MENTOR TO MAKE a difference

Early childhood intervention provides us a chance to impact a child’s love for reading. Did you know that 47% of Florida students cannot read at a minimally proficient level by the end of third grade? ReadingPals — a statewide, volunteer-based literacy initiative — bridges the gap between community impact and education. Volunteers acts as mentors for students from pre-k through third* grade by reading to a child for one hour per week for 25 weeks.

In a sample of 225 of our students in ReadingPals, reading proficiency increased by 116%. With ReadingPals, we are:

• Building meaningful, impactful relationships between students and our volunteer mentors 
• Helping students develop strong social-emotional foundations through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
• Improving students’ understanding of the fundamentals for early literacy 
• Creating a life-long love of reading among early elementary students

ReadingPals is a statewide program designed by the Children’s Movement of Florida. You can join this statewide program (learn more here) and over 2,000 volunteers involved by clicking the link below.

*First and Second Grade follows the ReadingPals Statewide Program