***MEDIA ADVISORY***

MEDIA CONTACT: Cara C. Perry
772-873-3339, ccarlton@fau.edu

FAU and Dan McCarty Middle School Partner
for "Wise Owl Workshop"

FORT PIERCE, FL (April 21, 2005)- Florida Atlantic University's Reading education graduate students will conclude their practicum experience at Dan McCarty Middle School in Fort Pierce with a presentation and awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 26 from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Harpy Building, 2nd floor.

This is the first semester for the "Wise Owl Workshop," a ten-week practicum experience for students pursuing FAU graduate degrees in reading education. FAU, Dan McCarty Middle School and its 21st Century Community Learning Center partnered to develop the workshop. Five mentoring teams coached nearly 30 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to refine their reading comprehension, vocabulary and fluency skills. The ten FAU graduate students participating in the first Wise Owl Workshop are current teachers in the St. Lucie and Indian River County School Districts.

"In addition to teaching the middle school teams, the FAU mentors learned how to establish a reading program," said Dr. Jane Brady Matanzo, FAU practicum program director and associate professor.

William Shishler, 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinator at Dan McCarty, feels that it is a "win-win" experience for both middle school students and the FAU mentors.

-FAU-