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As teacher, ex-surgeon operates on brains now

After decades as a doctor, he got degrees in English. Now he helps high school freshmen improve their reading.

By AMY SCHERZER
Published April 8, 2005

If only Dr. Mel Saraceno could surgically implant reading ability in his students, his job would be so much easier.

But instead of a scalpel, the former ear, nose and throat surgeon uses another tool, a program called Read 180, to teach freshmen at Robinson High School. He wants to see a 180-degree change in their reading scores, which contributed to Robinson's D grade from the state last year.

"These are self-admitted reading and book haters," Saraceno said. "Life circumstances kept them from being great readers a long time ago. They moved, things happened, they fell through the cracks."

He understands life changes. Two years ago he traded an operating room for a classroom. After 28 years as a doctor, he sold his practice in North Tampa and enrolled in an English class at the University of South Florida.

"I play accordion, write poetry, I wanted to stimulate the other side of my brain," said Saraceno, 57, who lives in Pass-a-Grille.

The next thing he knew, he was on his way to a bachelor's degree in English in 1999 and a master's in English literature in 2004.

For years, he taught patients and medical students. Now Saraceno teaches freshmen who are reading at fourth- to ninth-grade levels as part of Scholastic Inc.'s Read 180 pilot program offered at Robinson, Leto, King and Blake high schools and two middle schools.

Students enter his room to the sound of Bocelli, Rossini or Billie Holiday. Like the music, Saraceno's voice is soft and calm as he asks them to settle down and find their seats.

For the first 30 minutes, they write in journals, then follow along as he reads or plays an audiobook.

He also reads aloud a daily "poem, cartoon, lyrics, Dear Abby, anything I think they'll enjoy."

Class continues for another hour, rotating through three 20-minute segments: independent reading, usually on a sofa in the back of the room; interactive reading on computers to assess vocabulary, spelling and comprehension; and a group lesson based on the class' trouble points.

Once a month, students write a 100-word book summary plus a few paragraphs on how they connected to a character in the book.

Last fall, all Read 180 students in the county read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, which deals with date rape. Daily discussions on the character's inability to handle her emotions helped the kids relate to a very serious problem, Saraceno said. The students were so interested in the book that Saraceno is working with the district to bring the author to Tampa in October.

Tiffany Hale, 14, was inspired to write a teen series about a girl with psychic abilities.

"It will be about friendships, about girls fighting over guys, with very graphic language," she said.

Dr. Saraceno praises Hale's efforts. He predicts Read 180 will make better readers out of 80 percent of the class by the end of the year.

In March, a field trip to Barnes & Noble was the first time some of the students had been in a bookstore. Likewise, a visit to the school's new media center was a rarity.

Jonathan Kelly, 16, credits Dr. Saraceno with teaching him "the secret to reading. Stop and think about it, then keep going. It sinks in."

Hillsborough County supervisor of middle and secondary reading Lynn Dougherty appreciates Saraceno's fresh perspective. What he lacks in teaching experience, she said, he makes up for with professional life experiences.

"He has the passion to get them to understand that reading can be pleasurable," she said.

Based on the early results of Read 180, she plans to expand it next year to every high school and 17 middle schools in the district.

Amy Scherzer can be reached at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 7, 2005, 08:55:10]