Students at Rishel Middle School and Goldrick and Valverde elementary schools have worked hard this year to write and produce books together as part of the district’s cross-age tutoring program.

This week, students will celebrate their work and sets of reading “buddies” will read their books together. After classes have finished reading their books, they will be treated to punch and cookies.

Each group of Rishel-Goldrick and Rishel-Valverde reading buddies wrote and illustrated a picture book that was sent to Student Tales Publishing for hard-bound production.

The fun begins today (Wednesday, March 31) at Goldrick Elementary School from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. and from 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. Goldrick is located at 1050 S. Zuni St. The school’s telephone number is 303-935-3544.

On Friday, Valverde Elementary School will host celebrations from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. and from 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. Valverde is located at 2030 W. Alameda Ave. The school’s telephone number is 303-722-4697.

The cross-age tutoring programs at Goldrick and Valverde are being played out across the district as the concept of cross-age tutoring has spread as part of the district’s literacy program. At many middle and high schools where an elementary school is within easy walking distance, students head out every other week to help their younger counterparts with the most basic learning skill. There are Morey students at Wyman, Kepner students at Castro, and so on.

Teachers and principals say cross-age tutoring is good for both groups of students.

“Any extra person who shows them the value of reading is good,” said Goldrick teacher Katy Hoops. “And this gives reading the ‘cool’ factor because eighth-graders are doing it.”

Rishel Middle School principal Sandra Just said her students have to step outside their normal comfort zone as they watch second-graders put together critical skills.

“I think it’s an eye-opening experience to see what a teacher feels like,” she said. “It’s nice to see that kids can buckle down and act like a teacher. We’ve been talking about reading strategies, and now they have to teach these strategies.”

Principal Just also notes the polite and gentle behavior of the older students. “The program wasn’t built for character education, but that’s a wonderful side benefit,” she said.

The book publishing project is just the kind of collaboration that the cross-age tutoring concept was designed to generate.

“We are implementing the cross-age tutoring project because we want to increase the sense of community in our schools and build strong motivations for students to want to work on their reading and writing skills,” said Susana Cordova, Director of Literacy. “Working with other students - teenagers for our little ones, and the children for the teenagers - has helped children across the district build a sense that they want to work on reading and writing - that this isn't just something that adults do. They can see themselves reflected in each other.”

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 720-423-3414.