by Stephanie Rokich
Community Collaborations Director
Read Today (part of the Read. Graduate. Succeed. initiative), utilizes AmeriCorps volunteers in elementary schools, grades 1-8. The AmeriCorps volunteers focus on improving students’ reading using the STAR reading program, a fun and easy way to help students with fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Tutoring occurs twice a week for 30 minutes over 30 weeks. An impressive 79 percent of the students who scored below proficiency on the previous year’s state assessment will score at proficiency after participation in this program.
In order for the Read Today program to be successful, hundreds of people must volunteer to tutor kids identified as needing a little extra help. That’s where you come in! We are looking for volunteers who can commit to at least half an hour, twice a week, for 30 weeks. Volunteers work with students in one of several schools in South Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Kearns, West Valley, Clearfield, or Park City.
Schools are also recruiting volunteers for two other AmeriCorps Read. Graduate. Succeed. programs focused on mentoring, entitled Mentoring for Success and Destination Graduation. These programs will begin later this fall or early winter, but we are looking for volunteers now.
Mentoring for Success is a mentoring program where volunteers work one-on-one with students who struggle with attendance. Mentors will help identify student needs and create a plan to increase the student attendance and academic performance, with a possible focus on math. AmeriCorps volunteers will support mentors and help them design the best program for their students.
Destination Graduation mentors are placed in junior high and high schools to work one-on-one with students to help them graduate from high school and prepare for college. AmeriCorps volunteers will support mentors and help them design a program for their students.
If you are interested in any of these programs or need more details, please contact Pansa at pansa@uw.org. You can also find more information and get registered as a volunteer at the link below!
LIVE UNITED and help a child succeed!
