University of the Cumberlands' student Ava Bemiss studies spelling and phonetics with kindergartner Kade Cooper.

In order to address the wide range of tutoring needs for those who participate, the class meets at the Whitley County Public Library. “We meet at the public library so we can take advantage of its many resources,” said Reising. “All of the age groups that we work with benefit from resources at the library.”

Elementary students Amelia Bryant and Thomas Bemiss relax with their tutors, Jaime Partin and Yvonne

In addition to a large supply of age-appropriate reading materials, word and letter games are used to help build reading and spelling skills and stronger vocabularies.

The student-educators are also given a chance to share what they have learned with each other. After the tutoring sessions are finished, the class reconvenes in the community center for chapter presentations. Each student of the class is given the opportunity to present a chapter from his or her textbook. Since all of the students are either working toward a master’s in education degree or Rank I certification, the presentations permit the students to relate relevant material with his or her own experiences, allowing the students to benefit from each other.

Reising is excited to see how well the program is working. “I hope to be able to expand the program so as to help more people with their reading and writing,” he said.

University of the Cumberlands, located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, is a private liberal arts college in its 118th year of operation. Cumberlands offers four undergraduate degrees in 37 major fields of study, 30 minors and nine pre-professional programs, graduate degrees and certifications in education as well as online and accelerated, nontraditional programs for adults.