There's a spirit of service among Deborah Madison's fifth grade GATE students at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. Twice a week, they become Reading Rangers, giving up their lunch recess to read with the first graders in Michele Pirotte's class. They help the younger students improve their vocabulary, fluency and comprehension skills.

"Most importantly, the Reading Rangers share their joy of reading with my students," says Pirotte. "The older students' values of high academic achievement and love of learning spread to the younger ones. Over the past eight years, I've seen how this program helps my first graders become independent readers more quickly. "

Principal Marty Brewer says Reading Rangers is a win-win academic activity. "The first grade students get an extra hour of reading practice each week while the fifth graders get the opportunity to apply concepts they've learned. The highest level of mastering a skill is to teach that skill to others."

There is an added social benefit which takes place outside the classroom. "The big kids say hi to the younger ones on the playground and at lunch," adds Pirotte. "School is not such a big, scary place for a first grader when you have a fifth grade buddy."