Can you briefly describe the Buddy Reading program?

Alexandra Freidus:
Buddy Reading is a program where high school juniors are matched up with kindergarteners and first graders at Washington Elementary to spend time reading to them each week.

Susannah Bell:
The Buddy Reading Program is a community based service learning program. Berkeley High juniors read to and with kindergarten and first grade students of varying developmental levels in their reading progress. As part of this, the juniors, in English class, read literature in which characters struggle with and profess the importance of literacy. The program also examines the implications of the racial achievement gap in test scores and performance.

When was the Buddy Reading program launched?

Ms. Bell:
I started teaching at Berkeley High School in 1998 and the program existed even before then. So it has been around for over 10 years.

What was the inspiration for the Buddy Reading Program?

Ms. Freidus:
The Community Partnerships Academy at Berkeley High School is focused on service learning, so the Buddy Reading program is aligned with that goal. Additionally, having the older students keeping the younger kids helps keep the older student on track.

Ms. Bell:
The program was started with the desire for students to engage in community service that is easily plugged into the high school curriculum.

How many students participate in the program?

Ms. Freidus:
There are 52 high school juniors and 60 kindergarteners. So, some high school students get to have more than one buddy.

How has the program grown over time?

Ms. Freidus:
We have gone more in-depth with integrating the program into our curriculum at Berkeley High. For example, we even made picture books for our buddies this year.

Ms. Bell:
The program has developed by incorporating more extensive training for high school students so that they use the same skills used by elementary school teachers such as tracking, chunking, making predictions, and picture walking.

We also do projects such as creating books with the buddies.

And this year, the juniors made a historical children's books for the elementary school students.

How has the program affected either the high school or kindergarten students?

Ms. Freidus:
I think it has made the high school students more thoughtful about their own education. Also, taking responsibility of others has increased the high school students' responsibility for themselves.

For the kindergarteners, one of the predictors of how well they will do is how much they read. Having someone read with them exposes them to reading earlier and provides them a mentor.

Ms. Bell:
Qualitatively, the high school students are proud of making a difference. Most of the students like little kids, so they enjoy the program. Quantitatively, I've noticed that attendance improves. Also, the kindergarteners that participate tend to have higher test scores.

How has the program made an impact on your own life?

Ms. Freidus:
Well, the program makes me really happy. Its great to see the students acting all grown-up and taking on responsibility. Seeing this happen definitely makes me feel good.

Ms. Bell:
It makes me proud to see the students working with kids. I love when I know I am helping my students help others.

What do you see as the future of the Buddy Reading Program?

Ms. Freidus:
I think we'll keep on doing what we've been doing. But we'll also try to integrate the program even more into academic learning. What's really cool is that several former Berkeley High students have gone on to become teachers after their experience with the buddy reading program.

Ms. Bell:
We might plan a fieldtrip such as a beach cleanup that would involve both the high school and elementary school students. I would also like to see other small schools at Berkeley High adopt the Buddy Reading Program.