Reading out loud links kids, seniors

Program gets young, older together

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS Jack Murtha, a volunteer with the Reading Partners program, listens as Nick Meadows, 7, reads Dr. Seuss' "Hop on Pop." E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Children in Charles County are discovering that reading is fun and can be even more fun when reading out loud.

With the help of volunteer reading partners such as Jack "Mr. Jack" Murtha of La Plata, children are getting the opportunity to take their reading skills to the next level.

Murtha does not have special reading teaching skills or incentives for the children. Murtha is simply a volunteer with the Reading Partners program at Charles County public schools and has an ear for listening to children.

"My activity as a reading partner has been … a great satisfaction," Murtha said Monday at Mary H. Matula Elementary School.

Recently reading partners throughout the county were recognized by school officials including school Superintendent James E. Richmond.

Richmond said because of the many volunteers who take the time to read with children, reading scores have been improving over the years.

Richmond said reading has improved in every area of the school system.

"You [reading partners] do make a difference in the children and we [the school system] do appreciate it," Richmond told the volunteers at the event on Oct. 16.

Volunteers said they were pleased for the recognition but did not get involved for the attention to themselves but rather to give attention to students who may need additional help with reading.

Don Swaniger has been volunteering for 10 years and said it's "the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Swaniger has been reading and listening to children read at William B. Wade Elementary School and reads with up to two children at a time.

Swaniger encourages the community to come into Wade and volunteer time as the school could use some additional reading partners.

Murtha is one of a few reading partners at Matula and the children are very responsive to him and other reading partners.

"I just like reading with him because I get expressions," said Reagan Johnson, 6. Reagan said reading out loud helps her to hear when the tone of a sentence changes due to a question mark or an exclamation point.

Murtha provides each of his little reading partners with a personalized note thanking his partners for reading to him. The note allows his partners to choose a sticker as a token of his appreciation.

Nick Meadows, 7, read with Murtha for the first time Monday and said he hopes he can read with him again.

Nick chose an American flag sticker to take with him after reading a Dr. Seuss book to Murtha.

"That's very patriotic," Murtha told Nick. Murtha also suggested a tougher book for next time, and Nick agreed.

The reading partner program has been going on for more than 10 years and volunteers are welcome.

"You don't need any special skills to do this. If you are willing to listen, that's all it takes," Murtha said.

gphillips@somdnews.com