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Reader To Reader Launches the Navajo Mentoring Program Amherst, MA – March 30, 2008 --Over the last six years, Reader To Reader has shipped over 7,000 books to Navajo Pine High School in Navajo, New Mexico. We have helped build a small but vital school library in a poor and isolated area that is without bookstores and libraries. The students at Navajo Pine High read at only twelve-percent of the national average, and few students have books in their homes. With the needs of this community in mind, we are pleased to announce a major expansion of our mission to include outreach and mentoring. Announcing the Navajo Mentoring Program This fall we took a major step in expanding the mission of Reader To Reader. In addition to providing books, we decided to create our first outreach program in order to enrich the lives of Navajo high school students living on the Navajo reservation through academic support and cultural exchange. Program Components: Online Mentoring In November we launched an online mentoring program that pairs Amherst College students with students on the Navajo reservation to read books together and discuss the contents online. The Navajo students receive academic support to strengthen their vocabulary, reading skills, and knowledge base. Just as important, is that the Navajo students gain much-needed role models to help guide them to academic success and on to college. Only three months into the program the results have been astounding! The Navajo high school students are reading, and what's more, they are reading challenging material. "The Navajo Mentoring Program is off to a fantastic start," explains Carla Clauschee, the librarian at Navajo Pine High School. "I want you to know that for the first time I see students reading voraciously in the library. They can't put down Sherman Alexie's "Indian Killer" and "Flight." Two ninth graders are reading "Yellow Raft in Blue Water" and say they really like it. This is hard to believe because we have tried everything to get them to read. Finally, something is connecting with them. I had a girl that finished Flight and took two more books home for the weekend. It's amazing. "This has been a very successful project for our school. The Navajo Pine High students have benefited by seeing the examples the Amherst mentors have written for each book. Our students can now see how the best students in the country read and interact with the written word. Although each student is gifted in his/her own right, our students have had little experience reading, writing, and responding on a college level. Most of our students have been reading books on a "Goosebumps" level and have jumped to reading "great literature" overnight. This complicated interior discussion delving into symbolism and themes comes from the interaction between the Navajo Pine High School students and their mentors. Not only are students reading great books they are required to "dissect" each book and then respond in writing. This has been a great individualized experience for each one of my students which could not have been possible without the mentors." Not only has this been a great experience for the students, it has also been meaningful to their Amherst College reading mentors. "These students are really responding to the Reader To Reader mentoring program, says Kathryn Libby, a first-year student at Amherst College. "They ask intelligent, probing questions and strive to understand not only the book, but the nuance in the writing as well. I really enjoy reading with them because they interact and aren't afraid to ask questions. It's so amazing to see the change in the students' understanding as they progress through books." And there is still more. Reading Mentors Heading to Navajo Reservation This August, a team consisting of the Amherst College student mentors and Reader To Reader staff will travel to Navajo Pine High School to spend a week mentoring students in person. The goal is to build on the bonds that have been created through their online work. The mentors will describe their lives as college students, work with students leading group book discussions, and work with them one-to-one to strengthen academic skills. Just as importantly, the college mentors will participate in meaningful cultural exchange, learning about Navajo life and culture as it pertains to both its rich history and present state. But wait, that's not all. Navajo Student Trip to Amherst Building on the connections and support made online and in their trip to the Navajo reservation, Reader To Reader's staff and the Amherst College student mentors will host 17 Navajo Pine High school students who will visit Amherst, MA, in October 2008, to spend a week with their college reading mentors. The trip will be filled with exploration, education, and cross-cultural connection. The Navajo students will learn about college life, attend college classes, explore everything from robotics labs to Art museums, tour area cultural landmarks and institutions, and learn about a wide variety of career options first hand from scientists, doctors, lawyers, writers and artists. Our goal is to make the trip truly transformational for all involved. The Navajo Mentoring Program is an ambitious expansion of our mission. We are currently fundraising to support these two trips to help pay for airline tickets, hotels rooms, ground transportation costs and other expenses. Please contribute whatever you can to help make it possible. For Further Information, Contact:
David Mazor
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