Via United Way of King County Blog
Last evening (February 16th) the Volunteer Reader Program’s first ever educational and social gathering met with resounding success! A wide range of more than 20 Volunteer Readers representing 13 of our 32 different sites came together over soup and salad to meet each other, share experiences, trade tips, and learn from a panel of librarians and preschool educators. Our five panelists shared wonderful books and materials as well as their insight and knowledge gained from years of experience.
“Am I really making a difference?” Volunteer Readers have asked repeatedly since the Program’s inception five years ago. “Yes and we see it so clearly!” answered our panelists. Reading one hour per week makes a meaningful difference in a child’s life. Many children are in the classroom for 4 to 10 hours a day, not receiving the one-on-one attention they crave from their hardworking teachers. By volunteering your time, you are helping children succeed in school and in life.
Another common question we hear is: “How can a Volunteer Reader help an English language learner understand, enjoy or engage with a story?” Our panelists suggested:
- Read short books with a few words on the page
- Use books without words (Chalk is a favorite)
- Use books with lots of illustrations
- Ask the teacher to teach you a few words in the child’s language
- Read books with words from the child’s native language; if your pronunciation is incorrect, they will LOVE the chance to correct you!
The room was abuzz from start to finish with people connecting, learning, problem solving, laughing, and sharing the joy and importance of interacting with and supporting young children on their journey to becoming readers. We were thrilled to offer this opportunity to thank our passionately dedicated Volunteer Readers and continue to learn about early literacy!
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