Project READ's Accomplishments
Project READ Redwood City February 2012
Accomplishments
Project READ’s Kids In Partnership Program (KIP) - Teen Tutor Recruitment and Training
In February, Project READ staff and AmeriCorps members collaborated with Sequoia High School teachers to conduct on-campus recruitment. Staff visited the campus and held an informational table during lunch and then did several in-class presentations to potential teen tutors. We were thrilled when current and past tutors enhanced the presentations by adding their own heartfelt enthusiasm for the KIP program! In just one afternoon, more than 45 teens expressed interest in tutoring and getting more involved in their community! What great youth we have in Redwood City!
The following week, we conducted a tutor training and welcomed 22 new teens into the Project READ family! When asked what had motivated them to become KIP tutors, some responses included:
"I want to be a KIP tutor because I enjoy being around kids and helping them with new things."
"To give children opportunities that I didn't have."
"Because I love working with kids and helping them learn."
"I want to be able to say I made a positive impact on somebody's life."
"I have always babysat, but never had the opportunity to teach. I would really like to gain the skills of working as a teacher/tutor."
Teens meeting their learners on Valentine's Day...
Love was truly in the air on Valentine's Day when 42 elementary students met their new or returning teen tutor! The Family Literacy Center was abuzz as 84 KIP youth worked together to write and deliver valentines and notes of appreciation to one another and program staff.
KIP Story Hour
In February 65 students, tutors and families enjoyed our monthly KIP story hour at the Fair Oaks Community Library. Puppeteer, Nick Barrone, mesmerized the crowd with his puppet and storytelling art. The audience especially enjoyed the "behind the scenes" tour of the one-man show with countless puppets and special effects! Families also liked receiving The Hello Goodbye Window written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka. Families also created several valentines and a healthy snack, granola, that's good for the heart!
This month, KIP was honored to be chosen as a service site for San Jose State University's Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Society. These dedicated volunteers not only helped with set up and clean up, but also really brought the interactive crafts to life for many of our KIP students and families. We appreciate their support and hope to continue working with them in the future!
Intergenerational Literacy
Project READ integrates parent and youth services to expand learning within families as highlighted in this example from one of our AmeriCorps tutors.
Toward the end of her biweekly tutoring session, an adult learner, Margarita, presented me with a list of words that her five-year-old daughter was currently learning in her kindergarten class. Margarita asked me to go over the pronunciation of the words with her so that she could support her daughter at home. After working on pronunciation, we incorporated the words into our next tutoring session by creating a memory game using the list of sight words as well as recent vocabulary words from tutoring sessions. After playing the game several times together, Margarita took the cards home to play with her daughter. Through enhancing her own skills, Margarita was able to support her daughter's progress in the way she had always hoped to be able to do!
Project READ’s Adult-Inmate Families Program
An adult who once participated in the inmate program now has a new job that requires him to read. He has improved 4 levels in 6 months and came to the program non-literate. His tutor mentioned that “he is starting to feel comfortable reading in front of students in his classes.” During his reassessment the learner said to the Student Tutor Coordinator, “I want to thank you for taking time to talk to me. Keep doing your job. I believe you are a person with a beautiful heart to help others. So thank you.”
This month we were able to match 3 newly trained tutors with 3 new learners from our community program waiting.
We also were able to make the following matches and complete small group instructions for inmates as follows:
6 new tutors trained at men’s jail
6 men completed Fathers class were able to read a book on tape and then sent the tape and book home to their children
5 Adult-inmate learners passed GED exams!!
5 women at the Women’s Transitional Facility completed resume writing, job application, and mock interview workshops. They now have resumes for the first time in their lives! These women are gaining skills to help them transition back to community life successfully after their release.
