readers staff will email a reading prescription to the caregiver within 24 hours of the meeting. Families will be emailed a copy of A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas From Research for Parents prepared by the National Institute for Literacy.
6. Freedom Readers staff will allow the child to choose a book to take home if the meeting is in person and will mail or deliver three additional books that match the child’s interest within a week of the meeting.

What Services Do Tutors Provide?

1. If a family requests a tutor, one will be assigned within three days of the initial visit to The Reading Lab.
2. All tutors are volunteers who have passed a background check and have been trained by Freedom Readers.
3. Freedom Readers will schedule a meeting (in-person or online) with the caregiver and the tutor for the purpose of making introductions and clarifying expectations. Caregiver and tutor will sign an agreement before tutoring begins.
4. Tutors will commit to 8 weeks of service and may re-enlist. The tutor may work with the same family for another 8 weeks if both parties agree.
5. During the initial meeting arranged by Freedom Readers staff, tutor and caregiver will agree on a day and time for a weekly reading check in. Tutors may check in by phone or through a virtual meeting.
6. Caregivers are not required to attend each weekly check-in with the tutor but may certainly take part if desired.
7. Tutors will talk with the child about the book/books they have read during the week. The purpose of the conversation is to help the child recall what was read, think more deeply about the reading, and make connections between the reading and their lives.
8. Within three days of the initial meeting, the tutor will write an introduction letter to the child. The child should respond to the letter with one week. Stamps, envelopes, and paper will be provided to families upon request.
9. Tutors will help caregivers develop a structure and schedule for completing online assignments that may come from the child’s school. Tutors may answer questions about schoolwork related to reading, writing, or speaking during the weekly check-in or at another time agreed upon by the tutor and family.
10. Additional support may be available upon request. Families can reach out to the Freedom Readers office to negotiate other services on a case by case basis.