Y Read: Oakley Elementary School partners with Santa Maria Valley YMCA to help below grade level readers

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Kids in first and second grades are getting an extra dose of reading
education.

"We go from table to table to iPad ... games ... to read," said first grade student Aaron Gomez at Oakley Elementary School.

The Y Read program is funded  by the Santa Maria valley YMCA.

It’s focus is to help students at Oakley Elementary School who are below
grade level readers.

"I feel like it’s more important now more than ever because of the pandemic
… a lot of these kids  in my first grade reading program ... they were in
kindergarten ... and we’re having to learn on computers," said first grade teacher Jacqui Raynaud at Oakley Elementary School.

Raynaud says this created a gap in their learning process.

"More than ever ... and so you know they’re getting that extra hour after school
to come in and read with a teacher ... and get extra support and learn these
reading skills," said Reynaud.

Each 1st and 2nd grade teacher have hand picked 4 students from their class
who are in need extra support in reading, making a total of 15 students
currently in the program.

"My hope is for the students in the program to catch up to the
grade level expectations," said second grade teacher Lucia Cortez-Pope at Oakley Elementary School.

As for the kids in the program, they seem to be loving the extra support.

"I like it because I can learn much more with my teacher," said first grade student Jasmine Camacho at Oakley Elementary School.

The group meets everyday for 45 minutes after school, making reading the
highlight of their day.

"My favorite book is The Big Red Bog," said Gomez.

The program runs from 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Oakley Elementary in Santa Maria.