Happy 2013, Volunteers!

  

Thank you for making our first reading clubs of 2013 a success! We know that many students and volunteers alike were battling flu and some unusually cold Los Angeles weather, but our January 12^th Reading Clubs sailed smoothly onward! 

  

With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day just around the corner, we also want to acknowledge our volunteers’ continued support of equality in education. Dr. King's message inspires our own work in underserved communities, and we can't accomplish our mission without our volunteers. 

This month, 793 kids, 380 volunteers, 113 parents, and 26 teachers & staff joined us for an afternoon of Discovery and Adventure. Together we experienced the joy of a child’s first snowfall, tamed pesky varmints with the likes of Pecos Bill, and journeyed through the Great Lakes! You helped bring these stories to life for the kids, as did your ingenious craft creations (cowboy hats, log cabins, and lassos were plentiful)! 

  

On Saturday we also gave away prize computers to 7 lucky students. Thanks to your generous donations of laptops, computer towers, keyboards, mice, and monitors, we were able to give the kids the wonderful gift of technology. These 7 lucky students were thrilled to receive their prize computers, and the smiles on their faces were unforgettable. 

Our February 9th Reading Clubs are almost here, and we’ve got a great book selection lined up. This month’s “Friendship and Family” theme provides the perfect opportunity to grab your best buddy or your family member and sign up for the 9^th. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Katherine Norris

Literacy Coordinator

A Note from our Ameri-Corp Member- Cynthia Orozco!

As the Literacy*AmeriCorps member for Reading to Kids, I have had the pleasure of working closely with two of our organization’s partner schools: Esperanza Elementary School during regular class hours and Leo Politi Elementary School for after-school homework help.

I have worked directly with students for the last eight months, and it has been incredible to see the many accomplishments of my students! I have students who are beginning to read when, at the beginning of the year, they were unable to recognize the letters of the alphabet. Many students have really improved on their English language skills and vocabulary. One of the best moments is when a child exhibits real enthusiasm for reading. Many of the students I work with really struggle with reading, and it isn’t particularly fun to read a book when you don’t understand the words in front of you. So when I see a student get excited about reading a new book or a student who begins to attend our reading clubs frequently, I can’t help but feel proud for that student and proud to serve the community.

I am constantly amazed and inspired by the students. I love to talk about current events and social problems with the older students. Most recently, the 5th graders at Politi and I had a great discussion about the recent earthquakes, comparing the big earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and contemplating the problems California would face in the event of an earthquake of a similar magnitude. The kids all have great ideas, experiences, and knowledge to share, and I encourage all of the volunteers at the reading clubs to keep the conversations flowing! It’s a great way for the kids to develop language and communication skills, and I guarantee they have a thing or two to teach you as well!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the June Reading Clubs! There is a really great selection of books for the month's "Super Heroes and Super People" theme that should make for some great discussion!

Volunteer Reader, Jessica Romero and Gratts Elementary Teacher Mr. Salgado

On Monday, February 8th Reading to Kids volunteer Jessica Romero volunteered to be a classroom helper and go to Mr. Salgado's classroom as a reward for being one of our highest recruiting teachers.

The experience proved to be rewarding for everyone involved and both Mr. Salgado and Jessica wrote Reading to Kids to let us know how much the day meant to them.

We were so moved by their e-mails we wanted to share them with everyone:

Good morning Ms. Zwass,

I just wanted to extend my gratitude for having sent Jessica to volunteer in my classroom on Monday, Feb. 8th. Her volunteering in my classroom made an extraordinary difference in my day as she helped relieve some of the work that would have taken hours if not days to do all by myself. With all the cutbacks in the school district, much of the work that was done by others is now having to be done by teachers on top of trying to teach.

My students and I were able to interact with her for a day and enjoyed her company. Having an additional hand in the classroom made a world of difference. Thank you and Jessica for all your help.

With gratitude,
Jose Salgado

4th grade teacher
Gratts Elementary School

Hi Rachel,

I just wanted to say thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to volunteer in a classroom. On Monday, February 8th I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Salgado's 4th class at Gratts Elementary. I have also worked with Ms. Vasquez's Kindergarten class and have also gone in as a reader during the Dr. Seuss Reading Celebration last year and it is always a very fulfilling experience. I am very glad to have found an organization like Reading to Kids which allows me to be active in a cause that is special to me. I personally benefited from an early introduction to reading and it is nice to be able to give back. Now more than ever, especially with the state budget cuts in our educational system, I am very happy to help with the little that I am able to do. It is also an inspiration to see teachers like Mr. Salgado and Ms. Vasquez still willing to make a difference despite the obstacles that they are facing. I would encourage anyone who has some free time to volunteer in a classroom, even a couple hours makes a big difference. It's a win-win situation, they get some much needed help and you go away feeling very good about having done something nice for someone else.

Thanks again Rachel and Reading to Kids for not only inspiring children with a love of Reading but for inspiring me to be a better person.


Jessica