St. John Lutheran School Teacher Uses Grant Funding for Mentor Text Project

The program focuses on fostering a love of reading.

Photo provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) - St. John Lutheran School teacher Sarah Sharp was awarded a grant last August for her Mentor Text Project. 

Since being awarded the 2024-25 Educator Grant through the Dearborn County Retired Teachers Foundation, Sharp has implemented the mentor Text Project with her 7th and 8th grade students. 

The funding allowed Sharp to purchase complete Mentor Text packages from Smekens Literacy Store to use in her classroom, in addition to providing mentoring materials for 1st through 4th grade teachers. 

The goal of the project is to foster an atmosphere of love for reading and a solid grounding in language skills through one-on-one mentoring. Once a month, Sharp's 7th and 8th grade students read engaging stories to the 1st grade class followed by time spent identifying various mechanics found within the story.

So far, her 7th and 8th graders have reinforced literary building blocks such as sentence structures, punctuation, word choice, and parts of speech.

“They anticipate mentoring through the rest of this year and they’re hoping this becomes a tradition in their school. Below are some pictures of our activities along with statements from both our middle and elementary students. Thank you for your support and for awarding me the funding for this great project,” said Sharp. 

 

 

More from Local News

Events

Motorcyclist Killed in Labor Day Crash

The victim hailed from Union, Kentucky

The Music Lives On: Nanni’s Strings to a New Generation

Aurora’s living-room orchestra continues to shape young musicians across Southeast Indiana

Dearborn Co. Sheriff's Office Announces Passing of Retired K-9 Glock

For more than 12 years, Glock served alongside his handler and became much more than a working dog. 

Local Sports Report - September 4-5, 2026

There was lots of high school sports action of the holiday weekend.

Local Sports Report - September 3, 2026

Report missing stats and scores to news@eaglecountryonline.com

Seven Earn ORVC Weekly Honors

See top performers for August 24-29

On Air

Your Hometown Radio Station playing
Morgan Wallen - Thought You Should Know

Chris Young The Man I Want to Be 23:13
Luke Bryan What She Wants Tonight 23:10
Dustin Lynch and MacKenzie Porter Thinking 'Bout You 23:07
Joe Diffie Pickup Man - EAGLE ONLY 23:04