Minnesota Reading Corps activities Pam Collins, right in both photos, is a Minnesota Reading Corps member who is helping students reach their grade level in reading at Staples Elementary School. At left, second-grader Lili Schneider practices to improve the speed of her reading with a duet reading Staples World photos by Brenda Halvorson exercise where she and Collins alternate reading words in a story. At right, kindergarteners Kira Sweeney, left, and Bradley Hambleton work on letter sound fluency. Collins uses flash cards and the students have to make the sounds associated with the letters on the cards. Dr. Suess wrote it and Pam Collins believes in helping children achieve it.

She spends her afternoons at Staples Elementary School helping young students improve their reading skills to their proper grade level.

Collins is a member of the Minnesota Reading Corps, a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader. The program was designed to help those students who are just a little below their reading level, but not enough to qualify for special education services.

The Staples Motley School District has been funded for the 2009-10 school year for a full time person at Staples Elementary School and a half time person at Motley Elementary School.

Collins works with eight or nine students each day in kindergarten through third grade.

"I work with each child for twenty minutes, doing an intervention that is appropriate for their age and ability. I then test them each Wednesday to chart progress," Collins said.

When a student scores above their target three weeks in a row, they can exit the program.

"I then test them for three weeks after that to make sure they are still on track to succeed in their grade," Collins said.

Last year, Minnesota Reading Corps exceeded its recruitment goal, enlisting and placing a record 367 AmeriCorps members in Minnesota schools for the 2008-2009 school year. But the need for trained reading tutors continues to increase.

To help ensure that all of the state's children are on track to read, Minnesota Reading Corps has increased its recruitment goal to more than 400 members for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications are now being accepted

The application process is all done online at www. minnesotareadingcorps. org. The online application can be found by clicking "Become a Member" on the MRC homepage, as well as additional information about the commitment, benefits, and position descriptions.

In addition to receiving valuable hands-on experience, MRC AmeriCorps members earn up to $4,725 to pay for college or to pay back federal student loans, a modest living allowance and for full-time members, health insurance. Members can also defer federal student loans while they serve. MRC members surveyed frequently report that their career plans have been positively influenced by their service.

Collins noted that the student loan benefit was not what attracted her.

"The only motivation for me was another part time job and being able to work with little kids," she said. "If someone wanted to return to college that would be a big motivation for sure. It is a good place to go if someone is just out of college, and not sure what they really want to do. With the economy, it is also a JOB."

"What we do helps determine children's futures," says David Freedman, a Minneosta Reading Corps member placed at Bamber Valley Elementary School in Rochester. "Helping kids make significant and measurable progress in literacy skills is important, but it doesn't match the delight in seeing light bulbs go on and watching kids cultivate a joy of reading. We are helping to make profound differences in children's lives."

For more information, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps. org, or call 651- 251-9075 or 866-859-2825.