Adapting to Virtual Reading Clubs During a Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 coronavirus and based on the advice from our partner schools and the LAUSD, on March 12th we had to cancel our March 14 "Music and Celebrations" reading clubs (and soon after our April 11th "Amazing Animals" reading clubs) on our partner school campuses. 

We always follow our schools' lead when it comes to the reading clubs, and under these circumstances we certainly agreed that it was best for all that the reading clubs not occur on the campuses until the schools re-open. 

Notably, March 2020 was the first time in the almost 21-year history of Reading to Kids that no reading club happened on the second Saturday of the month at one of our partner schools. 

Our eight partner schools, volunteer Taskforce, and staff were all sad of what lead us to cancelling our first reading club, but we all as a team also understood that it was a necessary action. Nevertheless, our team quickly dedicated themselves to finding a virtual method of reaching our students for ongoing reading clubs.  During that process a wonderful family at one of our partner schools sent a photo to one of our teachers - the two children had created their own March 14th reading clubs at home, with the brother reading aloud to his sister and her stuffed animals, all with name tags just like we use at our reading clubs! 

In April several of our most famous (to the kids at our schools, anyway) volunteers recorded video greetings to the kids that we posted to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/readingtokids.  Check them out in our Site Coordinator Hellos to the Kids at our Schools playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnDP-CeprvNTdwSKHP_V8OIJMNiEbP9-D!

As our team and experienced volunteers prepared to launch our "virtual" reading clubs in May 2020, we also created temporary volunteer opportunities for new volunteers by encouraging them to create book read-aloud videos for our K-5th graders. 

Every day or two we featured new videos at www.readingtokids.org, as well as posted links to other great read-aloud sources for visitors to enjoy. Then as we ramped up for our virtual reading clubs, we moved all of that fantastic content from our homepage to its own page at https://readingtokids.org/ReadingClubs/Videos.php , where we continue to add new read-aloud videos created by our volunteers. 

It is our hope that our students and families were able to enjoy the volunteer read-aloud videos until we launched our first virtual reading clubs. With the success of our May 9, 2020 virtual reading clubs, our team realized that this new method would work during the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our virtual reading clubs continue to work with the ongoing support of our teachers and volunteer Taskforce members until we are able to return to our school campuses for face-to-face reading clubs.

Due to their unwavering support of Reading to Kids, we would like to shine the spotlight on one of our partner-school teachers and volunteers. Ms. Liebe-Zelazny, one of our committed teachers at Alta Loma, has volunteered with us for nine years at our reading clubs and has continued to be our biggest supporter as a teacher Zoom "Host" during our virtual reading clubs since May 2020. We recently acknowledged her with a milestone certificate for all her continued support on the 2nd Saturday of every month during our virtual reading clubs.

We also would like to highlight Christopher Martin, one of our most experienced volunteers, for helping us in many tasks required as we built our virtual reading clubs model. During the pandemic he supports our curriculum committee by converting the teacher-selected read-aloud books for our Zoom volunteers to easily read aloud wonderful stories to our students every second Saturday. Mr. Martin also created our Zoom training guide, and this month stepped up to volunteer as a Zoom Santa for our December reading clubs, along with five other incredible volunteers who joined our December 12th reading clubs as a Zoom Santa Claus. We truly cannot thank our volunteers enough for all that they do!

As we wrap up our virtual reading clubs for 2020, we are so excited to continue our virtual reading club experiences in 2021 with the support of our partner schools, volunteers, and Reading to Kids staff.

To support our efforts, please consider donating to our 2020 Annual Fund Drive today. 

http://readingtokids.org/News/2020AnnualFundDrive.html

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Guest Post by Danielle Davis, Volunteer and February 2018 5th Grade Read-Aloud Book Author

At our February 10, 2018 reading clubs, long-time Reading to Kids volunteer Danielle Davis, the author of Zinnia and the Bees, read aloud her book with us to 5th graders at her regular school, Esperanza Elementary. Click this link to read and see more about her morning: "Zinnia and the Bees at Reading to Kids!"

Reading to Kids would like to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who came out to read on September 10th! Here are just some of the inspiring comments from our volunteers:

A third-grader attending for the first time told me as we were leaving "this is the best day of my life!"

- Margaret Gillespie, reader at Esperanza Elementary Grade 3

I overheard a comment from one of the kids from my group as I was leaving saying, "THAT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN!" :)

-Joshua Boehm , reader at Los Angeles Elementary Grade 2

I enjoyed every minute of it. It's nice to spend time with the kids but also nice to spend time with other adults who enjoy reading to kids. Very nice atmosphere.

-Heidy Caceres

My kids really enjoyed learning about using your imagination. After reading a book about a boy who gave fanciful excuses for being late to school, we came up with some of our own reasons for delay. But what really brought smiles to everyones' faces was the impromptu imaginary tea party on the rug in the classroom. We blew on the tea when it was too hot, reached for treats that each child dreamed up (donuts! sugar cookies with sprinkles!), and ate them licking out lips. It was a great moment of fun and learning!

-Heather Polubinski , reader at Los Angeles Elementary Grade 2

I loved reading as a child -- particularly out loud. So when my friend invited me to get involved with Reading to Kids, I didn't hesitate for a second. Any opportunity to join an organization that enhances a child's love of reading and imagination was one I wanted to be a part of. At this month's club, a little girl gave me a small drawing she'd made. When she did, she told me, "I just have some really excited feelings right now. I wanted to give you this because you helped me have those excited feelings." The inner child in me beamed with happiness because I knew that I'd shared that same love of reading with her that I had when I was her age. I can't wait for next month's club.

-Marcie Mayhorn, reader from Esperanza Elementary Grade 1

If you are interested in sharing your experience with Reading to Kids on our blog please email us at info@readingtokids.org

Guest Post by Volunteer, Andrea Briceno

"The Happiest Girl Alive"

"I'm the happiest girl alive... Want to know why?"

It all started in November 2014. After I got laid off of my job, I started looking into volunteer work, stumbled across Reading to Kids, and said, “Why not?”

I love kids, and I figured, how hard can it be to read to them once a month for two hours? So I decided to RSVP, starting my journey to becoming the happiest girl alive. 

 

The first time I went was in December 2014 at Esperanza Elementary School. I remember not knowing what to do or what to expect. But one of the Grade Level Coordinators was incredibly nice, taking the time to explain everything with a big smile. All of a sudden, my fear and cluelessness was gone. I was ready to rock that reading. 

I was assigned to read to Kindergartners, and I had the time of my life. The kids were super creative, had the most amazing stories to tell, and had a really good grasp of what we were saying. Of course, we had to stop for a game of “Simon Says,” but hey, you have to have some fun while doing it.

It’s been eight months since I began volunteering, and I couldn’t be happier. I have gone from being a reader to a Grade Level Coordinator, helping out in any way I can. Every Friday before Reading to Kids, I go to bed thinking, "Tomorrow will be the best day." It’s like you forget everything in the outside world – once you are there, you are truly devoted to the children, reading aloud to them, and hearing the awesome stories they have to tell.

So why am I the happiest girl in the world, you ask? It's thanks to the kids' smiles at the end of the program. Everything about it is so rewarding, even the arts and crafts portion; although I can truly say I’m not gifted when it comes to art, I love going home with a special drawing from a kid.

It’s all about how silly and funny you dare to be with the kids.

My advice to you before you go:

1. Be silly so that you gain their confidence.

2. Make them feel like they are the most important person in the room – each and every child.

3. But mostly, love them like there is no tomorrow, because that will change them forever.

- Andrea Briceno, Volunteer