Phono-Graphix member, Swen Nater is spear-heading a reading camp for under-performing students at Kealakehe High School on the Big Island of Hawaii in October, working with commendable commitment from the school's ELL coordinator Kealiionalani Freitas and principal, Wil Murakami.
Coach Nater, who ran impressive reading camps from 1998-2003 as Director of Employee Outreach for Costco, is volunteering his time and considerable experience for the camp. He has put together what he calls his 'A-Team' to work with 15 students, mostly ELL freshmen and sophomores, most of whom are reading at only a 3rd or 4th grade level, and to train teachers at the school to help future students.
The week will combine a solid Phono-Graphix foundation with Language Wise lessons and the fluency work of Read Naturally. Joining Coach Nater will be myself (Erin Duncan, CEO of the Phono-Graphix Reading Company); Swen's assistant when he ran the Costco reading program, Scott Breckridge, a master teacher in his own right,
to help lead the Phono-Graphix lessons and fire up the students
; and Wendy Ghiora, Swen's wife and retired California middle school principal, who volunteered to administer Read Naturally and run the teacher learning teams that will help sustain the instruction. Swen at 6'11" next to me at 5'3" will make quite a picture.
We'll keep you posted on how it goes!
Special thanks to the following donors, helping to make this camp possible:
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QK Healthcare, Inc.
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Costco Kailua-Kona
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