Students who are behind in reading by the third grade are more likely to drop out of high school, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Sylvia Fluellen doesn’t want to see that happen.
Fluellen, a Springfield College graduate student, is looking for 20 third-graders who go to Title I elementary schools in Plant City, and the students’ parents, to participate in a short study that focuses on reading abilities.
Fluellen, who works part-time in the adult education department at Plant City High School, will ask a total of 10 open-ended questions to parents and students, including asking parents about their goals for their child’s reading level and if their child would benefit from a reading intervention program. Fluellen will also ask students how they feel about reading.
Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in human services with a concentration in early childhood education, Fluellen returned to school in a management program to benefit her 501-c3 non-profit, The Kids Connections Inc. Her ultimate goal is to encourage the parents of struggling students to come to her non-profit for tutoring and mentoring.
“I am trying to make sure that children’s educational goals are met,” Fluellen said. “Early intervention is very important.”
Once students are in the program, she will conduct observations on their reading skills, and work with their parents and teachers. Then she will come up with an individual learning plan for each student.
Fluellen chose to conduct her study on Title I schools in Plant City, such as Cork and Trapnell Elementary schools, because schools under the Title I category receive assistance in improving academic achievement and parent involvement.
“I want to do something,” Fluellen said. “I want to give back to my community … and help those struggling advance.”
Although she has had her non-profit since 2009, Fluellen does not have a building or tutors for her organization. She is hoping to have a building by the end of December or early January, shortly after she receives her master’s degree. Fluellen would like to get a building that is at a central location in Plant City, so that parents will not have transportation issues. When she does get a building her expected hours of operation for The Kids Connections will be on weekdays from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“If [parents] get off work late, then the kids are in a safe environment,” she said. “I went back to school to gain the knowledge that I need to manage a non-profit organization.”
Fluellen is looking for at least six volunteer tutors who have a background in education.
Currently, Fluellen is taking on tutoring tasks by herself. She is willing to tutor in-home, which she used to do as an independent contractor before going back to school.
“I provide extra reading material based on their reading level,” Fluellen said. “I saw the struggle there, and I worked with them.”
While working as a tutor, Fluellen also assigned reading passages to her pupils and gave them read-out-loud articles, in addition to vocabulary lessons.
Because she has yet to find a location for her non-profit, Fluellen is also considering asking local schools if she can host her program there.
“I want every child to have an opportunity to succeed,” Fluellen said. “If I can somehow help that child to succeed, that will be more rewarding to me than anything.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com
TO PARTICIPATE
What: Reading Focus Group
Where: Bruton Memorial Library, 302 Mclendon St.
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: About 30 to 45 minutes
FOR TUTORING AND MENTORING
Email: sylviafluellen75@hotmail.com
Website: TheKidsConnectionsinc.org