Reading Intervention in Community Volunteers

What’s Involved

Pre-service teachers will work in pairs to implement reading interventions, with small groups of children between Grade 2 and 4. The interventions will be implemented in consultation with School & Applied Child Psychology (SACP) PhD students under the direction of a Centre for Wellbeing in Education Registered Psychologist.

Pre-Services teachers will work closely with the SACP PhD students in screening the child clients and assigning them to an intervention group. Two pre-service teachers will be assigned to a group of 5 children. Pre-service teachers will be required to complete some Independent Learning through introduction readings of the UFli program in early September. Following the independent learning additional training will be held with the SACP PhD students on the UFli program and lesson preparation.  Lessons will be prepared jointly by the Psychology students and Education students, with the Education students gradually assuming more responsibility for the preparation. The SACP PhD student will be available for coaching and consultation throughout the intervention period. All materials and resources will be provided.

Program Requirements

• The Centre is looking for six preservice teachers who are interested in, or focusing on, English Language Arts or English Language Learning. Subject specialization is not a direct requirement. 
• The successful applicants need to have a current Police Information Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Search (issued after May of the year you are applying). 
• Any experience teaching or reading with young children will be an asset. 
• First Aid certification would be considered an asset. 

Program Expectations

• Pre-service teachers should plan to participate for a total of five hours per week, including lesson preparation time and intervention time with the children. 
• Following the 19 sessions Pre-service teachers will work with the Psychology students in completing the post intervention assessment, and parent reports. This should entail an additional 4 hours in the evening, this time can be planned and arranged between the Psychology and Education students. 
• All University of Calgary holidays will be accommodated in the schedule.

Timeline

Based on scheduling requirements, this program may be ideal for students in their EDUC 400-level courses. 

• Application Deadline: Early September
• Independent Learning with UFLI Materials: Mid-September
• Training with PhD Students: Late September
• Parent orientation nights:  Late September/early October
• Teaching sessions from 4:30 to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays:
  • 19 sessions between mid-October to mid-March
  • 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm on Wednesdays
• Post-Intervention Assessment & Reporting: Mid-March to early April