"President Dennison has supported us in weaving the fabric of literacy in Montana. The integrity of a literacy program requires that all threads of the community be involved. America Reads is the loom on which UM, students, teachers and parents are weaving a bright and hopeful tapestry of literacy in America."

PROFESSOR MARIAN McKENNA
Curriculum and Instruction
Horizontal line
Marian McKenna

The Pooh Story Book
The University has been Montana's leader in helping promote literacy among school children. From the America Reads program grew Montana Reads, started by President Dennison in 1997 after he was appointed to President Bill Clinton's 21-member steering committee of college and university presidents to meet the challenge of increasing literacy. More than 60 UM student volunteers and work-study students visit Missoula schools regularly to provide tutoring to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. For the past two years UM has organized a community book drive to provide books for local schoolchildren being tutored through Montana Reads. Thousands of books have been collected in an effort to encourage reading and learning at home as well as in school, and to promote literacy awareness in the community.

< back | home | next >

The University of Montana