Project READ is awarded a RAFT GRANT -
We’ve had an exciting month at Project READ’s Families Literacy Instructional Center (FLIC) this February. RAFT granted Project READ five Flip video cameras that are being used in our Family Literacy Instructional center, as well playing an integral part of our teen movie and animation project, led by KIP teens. These teen tutors are learning how to use the video cameras to capture the excitement of their learners as they work with the teen tutors at FLIC and other projects going on in Project READ. They are also learning other creative ways to integrate technology into learning. The cameras provide a creative outlet for our teen students and a new form of learning. We hope to capture the amazing projects, learners and events going on at Project READ with this generous gift. Look to our blog for future videos and updates.
Junior League Valentine Reading Group with Project READ’s FLIC learners
This month we had a special reading group with our community partner, the Junior League—a Valentine’s Day Read Aloud. FLIC students joined Project READ trained Junior League tutors in reading a Valentine’s Day book aloud together, and then working on a craft. All students were able to bring home a beautiful new hard cover book, given as a gift from the Junior League, as well as enjoy a special treat of cookies and juice. Our regular monthly Reading Group is modeled after our Family Story.
Project READ receives a Taproot service grant
Project READ has been awarded a Service Grant from the Taproot Foundation that will help us create a new marketing and recruitment brochure. The service grant is valued at $45,000. Our goal is to continue to raise literacy awareness within our community and recruit new tutors to meet the literacy needs of our community and invite donors to share in the Project READ experience. We were honored to be recognized by such an amazing organization and look forward to working with Taproot volunteers and staff on our project.
Project READ Families For Literacy (FFL) Story Hour
Over 85 family and friends gathered together at our monthly Story Hour this month at the Main Library. Cotton Candy Express, the award-winning children’s band helped us celebrate Valentine’s Day with music and dancing. Each family received a hard cover copy of the Hello Goodbye Window, our monthly family book to bring home and add to their family library. Students worked along side of parents and Hands On Bay Area (HOBA) volunteers to create pre-literacy crafts made from household and recycled materials. It was a great night for our families and volunteers alike!
Bring Me A Book Grant awarded to Project READ
Bring Me A Book, and award winning nonprofit that is committed to bringing high quality books to children in our community, partnered with Project READ. The nonprofit generously awarded our families over 250 new children’s books.
Family Spotlight: The Castro Family
Each month Loretta Farris, one our of our community tutors, interviews a family, tutors and youth learners who meet in FLIC and then shares one of their stories through our blog. Below is an excerpt from this month’s family spotlight.
As I approach the Castro family, they are all concentrating on their various activities in the Project READ tutoring center (FLIC). Rebecca is teaching Karen, her youngest daughter the sounds of the alphabet using brightly colored magnetic letters. Michele, her middle daughter, is focused on doing her homework. Abril, her eldest daughter, is working with her tutor Marie just a few tables away.
Rebecca has been involved with Project READ for over six years. She was the first in her family to receive tutoring sessions in order to improve her reading and writing skills. Rebecca says “the staff is really nice. I don’t speak English well and they helped me with my reading and writing also. I like all of them, and I really feel confident speaking with them.” She currently works with Sarah, her tutor, once a week mainly focusing on grammar and math. She wanted to describe Sarah to me but felt the words nice and patient didn’t adequately define her, so I suggested she look up the word nice in a thesaurus. Beaming with certainty she exclaimed, “Sarah is friendly, kindly, lovely and polite.”
Over the years, the Castro family has benefitted from the various programs offered by Project READ. They have improved their reading skills and developed confidence during the process. They have made lasting friendships with the staff, their peers and tutors. It definitely is a family affair when it comes to the lovely Castro clan and Project READ.
To read more about the Castro Family, please see our blog. projectreadrwc.blogspot.com
Project READ Redwood City January 2012
Accomplishments
KIP Starts up Again in 2012!
Over 50 pairs continue to participate in the KIP program! These are elementary, middle school and teenaged youth who dedicate their time to helping themselves and others achieve academic success. One teen tutor expressed her excitement over her buddy's progress:
“My learner and I went over some of her previous homework assignments just to see what things she needs help on. She has improved in her English skills a lot more since the beginning of KIP this year which is astounding!”
