Jordan Whelihan, a first grader at St. Stanislaus School in Stevens Point, likes to read to her friend Bethany and she also "likes to give her hugs."

While Jordan is increasing her reading skills, her friend and tutor Bethany Retzlaff, a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior, is earning federally funded work-study wages and gaining experience she�ll use in the future.

Retzlaff is one of 19 tutors who participate in what began as the "America Reads" program in 2000 and is now part of President Bush�s "No Child Left Behind" plan. In its third year at UWSP, the program has grown from use in three public schools to six public schools and three Catholic schools in Stevens Point, a public school in Marshfield and a private school in Wausau.

"Everyone benefits from it," says Rob Manzke of UWSP�s Student Involvement and Employment Office, who coordinates the program. "We even have some nontraditional students who are taking advantage of it, and one was able to work at the school her children attend."

Ann Molski, a first grade teacher at St. Stanislaus who graduated from UWSP in 1991, has Retzlaff and Saryn Cushing-Leubner, a UWSP senior, in her classroom three to five days a week. She says the children really benefit from the added one-on-one interaction for reading tests, computer work and reading out loud.

"This program has made a difference because of the dedication and commitment of the tutors. They are here regularly and even when they don�t have to be," said Molski, who added that both her tutors volunteered to help costume the children the night of the annual Christmas program.

"When the children see that the tutors really care," Molski said, "they are eager to work with them at school. You can just see how much the kids want to interact with them."

The learning goes both ways, says Molski. "The tutors gain an educational benefit as well as a lifelong benefit. They learn organization and interaction skills, because when you work with a diverse group of six-year-olds, you need to be ready for anything. They are learning that everything they do, their body language and voice, makes a difference in keeping the attention of their audience."

"I love coming into the classroom," Retzlaff said of her tutoring experience. "You can be having the worst day, and the kids make you feel so much better." While the Shawano native is not an education major, she said her work at St. Stanislaus is preparing her for a career in communication.

"I�ve learned you need lots of patience in everything you do," she said, "and you have to have fun. It�s very important to keep a sense of humor."

It�s the second year as a tutor in Molski�s classroom for Cushing-Leubner of Menomonie, and it�s reinforced her desire to teach special education students.

"Working with Mrs. Molski, I am learning there are so many little things that go into being a teacher and she�s a wonderful role model."

Cushing-Leubner added that she is amazed at how much the first graders learn in one year. She hopes that her help reinforces their lessons and "allows them to look at reading in exciting ways that will last their lifetime."

In Stevens Point, tutors are currently helping students at Bannach, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, McKinley and Washington elementary schools, St. Bronislava, St. Stanislaus and St. Stephen schools.

Tutors are also at St. Anne Elementary School in Wausau and Lincoln Elementary in Marshfield.

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