Book Buddies: Guidelines for Volunteer Tutors of Emergent and Early Readers
Developed in response to the literacy research that led to the federal initiative known as the America Reads Challenge, this volume presents just about everything anyone needs to begin a reading tutorial program. Originated in Charlottesville, VA, Book Buddies was "the first large-scale model" to mobilize volunteers as part of a collaborative effort using public school, university, and community expertise, and is intended to be replicated by other school-based programs. A strong rationale for the use of volunteers, detailed duties for a volunteer coordinator, and specific training to be used with volunteers are included. Assessment tools and organizational tips for tutors together with reproducible materials to use with students are also provided. The approach is reasonable, suggesting that, in addition to phonics practice, tutors use both series (those designed with limited vocabulary for beginning readers) and other trade books. The fairly broad list of titles includes reading levels (according to "reading recovery" teachers). This very practical guide will find its audience among those who are working with emergent readers in any situation.-Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public LibraryCopyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.