BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – On Friday, April 29, Illinois Wesleyan alumna Amy Grelck ’09 bravely led her class into The Battle of the Books, a district-wide, literary trivia competition. The fifth graders from John Muir Literacy Academy (JMLA) of Hoffman Estates, Ill. fought valiantly and, in the end, emerged triumphant.
Grelck has been preparing her students for this victory all year in the Battle of the Books after-school reading club she established last year. The program, she notes, “got the kids motivated and excited about reading,” which would be considered a success by any teacher, but is especially meaningful for Grelck.
In the past, JMLA has struggled with students reading below grade level. Grelck, who is completing her second year at the elementary school, explains that this is common in schools like John Muir that have low-income, transient student populations. In fact, JMLA has a 20 percent mobility rate.
“This is challenging because children who move frequently are typically far behind in reading and math,” said Grelck, “I might work really hard with one of my students, but he or she will move before I get to see any real progress.”