YOUTH and experience have come together in a partnership that helps school children increase their literary knowledge.
Cronulla High School runs a program where volunteers are invited to assist students as part of a peer reading program.
Every Tuesday morning, year 7 students read aloud from a book of their choosing with a volunteer by their side. The support comes from either a year 11 student or an older resident from the community who acts as a mentor.
Students are tested on their reading fluency and comprehension at the start of the semester, and then at the end of the semester when they graduate from the program.
The volunteers help students with their pronunciation and textual understanding, so they can make the smooth transition with their reading skills in the classroom.
Cronulla High School's learning support officer, Jenny Himmelstein, designed the program and said the results so far had been outstanding.
"Dozens of students have graduated from the program with improved literacy skills that will not only benefit them in all their subjects, but will put them in good stead for the rest of their lives," she said.
English head teacher Ed Price said the program gave students valuable life skills.
"The success of this has been down to the wonderful volunteers from our community."
Details: 9523 4017.
The benefits of peer reading support groups include:
■ Higher self-esteem
■ Improved communication skills
■ Opportunity to develop creative thinking
■ Expanded vocabulary and language expression
■ Social interaction