USC Students Hit the Storybooks

By Alexis Young on October 23, 2009 10:51 AM

The students in Ray Wong’s first-grade class at Weemes Elementary School were working quietly until they noticed the arrival of the USC students who read to them weekly.

“They’re here, they’re here,” the children whispered as Carol Schmitz, director of residential communities, and two resident assistants entered their classroom. “Good morning, Dr. Carol. Good morning, Rachel. Good morning, Scott,” they sang in unison.

Wong’s class was selected 14 years ago for a reading program started by a now-retired USC employee. Schmitz discovered the program and wanted to keep it going, so she began reading to first-grade classes taught by Wong and Suzanne Fukuda nearly two years ago.

“Often students don’t have the opportunity for someone other than their teacher to read to them, so they really look forward to this,” Wong said. “I wish more USC students and staff would get involved.”

Last year, Schmitz asked resident advisers if they would like to participate, and juniors Rachel Smith and Scott Slesinger did not hesitate to volunteer their time once a week.

“I’ve been a summer camp counselor because I love interacting with kids, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to have that involvement,” said Smith, a Parkside RA majoring in cinematic arts and English. “It’s so much fun. The kids are so cute and so excited to see us.”

On a recent Friday, the wide-eyed students sat on their colorful classroom rug as Smith read stories to them. Down the hall, Slesinger read to another class.

“It’s only half an hour a week, but I feel like it rejuvenates me for the whole week,” said Slesinger, a public relations major and Parkside RA. “It’s really nice to get off campus and read to kids.”

When it was Schmitz’s turn to read, 6-year-old Josiah Hurley’s eyes lit up as he waited for his chance to join in the storytelling. “I like when they talk about the stories and tell us what it means,” Josiah said. “I like when they let us help read because I learn new words and the pictures are nice too.”

Schmitz tries to involve the children as much as she can during her story time, and she often pauses to ask them to repeat words or sounds. By the end of the year, she asks the class to read to her.

“This experience gives me teachable moments with a different age group,” Schmitz said. “They’re a gift. I don’t feel like I’m giving to them; I feel like they’re giving to me. I like to pick out books that have a message because I’m trying to plant a seed that they can go to college and succeed.”

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