Growing Readers makes impact for students, families

At age 3, Jozzell was barely speaking.  

His concerned mom didn’t know where to go. 

A teacher at Hawthorne Early Learning Center told his mom, Jessica Borrego, about Elkhart Public Library’s Growing Readers program.  

Jessica quickly enrolled Jozzell. 

Library tutors helped make a difference in getting Jozzell ready to succeed in school. 

Building confidence 

Meredith Horvath, Jozzell’s kindergarten teacher last year, said he started school “really, really quiet. The exciting part is, he gained confidence.” She says the skills they work on in the classroom really stuck, thanks to the outside help he received from the library. 

“He would try to tap out sounds and do those things,” says Meredith. “Hearing it, revisiting it, it’s going to strengthen his base.” 

On to first grade this year at Roosevelt STEAM Academy. His new teacher, Anna Ledyard, says, “I just progress monitored him and he went up. He’s headed in the right direction.” 

Jozzell has room to grow. “He’s still trying to get to where he’s hearing sounds,” says Anna. But, she adds, he’s continuing to work hard.  

That’s what Growing Readers helps build in the tutoring process.  

“Even now, he’ll come up after school and give me a big hug,” Meredith says. “It’s nice to see he’s willing to do that, when before he wasn’t. Confidence is huge.” 

Needing help 

Pleased with the results, Jessica eventually enrolled Jozzell’s younger brother, Jerick, too. Library tutors helped address her real concerns about their speaking and reading skills. 

“When they started, you could barely understand what they were saying. Their speech wasn’t developed to where they should be speaking.” says Jessica.  

She says when Jozzell started Growing Readers in June 2024, he didn’t know the ABCs. But the extra sessions have helped his learning continue from the classroom to home.  

“Just the 30-minutes, once a week, it makes a big difference,” says Jessica. 

Since starting in 2022, more than 200 kids have reached their reading goals or gotten their skills to grade level. Half-hour weekly lessons are two-on-one – student and a caregiver working with a certified teacher. They focus on building literacy skills to help students achieve reading success. 

Jerick’s journey 

Becky Banas, Jerick’s kindergarten teacher at Roosevelt, sees a positive change in his confidence, too. 

“Being involved in another program gave him the experience that he can respond to things about a story. He’s interacting with stories more, beyond just listening to it being read to him,” she says.  

Like his brother, Jerick is also very shy. Becky says he didn’t speak at all early in the year. 

“Jerick has gained confidence, he wouldn’t talk to me for the first few weeks and now he’s voluntarily answering questions. He thinks he’s going to be right,” she says. 

Jessica is happy for the extra help, too. She knows classroom teachers can only do so much. In a class of 15 or more students, those who are struggling may need more individual attention than is possible. 

“They’re not able to get individual attention at school all the time,” she says. “I didn’t think they were going to get close. But from where they were then to where it is now, that little bit of help has made all the difference.” 

Where parents can turn 

Finding a boost for students outside the classroom is one barrier for parents.  

Teachers say parents hear their child is struggling but often don’t know what to do about it. 

“It’s great to see parents trying to better their children,” says Anna. “Any help is great. Not all parents have the knowledge or skills to support learning to read.” 

Becky says the toolbox teachers have to help just isn’t available for concerned parents. 

“Parents don’t always know what to do. They don’t know what is best for their kids from an educational standpoint,” she says. “If they haven’t done that, there is so much you wouldn’t think to do.” 

Knowing the library has a free service helps everyone. 

“If we know that’s a resource that we can give to parents, at least they have that option,” says Meredith. 

Besides, Becky says, “Kids get excited about Elkhart Public Library. What better place than the library?” 

She says teachers tend to be upbeat that kids will get to their learning goals, and seeing the library assist classroom teachers in reaching those milestones is huge. 

“We are eternal optimists; we know they will be (reading at their level),” Becky says. 

For more information on Growing Readers, click here to see if the program is right for your child.