Teen and Preteen Workshops and On-Going Trainings
In January, teen and preteen tutors continued to participate in on-going trainings and workshops. These workshops were designed based on tutor feedback to refine tutoring skills and also help tutors reach their own academic and life goals. This month’s topics included:
· Setting Goals for the New Year
· Financial Aid and Scholarships workshop
· Goal setting workshop
· Math literacy – place value and number sense concentration
Story Hour
Also this month, the KIP story hour at the Fair Oaks Community Library drew over 55 KIP learners, tutors and families. Everyone came to kick off the new year and enjoy the lively and educational entertainment of the Lori and RJ from the Cotton Candy Express! Adults and children alike joined in the fun by singing, dancing and playing instruments. Each family received a children's favorite, My Many Colored Days to take with them to add to their home library collection. Participants also created 2012 calendars to mark celebrations throughout the year.
Destination...the BIG Library!
As our preteen tutors enjoyed a week of adventure at Outdoor Education, our youngest students took a field trip to the big library! They completed art, cooking and computer activities in Project READ's Family Literacy Instructional Center. However, the highlight of the visit was when they ventured downstairs to the children's room and explored all of the books.
Project READ Families For Literacy Story Hour:
150 families and friends came to join us in singing, dancing, art and more. Cotton Candy Express, the award-winning children’s band, started the night off for us with music and dancing. Children were able to perform for their families up on “stage.” After the entertainment, 15 volunteers including Hands On Bay Area (HOBA) members, Starbucks volunteers and Junior League of Palo Alto volunteers, helped the children and their families making crafts. To complete an amazing evening our friends at Starbucks brought peppermint hot chocolate to served to all the families!!
Project READ Family Literacy Learning Center (FLIC) - New Connections and Preteen Tutors:
This month we were fortunate to graduate 30 new teen and preteen FLIC tutors! We also fostered a new community partnership with the Young Dreamers Network, a Bay Area-based youth development program that empowers youth to bring positive change to their community. Many of our new teen tutors are also part if this youth program. The teens and preteens came form various schools within Redwood City, and offered unique perspective and skills to the training. The teens began last week mentoring and tutoring our youngest students. The teens crated a positive and supportive learning environment for our young learners. Welcome Young Dreamers Network!!!!
Project READ teams up with Summit School Teen Volunteers:
A group of nine teenagers from Summit And Everest joined us this month to help us prepare art projects and supplemental learning projects for our elementary students. During their intersession, the students chose to intern with Project READ every day for the month of January. The teens were able to help us brainstorm about projects for the younger learners, work on art projects and share in the experience of volunteering in their own community. One of the teens is a graduate of our Kids In Partnership program who attended Fair Oaks School. It was exciting for her to be able to give back to that program, and it thrilled us to see how much she has excelled.
Project READ Adult, Families For Literacy and Adult Inmate programs:
Inmate and their families working hard to succeed! We welcomed and matched 2 new families to our Families for Literacy program and celebrated 6 learners who graduated the Project READ poetry class offered at the Women’s County Correctional Facility. The women also were able to successfully compile an anthology of their work to share with families and other learners. In the men’s facility 6 men passed GED tests and 2 men completed all testing and received their GEDs. Our Mothers and Families literacy program graduates of the Women’s County Transitional Facility recorded 15 Children’s books and their recordings were sent home for their children to enjoy a story read by mom at bedtime.
December 2011 Accomplishments
Family Literacy Instructional Center:
The holidays were in full swing at FLIC this December. Families and learning pairs worked tirelessly to complete end of the year projects, papers and of course get ready for the holiday season. It was a busy and exciting time for our learners and tutors. This month students from PreK-4th grade participated in our new monthly Reading Group facilitated by the Junior League community tutors and several FLIC teen tutors. Students and tutors were all given the same book to read aloud or listen to as they followed along. Students and tutors then worked on a pre-literacy craft to give as gifts for friends or families for the holiday season. It was a fun and engaging activity for everyone. Learners were able to bring home their new book.
