If you can spare two hours a week for 10 weeks, the Elementary Literacy Friends program could use your help.
They are looking for volunteers to help grade 2 students who are having a difficult time with literacy skills.
Laura Morrell, the program manager, said their goal is for students to be reading at grade level by the end of the school year.
“We work on read-aloud, fluency, vocabulary and different kinds of components to literacy to help boost these students and give them extra time on tasks to master some of these foundational literacy skills,” said Morrell.
According to figures from Elementary Literacy Inc., which administers the program, one-in-five grade 2 students struggle with reading.
Let’s go, SJ! It’s a new year and a perfect time to become involved in your community. We need help meeting the needs of several SJ area schools and each new volunteer we recruit means another student receiving additional literacy support. Visit https://t.co/aQQdlonZGR for more pic.twitter.com/16XzXeql8t
— Elementary Literacy (@elemliteracynb) January 4, 2019
Morrell said there is a heightened need for volunteers at four Saint John-area schools: Hazen White-St. Francis, Centennial, Seaside Park Elementary, and Champlain Heights.
“When students struggle with literacy, it’s not just that one part of their education that can sometimes suffer, it’s the whole thing,” Morrell said. “What we want to do is just make sure that all students are achieving their outcomes and reaching their potential.”
Volunteers will work with students two days a week after school and full training is provided.
Testimonials like this from parents is what makes our work meaningful. Our volunteers are having an impact on NB students each week. If you want to make a difference for a child this year, visit https://t.co/29Oj19Vudt and register to become a #volunteer #mentor pic.twitter.com/wMkJweFrad
— Elementary Literacy (@elemliteracynb) January 9, 2019
Morrell said the mentors often say they get more out of the program than what they give.
“They’re just so happy to be able to watch the progress and see them go from being shy and watching them come out of their shell and really start to take joy out of reading that might have been intimidating to them before,” she said.
A training session will take place at the east branch of the Saint John Public Library from 1 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 29.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
Photo: Volunteer Eric Cameron with grade 2 student Skyler. (Submitted by Elementary Literacy Inc.)
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