Recognized for efforts to improve reading

Alma Elementary received a Literacy Spot award Dec. 9 for the school's efforts to help young children read.

Alma is among four South Carolina elementary schools recognized for their Reading Recovery programs where teachers work with at-risk first grade students. Selected schools also included Nevitt Forest Elementary in Anderson School District Five, Inman Elementary in Spartanburg District 1 and Monarch Elementary in Union County School District.

"First developed in New Zealand, Reading Recovery is a program of one-on-one instruction for first graders who have difficulty learning to read," Alma Elementary Principal Kim Camp said. "Students are served in daily 30-minute sessions until they are able to read at the average level of their classmates. Part of the program is intensive ongoing training and professional development for teachers."

Camp accepted the Literacy Spot award for Alma Elementary at a South Carolina Literacy Conference on Dec. 9-10 in Charleston. The award is sponsored by the South Carolina Reading Recovery Advisory Council, state Department of Education, and the Reading Recovery Training Center at Clemson University.

No cash was given to the winning schools for the Literacy Spot award. Schools received an original water color print by local artist Victoria Platt Ellis.

The award is the latest recognition for Alma Elementary in the area of teaching reading.

Alma Elementary was honored in the state's exemplary reading program in 2006. The school is currently involved in a 3-year, $600,000 federal Reading First grant program where teachers focus on working with struggling readers in kindergarten through third grade.

"Literacy continues to be our main focus. Our kids absolutely love books," Camp said. "A student needs to be able to read well so they can do well in school. Literacy unlocks the door to everything."