Want to know more about LEAD2READ and how to get involved? I recently responded to someone who asked me about our program and thought I would share my response here for anyone else who might be interested in mentoring. Please feel free to share news of our growing program! As one mentor recently said, "I'm enjoying this every bit as much as my student!"
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Thank you so much for your message and interest in LEAD2READ. We always welcome new mentors and would love to have you involved.
LEAD2READ is a reading program that matches community volunteers with Henderson County kindergarten-through-third grade students who read below grade level. Our goal is to have students reading at grade level by the time they enter fourth grade, which is critical for their success in school. We believe reading aloud with students is still one of the very best tools we have in education!
We ask our reading mentors to commit 30 minutes to one hour each week - during school day hours - to read aloud with a student (you work with the same student each week) and help him or her reach reading goals. In addition, we ask that our mentors be positive role models and encourage their students in school. LEAD2READ believes this valuable one-on-one time will boost reading levels, student confidence, and ultimately, student success in and out of the classroom. My conversations with current reading mentors are so heartwarming and encouraging; I am confident you will find this time well-spent.
It's easy to be a mentor. LEAD2READ mentors complete the same background check required of all Henderson County Schools volunteers. In addition, we ask our mentors to attend a brief training session, so we can answer any questions you have about the mentoring process. Don't worry; you do not have to be a certified teacher to be a reading mentor. Our goal with training is to make the volunteering process as seamless for you as possible. After you complete your training session, we work with the schools to match you with your student for some weekly reading fun!
Our two pilot programs for LEAD2READ this school year are at Spottsville and South Heights elementary schools, where we have had a great start! We are a growing program, and we plan to expand to additional Henderson County elementary schools in the 2012-13 school year.
Because the current school year is drawing to a close, I will offer various training and information sessions throughout the summer for the next school year. We have many Henderson County students who could benefit from time spent with a reading mentor, and we would love to have mentors ready for those children when school begins in the fall. If you would like to send me your email address (or phone number, if you prefer), I will gladly contact you about training this summer.
We also invite you to share news of LEAD2READ with other community members and organizations who might be interested in helping. I will gladly speak with any group, business or individual about our program. Anyone interested can email me at hendersonlead2read@gmail.com.
I hope I have answered your questions. Thank you so much for your interest. Together, we will improve our community one book at a time!
Jennifer Jenkins Reese
Volunteer Coordinator
LEAD2READ
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