By Laura Cantera
One out of six adults in Utah County cannot read, according to a Family Literacy fact sheet.
With centers throughout Utah and around the country, the Family Literacy program offers help to illiterate or reading-challenged children.
The non-profit organization is funded by city grants and private donors, and is run primarily by volunteers.
By increasing reading level, a child”s self-esteem increases, along with their future job opportunities, said Marilyn Cowley, director of the Family Literacy Orem center.
“It can have a lifetime influence on a child”s life. It can go into generations,” she said.
Tutors for the valley locations are mostly BYU and UVSC students, but community members are also welcome.
John Bonner, 24, a senior from Rexburg, Idaho, majoring in English, recently started tutoring with the Family Literacy program partially because of a two-month trip he took to Mexico.
“I learned how paralyzed you feel if you can”t read or speak and how empowering literacy is,” Bonner said. “It changes people”s perception of you.”
Anyone is welcome to help as long as they can read, Cowley said, and have an interest in helping children.
Family Literacy recruits an equal ratio of students to tutors.
“You have one-on-one time with kids that are having problems with reading,” said Eric Lynn, 22, a senior majoring in microbiology from Costa de Caza, California, and a Family Literacy tutor.
Tutors are trained to teach reading with a phonics method.
“That way they (students) can break down any word as soon as they know the pronunciation of letters and decode anything they read,” Cowley said.
Students are typically 5 to 18 years old and must have command over the English language, Cowley said. Family literacy does help some foreign students and adults, however.
Most students receive instruction two hours a week.
Students read out of books and workbooks and use corresponding CDs. Most continue in the program until they reach the reading level equivalent with their grade.
The tutor-child relationships are strong.
“I love how they just instantly accept you and trust you,” Bonner said.
Children don”t mind learning because of the change in environment.
“Their tutors aren”t like their schoolteachers. They”re younger and more fun,” said Lynn.
Children have and continue to reap the benefits of literacy.
“They”re happier, they fell better about themselves and they certainly excel in school,” said Cowley.
As far as improvements to be made to the program, those associated with Family Literacy draw a blank.
“Have more tutors available. That is always a problem,” Cowley said.
For more info about volunteering or receiving help, call 221-5844.
