9:34 a.m., July 9, 2010----When Lily Grosso came to The College School (TCS) in fourth grade, she struggled with reading comprehension and fluency. She lost interest when she was having trouble understanding the words and didn't find reading enjoyable. But, with the help of a University of Delaware tutor and the staff at TCS, in two years there she was able to overcome those learning difficulties.

THIS STORY

E-mail

Print

Twitter

This past semester, Grosso, who just completed her freshman year at UD, decided it was time to go back and help current TCS students succeed in school, just like her former tutor helped her more than six years ago.

"I was ecstatic when I walked into the school every Monday," said Grosso. "I was so excited to get the opportunity to help there this spring semester."

An Elementary Teacher Education (ETE) major, Grosso was enrolled in an exceptional children education course (EDUC 230), which gave her the option of tutoring for extra credit.

She could barely hide her excitement when she was paired with TCS, her former school, and a place that serves students with learning, attention, social and behavioral issues.

TCS, a school within the College of Education and Human Development, has invited UD students to serve as tutors for more than 10 years. The staff says they've seen their students experience significant academic growth from the one-on-one weekly interactions they have with their tutors.

"Lily's success is a tremendous source of pride for all of us at TCS," said Marty McDonough, administrative assistant for TCS. "Amazing learning takes place everyday here. Our children transition as successful, confident students, and it is phenomenal when they come back to visit and we discover the infinite ways and places they are involved beyond their experiences at TCS. "

Consistently over seven sessions, Grosso worked with her TCS student on improving his reading skills. She says many of his issues were the same ones she used to have.

"I remember my tutor emphasizing that I would always improve with practice and that once I could read and comprehend stories more easily, reading books would become less of a chore and more enjoyable," said Grosso. "It was true. I showed this student the same thing. We read a lot and by making sure I selected fun and exciting books for us to take turns reading, it really helped him develop fluency and interest in books."

Grosso says she plans to continue tutoring at TCS as a volunteer and is extremely grateful to the school and its teachers in helping her get to where she is today.

"By fifth grade, I could already see how much of a difference they were making for me in my life and that inspired me to become a teacher, just as helpful and influential as my teachers were for me," she said. "It is so cool to know I am back The College School to achieve that. To know I have gone full circle is incredible."

Article by Cassandra Kramer
Photos by Cassandra Kramer and courtesy of TCS