Eduardo M. Hinojosa Reading Research Center program builds children's literacy skills, trains educators

 

By Karina Moreno

 

“Our goal is to research instructional models appropriate for linguistic minority children, to provide service to the community, and to train teachers,” said Dr. Barbara Greybeck, director of the Eduardo M. Hinojosa Reading Research Center at Texas A&M International University .

The Reading Research Center was established in 2002 under the auspices of TAMIU's College of Education . The Center, which is housed in the Cowart Building , consists of an after school program for area school children in grades second through seventh.

The program is designed “to serve any student whose parents feel he/she needs help in reading,” said Dr. Greybeck. The center is in service for both fall and spring semesters. Because of the Center's limited space, only 50 children are accepted each semester. The parents of enrollees first complete a referral process with both the parents' and teacher's input. Each student is administered a test prior to and after the semester's program to measure growth. According to the Center's research, the average student progresses eight months in a semester.

Initially, the center was concerned with fourth grade students because research has shown the greatest gap in reading achievement at this grade level. That has changed. “In order to prevent failure, we must start early,” said Greybeck, stressing that the Center now advocates participation from any student between second and seventh grades.

“Our future plans are to expand in physical space,” said Greybeck. “We want to work with more students, up to university level, more schools and more districts. We want to expand our Summer Literacy Camps and continue with our outreach to the community by furthering our training of teachers and parents.”

The Reading Research Center also serves TAMIU by training teachers. The people who work in the center are all certified teachers, and some are graduate students. The ratio of students to teachers varies, but does not surpass three students to every teacher.

The Center was created to train teachers in reading and writing. Those who are bilingual are trained in both English and Spanish. This past year, 40 certified teachers were trained to work in the Reading Clinic. Fifteen Laredo Independent School District teachers who completed Reading Center course work will apply their training at Santo Niño Elementary School this fall. Over 150 undergraduate students have also participated in the program, and local high school students also participated in exchange for community service hours.

Students in training have participated by observing and creating learning materials. Graduate students work and diagnose literacy problems and carry out plans custom-made for each student. Graduate students also host parent workshops and family literacy workshops designed to train parents and family members to assist in improving their child's reading skills.

Gloria Canseco, associate director of the Reading Research Center, has been working at the Center since November 2002 and was drawn to the position by her own children. “I found out that the system wasn't kind to children with learning disabilities, and my three children have learning disabilities, so this was spiritually fulfilling to me on a personal basis,” she said.

“The results are very nice, because they go beyond test scores,” said Canseco. “Sometimes they are more subtle things. For example, there was a young girl terrified of the TAKS test who would not even attempt to write, but when we chose her as our monthly student to be included in the TAMIU student newspaper, The Bridge , she was so excited that she lost all nervousness of the TAKS. A lot of children are really discouraged, which is why Dr. Greybeck always picks nurturing teachers who help the children really get going. It does not feel like school to them,” she said, smiling.

“It is important to note that the program is PhD based and is designed around people,” said Canseco. “It contains a lot interaction and hands-on activities.” The children usually participate in listening to stories, re-telling, writing, reading, and skill development. If the child is bilingual, they are taught in both English and Spanish. As a result of growing concern for the TAKS test, the Center offers both assistance and enrichment courses to help prepare students for the test.

Students are signed up to attend two weekly sessions for a 12-week semester. Each session is $15. A 12-week semester is $360. “There are often families unable to pay for the program, and those who are interested in helping can sponsor a child,” said Canseco. “The Reading Research Center operates strictly on a cost recovery basis. It is not based on profit, simply on compensating costs,” she stressed.

The fall semester is scheduled to begin testing students September 13. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Greybeck or Gloria Canseco at (956) 326-2923 or by visiting Texas A&M International University Cowart Hall, room 122.