Families For Literacy Story Hour:
The December Story Hour was a holiday event to remember. Close to 150 families and friends came to join us in singing, dancing, art and more. Cotton Candy Express, the award-winning children’s band, started the night off for us with music and dancing. Children were able to perform for their families up on “stage.” After the entertainment, 15 volunteers including HOBA members, Starbucks volunteers and Junior League members, helped the students take part in our gift-making workshop, where students made presents for their friends and families. While the children were making crafts, parents were “shopping” for books and gifts for their children in our “secret shopping” area that was filled with donated gifts to ensure that all our children had something to open for the holidays. To make sure this event was even more festive, our generous Junior League volunteers gave gift bags filled with scarves, hats and games to our families, and Starbucks brought peppermint hot chocolate to served to all the families. It was truly the gift of giving.
A Special Holiday Gift...
One of our longtime families is especially thankful this holiday season for the generosity of Project READ supporters. Thanks to their heartfelt donations, a Project READ fifth grader was able to receive an eye exam as well as the necessary lenses and frames vital to her continued academic success. She is so thankful for the glasses and for the help they have given her with reading!
Celebrating the Gift of Time...
Our teen and preteen tutors completed over 930 hours of community service tutoring in the KIP program during the Fall 2011 semester! Their time has been well spent tutoring the little elementary students.
"I've learned to do my letters and read more words." (Dayrin, grade 2)
"I've gotten better at reading, math, science and taking tests." (Jade, grade 2)
"I'm better at reading and I'm getting smart." (Rosa, grade 1)
"I learned to write my last name...I know how to borrow...I'm getting better at reading...I'm getting better at
"writing because I didn't know about the spaces before but now I do know...I can also count to 100 now!"(Perla, grade 2)
Over 100 KIP learners, tutors and families came together to celebrate this successful semester of tutoring, learning and community service at our annual Gift-Making Workshop & Story Hour Celebration. Lori and RJ of Cotton Candy Express kicked the evening off with festive songs, musical instruments and unparalleled audience participation. Two of our youngest students, who are typically very shy, actually volunteered to come up and sing along with Lori and RJ right into the microphone!
As Lori and RJ kept the crowd occupied, staff secretly ferried moms, dads, aunties and uncles over to the school's community room where a group of volunteers had displayed a beautiful arrangement of brand new books, games, and puzzles. These amazing donated gifts ranged from infant board books, puzzles, art books and chapter books, truly ensuring that there be a meaningful and relevant item for each individual. As the kids enjoyed the music, adults "shopped" for gifts for the whole family, thus ensuring that every Project READ family enjoy the gifts of reading and learning this holiday season!
This much appreciated shopping experience was made possible by local businesses and kind-hearted donors, and was especially enhanced this year by the generous donations from Ormondale Elementary School of Portola Valley. As part of Ormondale's 2011 Book Fair, students and parents made contributions to a fund that went toward books and materials for the families of Project READ. Back in October, Project READ staff had the opportunity to shop for over $1,500.00 worth of books and gifts to be given out to Project READ families! The KIP parents were exuberant in their expressions of gratitude and we thank all who made this holiday brighter for these families! Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, the students caught the spirit of giving as they participated in five crafts specifically designed to be gifts and keepsakes.
On the Ice in Downtown Redwood City!
Our preteen tutors and AmeriCorps members were thrilled with Redwood City's new Courthouse Square Ice Skating Rink! In order to reward the preteens for doing double-duty as both learners and tutors this year, Project READ staff and tutors enjoyed an afternoon on the ice.
Adult, Families For Literacy and Adult Inmate FFL:
We has 2 new FFL matches. As well as 6 women graduating the poetry class and compiled an anthology. In the men’s facility 6 men passed GED tests and 2 men completed all testing and received their GEDs. 15 books/recordings were sent home to children of mother’s housed at Women’s Transitional Facility.