Christina Olivares
2009 SAM State Winner
CIS of Fitzgerald/Ben Hill
Public Speaking-Elementary

How Communities In Schools Helped Me

Hola me llamo Christiana Olivares and I want to tell you how Communities In Schools has helped me. I am in the second grade at Ben Hill Primary School in Mrs. Barr’s class. I am Mexican American and speak two languages, English and Spanish. Most of my family speaks Spanish.
I am proud of my heritage but was struggling with my reading. It was hard for me to read out loud in class. I wanted to be able to read like everyone else. My teacher was very concerned and referred me to the CIS Literacy Program. At first, I was a little nervous but when I met my tutor, I knew it would be okay. We read A/R books and take tests on the computer. We also work on word wall words and spelling words. I plan to read enough books to get to go to the Principal’s Picnic at the end of the year. My favorite book ever is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  The book is about a tree and a little boy who loved each other very much.
I am excited about reading and my teacher tells me that my grades have improved. I am even teaching my grandpa to read in English. I read to my family a lot now and play school with my two sisters. We also read at the library downtown with my mom and dad. My parents are very proud of me and I’m not scared to read out loud in my classroom anymore.
CIS has helped me so much. Thank you Communities In Schools.