Reading Partners General Brochure

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS LIKE SHAKIA Visit readingpartners.org to learn more about how to get involved.

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“ Shakia learned that she was capable of mastering new skills and learning to read.”

Shakia felt discouraged and embarrassed being so far behind in reading. Which was no surprise, considering fourth grade marked a turning point where she was expected to apply her reading skills to other subjects. Math lessons were filled with word problems and history lessons

BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER BECOME AN ADVOCATE

Shakia was in fourth grade when she joined Reading Partners. She had moved schools a lot and was having a tough time. She was reading two years behind grade level and had developed some concerning behaviors, including cutting class.

“ If you in any way want to give back—not only to your community, but to the world—I would so recommend Reading Partners.”

—BRENDA GUY, PRINCIPAL AT SAN MIGUEL ELEMENTARY

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involved advanced reading comprehension skills. Her confidence was challenged every day as she struggled to keep up with her peers. To Shakia, school was no longer her ally, but her biggest foe.

When she first started working with her reading partner, Shakia struggled with her confidence—if she read something wrong, she would shut down completely. But Shakia’s reading partner made sure to ask a lot of questions and focused on giving positive reinforcement during their sessions.

Reading Partners gradually became a safe space for Shakia where she could work on her reading without feeling embarrassed. One day, Shakia and her reading partner were doing a lesson on the long “A” sound. After lots of practice, Shakia got it! Not only did she understand the concept, but she could explain it. That day, everything changed for Shakia. She developed a positive attitude and showed up to her sessions excited and ready to learn. Shakia learned that she was capable of mastering new skills and learning to read.

At the end of the year, her teacher said Shakia’s behavior in class had improved dramatically. After only eight months of being in Reading Partners, Shakia had made substantial progress and gained key foundational literacy skills that have helped her blossom as a reader.

A PROVEN MODEL FOR RAISING READING ACHIEVEMENT

WE BELIEVE

HOW READING PARTNERS WORKS

PROVEN RESULTS

Every child deserves the chance to become a proficient reader.

We partner with:

A randomized control trial conducted by leading nonpartisan educational research firm, MDRC, found that Reading Partners is:

THAT READING UNLOCKS OPPORTUNITY.

Children growing up in poverty face immense obstacles and too often enter elementary school further behind their more affluent peers.

Once children fall behind in reading, they tend to fall further behind at a faster rate. Research suggests that fourth grade is a clear pivot point: children who cannot read proficiently by fourth grade are more likely to face lifelong social and economic struggles.

tudents. By raising reading achievement, • Swe empower students to succeed. chools. Our on-site staff and • SAmeriCorps members work closely with principals and teachers to create on-campus reading centers and reading plans for each student.

JUST ONE IN FIVE low-income fourth graders reads proficiently (NAEP, 2015).

“ It’s a life changing experience when you help a child learn to read.”

—JULIE MARIE MENEFEE HAUSER, TUTOR

ommunities. We mobilize thousands of volunteers across the • Ccountry and provide one-on-one support as they positively impact the next generation.

OUR VISION FOR CHANGE 9 million students in need

NATIONAL IMPACT

TARGETING STUDENTS READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL

RAISING 4TH GRADE READING

2. Consistently delivered by well-trained, highquality program staff, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers.

3. A n affordable, high-value option for underresourced schools because we leverage the impact of volunteers.

STUDENTS GAIN SKILLS RAPIDLY Children have a chance to determine their future with the ability to read. Reading Partners empowers students to succeed in reading and in life. We engage community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring in under-resourced schools using our research-validated curriculum. Through the Reading Partners program, thousands of children master key foundational reading skills.

READING PARTNERS STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING WELL, and importantly, our youngest students are showing impressive progress in the critical early years.

PROVIDING EFFECTIVE TUTORING TO ENHANCE LITERACY GROWTH

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, READING PARTNERS WILL DRAMATICALLY EXPAND OUR IMPACT and lead the charge to increase fourth grade reading proficiency for the nearly 9 million low-income elementary school students who are not reading at grade level. We will do this by improving upon our core program, piloting new program innovations, and forming deep partnerships with other organizations working to lift reading achievement.

1. E ffective in improving student reading proficiency for a variety of students.

STUDENTS WORK WITH A VOLUNTEER READING PARTNER for 45-minute sessions, two times per week.