University of Central Florida students are helping improve lives in Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 Parramore neighborhood 麻豆精品 S� one of the region 麻豆精品 S檚 most critically underserved communities 麻豆精品 S� while also gaining valuable experience that will make them better teachers.
For nearly 15 years, UCF students and faculty have been boosting childhood literacy rates and adult parenting skills in the community just west of downtown. Three separate programs staffed by UCF students target children from the cradle through sixth grade 麻豆精品 S� and their parents 麻豆精品 S� when early education skills can have the greatest influence.
麻豆精品 S淚f we can have a positive impact here and help lift them to the next level, they 麻豆精品 S檙e much more likely to succeed later in life, 麻豆精品 S� said Judith Levin of the .
At the same time, the UCF students who are studying to become teachers are getting the kind of experience that can 麻豆精品 S檛 be found in a university classroom.
麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 hands-on experience, probably the closest you 麻豆精品 S檙e going to get until you have your own classroom, 麻豆精品 S� said future teacher Rebecca Montoya, a junior at UCF who spends her Saturdays with kids at a reading camp.
The futures of Parramore 麻豆精品 S檚 children and UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 education students are so entwined that several UCF classes require students to teach in the neighborhood programs.
麻豆精品 S淭his isn 麻豆精品 S檛 just a feel-good program, 麻豆精品 S� said Timothy Blair, professor emeritus in the College of Education and Human Performance. 麻豆精品 S淲e work the UCF students and we work the children. 麻豆精品 S�
The programs are operated under the umbrella of the (PKZ), an initiative launched by the City of Orlando in 2003. PKZ is modeled after the renowned Harlem Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Zone and has shown remarkable success at reducing juvenile crime, teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates.
There are three programs housed in different buildings in the heart of Parramore, each of them on Saturdays.
Saturday Reading Camp
When Tamia Thomas first came to the Reading Camp four years ago, she had no interest in reading. Now it 麻豆精品 S檚 all she talks about.
麻豆精品 S淚 have a whole big shelf of books, 麻豆精品 S� said Tamia, a fifth-grader who can often be found reading a mystery during her school lunch period.
Her mother credits the Reading Camp, which is held at the John H. Jackson Community Center.
麻豆精品 S淚t was very hard for her in the beginning. She didn 麻豆精品 S檛 like to read. They helped her and taught me to help her, 麻豆精品 S� Tanita Collins said. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 awesome. 麻豆精品 S�
Blair created the Reading Camp as a way for his students to apply the strategies they learned in the classroom to a real-world environment. He has since retired from UCF, but still helps oversee the Reading Camp with the help of adjunct professor Dana Vaughan.
During the 11-week program, children in kindergarten through sixth grade receive 60 to 90 minutes of reading lessons. The kids are paired with UCF student teachers on a one-to-one or one-to-two ratio, a far greater level of attention than public schools are able to provide.
At the same time, parents participate in a Parent Education Program that teaches them how to teach reading in the home and to be effective advocates for their children at school.
麻豆精品 S淢ost of the moms have been here multiple years, 麻豆精品 S� Vaughan said.
Milk and Muffins
Judith Levin, undergraduate program coordinator in early childhood development and education, started the Milk and Muffins program in Spring 2014 as a way to reach younger children.
麻豆精品 S淲e work with them when they are 3 years old, before they 麻豆精品 S檙e already struggling in the fifth grade, 麻豆精品 S� Levin said.
Every Saturday for eight weeks, children from pre-kindergarten through age 6 join UCF students at the Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center. The UCF students, who are seeking their bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in early childhood education, play with the children, but the playtime is focused on reading and pre-reading activities. The children are given a new book every week.
Like the Reading Camp, parents in the Milk and Muffins program meet with another teacher who stresses the importance of reading to their children and how to choose culturally appropriate books that will engage their kids.
Each session ends with everyone 麻豆精品 S� parents, children and 25 UCF students 麻豆精品 S� in a big circle. Parents are a key part of ensuring success for the program 麻豆精品 S� and their children.
麻豆精品 S淚t makes them feel good about learning to read, 麻豆精品 S� Levin said. 麻豆精品 S淚t needs to feel like they 麻豆精品 S檙e safe there, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 not the big university coming in and telling them what to do. 麻豆精品 S�
Baby Institute
Three times a year, a new set of 15 mothers and fathers from the Parramore community come to the Nap Ford Community School for the PKZ Baby Institute.
The Baby Institute is operated by the in partnership with the City of Orlando. The Early Learning Coalition also provides most of its funding.
The nine-week intensive parenting program focuses on brain development, positive discipline and community pride, with the goals of helping parents be their child 麻豆精品 S檚 first teacher and increasing school readiness. Parents in the program have children from birth to age 5.
The program was launched in Spring 2011. Levin developed the curriculum for it after visiting a similar program run by the Harlem Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Zone. She continues to help the teachers who work with parents, and most Saturdays walks back and forth between the Baby Institute and the Milk and Muffins program two blocks away.
UCF students in two courses are required to observe and interact with parents who attend the Baby Institute, as well as their children. Some students continue to volunteer there after completing their coursework, Levin said.
Parents also remain engaged through a Baby Institute alumni program that reinforces the skills they 麻豆精品 S檝e learned.
Together, the three programs are changing lives for the better 麻豆精品 S� for Parramore families and UCF students.
麻豆精品 S淓veryone benefits, 麻豆精品 S� Blair said. 麻豆精品 S淭he children benefit, the parents benefit, and the students get wonderful multicultural experience. 麻豆精品 S�
For more information about these programs, visit the or .