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Expanded reading time at South Clearfield Elementary School has helped all students, but particularly those who still are learning English. Twenty percent of the students at South Clearfield come from homes where Spanish is spoken. Included: Results from expanded reading time.

The Standard-Examiner of Ogden, Utah, reported how one school is helping its bilingual -- and all students -- read better.

South Clearfield Elementary School principal Daren Allred credits the school's reading program for improving reading scores across the board. There was enough improvement that the school located in Farmington, Utah, passed the No Child Left Behind requirements last year, according to the Standard-Examiner story.

This year South Clearfield expanded its tutoring program so every child in every grade has 45 minutes of time in reading groups four days a week, the story noted.

The article told the story of one little girl's progress. "Maria Pena raises her hand before her tutor even finishes asking most questions. "Her tutor, Juana Leon, said it's a drastic difference for the first-grade child who struggled with both reading and speaking English when school started in August.

"Like 20 percent of her classmates at South Clearfield Elementary, Maria comes from a primarily Spanish-speaking family.

"'It's hard to read,' Maria said in the article. 'I don't remember the words.'"

"Still, she said she likes reading more because of a special reading group with a tutor who helps her transition from Spanish to English."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

Some of the information in this article comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

• This news article appeared in the Standard-Examiner on November 2, 2005.

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12/07/2005