Learning the Sacred Way

Navajo Pine High School assistant librarian Samantha Begay gave an excellent presentation on the Kinaalda Ceremony. The four day ceremony celebrates a girl's passage into womanhood.

Amherst College juniors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder are spending the week with Reader To Reader executive director David Mazor working in schools on the Navajo Reservation.

Honoring Hard Work

Navajo Pine High School students participating in the online mentoring program were honored at an awards ceremony for their hard work during the 2008-2009 school year. Reader To Reader executive director David Mazor and reading mentors Cait Scudder and Kathryn Libby presented the awards during their visit to Navajo, New Mexico.

Among the honorees were Rodson Sandoval, who received a special plaque as the Top Mentoring Student for 2009 and an autographed NFL football.

Also pictured is Bettina Kinlichinie who received the award for Outstanding Achievement -- College Literature. Kinlichinie received a volleyball autographed by two time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Other award winners included: Al Cody Yazzie Outstanding Achievement --Science, Vichelle Harvey Special Recognition-- Fiction, Gabrielle Nakai Special Recognition-- Fiction, Leticia Begay Special Recognition -- Native American Literature, Kimberly Thomas Special Recognition-- Young Adult Fiction, Murphy Yazzie Special Recognition-- Young Adult Fiction, and Jesse CauyAugust Special Recognition--Manga.

The award recipients received a host of prizes donated by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, Team USA Volleyball, The Volleyball Hall of Fame, the Boston Red Sox and the WNBA Connecticut Sun.

Congratulations to all the award winners for all their hard work.

Visiting Navajo Pine High

Reading mentors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder travelled to Navajo Pine High School in Navajo, New Mexico to meet the students that have been participating in the online reading program.

The mentors met outstanding shop teacher Robert Carrick, who by himself teaches welding, auto repair, woodworking and CAD drawing.

Mr. Carrick has the great idea to have his students build wind turbines and solar panels so they can be skilled in green technologies.



Reader To Reader has been supplying his shop with books on solar technologies to help launch the project.

Amherst College juniors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder are spending the week working for Reader To Reader in schools on the Navajo Reservation.

Gathering Together

On the last evening of their visit to St. Michael Indian School in St. Michael, Arizona, Reader To Reader’s executive director David Mazor and reading mentors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder gathered with the students and their families for a celebratory dinner.

In addition to lots of great food the students prepared Navajo culture presentations on Navajo language, government and history.

The gathering was a special send-off for the mentors that will not be forgotten.


Reader to Reader Executive Director, David Mazor, and Amherst College juniors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder are spending the week working for Reader To Reader in schools on the Navajo Reservation.




Sad to say goodbye!

On Trial

The juniors of St. Michael Indian School staged a mock trial based on Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible with their visiting Amherst College reading mentors serving as the trial judges.

“The Amherst College student mentors really inspired our students to step up their game,” history teacher, Michelle Horrevorts, said.

St. Michael students engaged in extraordinary displays of extemporaneous speaking while serving as the prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Amherst College juniors Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder are spending the week working for Reader To Reader in schools on the Navajo Reservation.

Enjoying Literature, Analyzing Text

Amherst College students Cait Scudder and Kathryn Libby lead a large group discussion with St. Michael Indian School's sophomores. The high level of their work drew raves from the students and their English teacher.

"As a teacher, observing these discussions is the reason I teach," St. Michael's English teacher, Joan Levitt, explains. "I see and hear students who are enjoying literature, analyzing text, and conversing with college students clearly and creatively. I love it."

The two Amherst College juniors are spending the week working for Reader To Reader in schools on the Navajo Reservation.

Ya'at' eeh Means Hello

Amherst College students Kathryn Libby and Cait Scudder stand with Irene Silentman, Navajo language teacher at St. Michael Indian School in St. Michael, Arizona. The two Amherst College juniors are spending the week working for Reader To Reader in schools on the Navajo Reservation.

The students attended Ms. Silentman's first year Navajo language class. They not only observed how the Navajo language is taught but also participated along with St. Michael's high school students.

During the class they learned that Navajo is a tonal language, with the vowels rising and falling. The meaning of words also changes with the pitch of the voice. The four separate tones of voice used are low, high, rising, and falling. They also learned about various verb conjugations.

To Ms. Silentman we gratefully say Ahe'hee (thank you).