Eighty students complete Trenton Literacy Movement program
TRENTON >> Eighty Trenton elementary school students have completed a six-week summer reading program designed to help the students substantially advance their reading skills through a combination of certified teacher led instruction and computer based training.
The Trenton Housing Authority hosted these summer sessions at both Prospect Village and Wilson Homes as part of their summer programs. There was a closing ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 18 for the 20 students who completed the Wilson Homes program. The other students were located at the Prospect Village center and completed their program last week. “We applaud these students for their hard work, dedication and commit-
ment, and we thank their teachers and their families for all their support. It truly does takes a village to raise a child “said Trenton Literacy Movement Board President, Edward W. Bullock. “We have observed first hand the success of these teacher-led computer based programs in many of the Trenton schools and additional success for two years now in the summer programs at Trenton Housing Authority locations, Prospect Village and Wilson Homes.”
Improving the reading skills of elementary school students is the primary goal of the Trenton Literacy Movement (TLM).
“We know our children can only succeed in school if they can read and we know that too many of our youth are not able to read on grade level. We recognize that there is a real need for improvement,” said Jessie Tossie, vice president of TLM.
Improving elementary school reading performance has been a primary goal of Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson’s “My Brother’s Keeper’s” initiative.
“The key to education success starts with reading success,” Mayor Jackson said. “We know getting our youngsters extra teacher time in combination with the repetition on the computer is a great one-two punch for reading improvement. We need more of this!”
Assembly members Reed Gusciora and Elizabeth Muoio (both D-Mercer/Hunterdon) have been working with TLM to pass legislation to support funding for after school reading programs.
“It’s important for the State to recognize the reading crisis in our urban schools,” Gusciora said.
“That is why Reed and I have been working to establish funding for after school reading programs to ensure that students can secure the extra assistance they need to improve their reading skills,” Muoio said.
State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) applauded the students for their initiative and hard work.
“I’m thrilled to see these youngsters making time during their summer vacation to improve their reading skills,” she said. “It is this type of hard work that will help them make the most out of the upcoming school year.”
The Trenton Literacy Movement is a Trentonbased collaboration of various civic groups that have joined together to promote early reading skill improvements. The Trenton Chapter of the NAACP deserves tremendous credit for their support and hard work in getting TLM started as well as the following; Former Mayor Doug Palmer’s Trenton
First Initiative, the Trenton Council of Civic Associations, The City of Trenton as well as many individual donors who helped to fund this summer’s program. Critical to the program success was the Trenton Housing Authority and staff, which provided on-site facilities for the 80 students, including computers. The City of Trenton provided both breakfast and lunch during the program.
“Once again the Trenton Housing Authority has helped us to host this valuable program,” TLM President Bullock said. “We have built a great partnership that has helped these students two summers in a row. Now these boys and girls will start the school year better prepared to succeed knowing that they can read.”
The Trenton Literacy Movement is also working with the Trenton School District to establish after school programs at various elementary schools to help students accelerate their reading skills in an effort to ensure that all students are reading on grade level. For more information about participating in TLM programs contact Ed Bullock at lockluv@ aol.com. If you are interested in supporting the fundraising efforts of TLM, please contact Carm Catanese at crmnctns@yahoo.com.