Augustine Literacy Project

Augustine Literacy Project®, a non-profit charitable organization -- tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) -- was founded in 1994 by Linda McDonough with the support of the Rector and vestry of Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Using an entirely secular curriculum, our program provides each tutor with 70 hours of training -- cl... assroom and practicum -- based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, using research-based materials from a variety of sources, including the Wilson Reading System®. The Orton-Gillingham approach is multi-sensory, structured, systematic and phonetic. It has been proven effective, not only with children (grades 1 through 12) who have language-related learning differences, but also with students who struggle to learn to read because of poverty (lack of exposure to print and rich vocabulary) or ESL issues. The combination of nurture and knowledge that an Augustine tutor offers can mean the difference between prison and productivity for an at-risk student. Upon satisfactory completion of Augustine training, each tutor is paired with a low-income child and commits to work with him or her pro bono for a minimum of 60 sessions. Tutors usually meet with their students at the child's school two or three times a week. An Augustine lesson is 45 minutes long and includes the five essential components of research-based reading instruction: phonemic awareness; structured, systematic phonics; vocabulary; fluency and comprehension. Pre- and post-testing in phonemic awareness, word attack, written spelling, sight word recognition, fluency and comprehension is administered to measure student progress. Students are referred to the program by family members, guardians, teachers, counselors, principals, psychologists, social workers or learning disability specialists. The two eligibility requirements for Augustine tutoring are: low income, qualifying for free or reduced price lunch below grade level performance in reading, writing or spelling. If you would like to recommend a student for ...Read More