Reading to Kids Blog

Adapting to Virtual Reading Clubs During a Pandemic

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 12:20:00 -0800

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

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 14:28:00 -0800

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!"

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 11:32:00 -0700

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

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:36:00 -0700

"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

A Night of Fun at Hamburger Mary's Legendary Bingo Fundraiser

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 3 Jun 2015 15:38:00 -0700

Thank you to the friends and supporters who joined us yesterday to play bingo and raise money for Reading to Kids!

Jeffrey "Bingo Boy" Bowman, Roxy and our celebrity ball callers -- Kirsten Vangsness (@Vangsness) and Paget Brewster (@pagetpaget) from Criminal Minds -- put on a wildly outrageous night at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood.

We'd also like to recognize our donors for their commitment to children's literacy. Without their generosity, we wouldn't have been able to put together such wonderful prizes for our bingo players!

Thank You, Donors!

Aquarium of the Pacific

Barnes and Nobles Bookstar/Studio City

Cabot Creamery

Callie Miller, Volunteer at Gratts Elementary

Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

The Groundlings Theatre &; School

The Salsa Bar

Ultrazone Laser Tag

Universal Studios Hollywood

Water Buffalo Club Supports Reading to Kids and Hears From Students Past & Present

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 20 May 2015 11:58:00 -0700

Posted by Alexandra Babiarz, Literacy Coordinator & AmeriCorps VIP Fellow

Reading to Kids recently received a $15,000 grant from the Water Buffalo Club, a charitable club of Westside professionals—"big kids" dedicated to "helping little kids" in Los Angeles. Since 2007, their generous support has enabled us to continue our mission of inspiring children with a love of reading.

Contributions like these help us make books more accessible to students at the seven elementary schools we partner with in L.A. Unified. Every month, Reading to Kids donates brand-new books to the thousands of students, parents and teachers who attend our reading clubs, as well as to our partner schools' libraries.

"At the reading clubs, every child is given a book to take home and keep forever," Managing Director Charlie Orchard told WBC members during a presentation he made at a charity selection meeting held in late April, where he was joined by Alejandra and Shawn, current students at Los Angeles Elementary, and Edgar Hernandez, a former student from Magnolia Elementary. Alejandra, Shawn and Edgar held up books they received from Reading to Kids.

"And I do mean forever," Charlie said, pointing to the books in Edgar's hands. At 13 years old, these books were two years older than Alejandra and Shawn.

"Before I started going to Reading to Kids, I didn’t have any books at home," Edgar said. "Reading to Kids gave me free books that I could read…. I still read [those books] to my brothers and sisters."

Currently a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach, Edgar now volunteers with Reading to Kids, reading aloud to a new generation of eager young readers at Magnolia Elementary.

Fourth graders Alejandra and Shawn have been attending the reading clubs since Kindergarten.

"I get to improve my reading, my friends go there, and I get to do activities and meet volunteers," Alejandra said. "And I get a lot of books!" She raised her favorite, Liberty: How the Revolutionary War Began.

"Reading to Kids was so influential," Edgar told WBC members. "As you heard from Alejandra and Shawn, it’s fun. And it gives them hope. Reading to Kids planted the seed in my head that I could go to college."

It's with the generosity of donors such as the Water Buffalo Club that Reading to Kids can continue to plant these seeds of hope for a brighter future throughout L.A. Thank you!

Interested in volunteering to read aloud to students? Learn more about our program here.

Guest Post by Volunteer, Danielle Davis

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:57:00 -0700

This Picture Book Life blog, "Reading to Kids in Los Angeles"

Today volunteer Danielle Davis posted a wonderful article about her experiences at our October 11, 2014 reading clubs. Click the link above to go to her blog and read all about it!

Guest Post by Volunteer, Selina Vazquez

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:16:00 -0700

"Why I Became a Reading to Kids Volunteer"

When I left NYC for Los Angeles last year I knew it would be several months before I went home to visit and I was okay with that. I said my goodbyes, scheduled Skype dates, and set out on my journey. Just a few months in I started feeling like something was off.

I come from a big family. My father was the youngest of nine, each with two to three kids of their own, many of whom now have one or two kids themselves - and that’s just one side of my family! I was surround by children my entire life, so I never really thought much of it. I mean, making up an elaborate story to explain why a helicopter just flew by is normal, isn’t it?

Suddenly thrust into a world without children, I realized how much I’ve always valued, and how much I missed, their unique and imaginative view of the world. So I set out to find an organization that would help fill that vacancy. I stumbled across one or two before discovering Reading to Kids.

That first day I arrived at Alta Loma Elementary a bit unsure what to expect, but I quickly realized I had found an organization that loved and valued kids as much as I do. The volunteers all seemed like old friends, which made perfect sense since many of them have been participating in Reading to Kids’ monthly readings for years. I quickly felt at ease and eager for the reading to begin.

From the very moment we volunteers went out to meet with our groups the excitement was palpable. Kids called out greetings to volunteers, volunteers joked with kids they’ve known for years, and my favorite part, kids all around us were having animated discussions about books. These kids loved reading and were proud of that fact!

I could tell you how fun the story was (The Three Ninja Pigs); I could tell you how animated the kids became as they told us how they would have handled the big bad wolf if he tried to get into their house; I could tell you about the amazing artistic ability of one of the girls; I could give you a list of details, but it would not be possible to fully encapsulate the emotions and joy of the experience.

The Three Ninja Pigs craft (Photo by Annika Fenton)

So instead I will say, if you have been considering volunteering at one of Reading to Kids’ monthly events and hesitating for any reason, just do it!

- Selina Vazquez, Volunteer

***

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, Soyoon Choo

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 14:36:00 -0800

"Sports, Fun, and Games!"

I love all twelve themes of the reading clubs, but November’s College Spirit Month is in my Top 3 favorites. Could there be a better way to plant the seeds of college interest and introduce students to diverse schools beyond high school? As Reading to Kids volunteers, we are the kids’ ambassadors to a bigger world outside the boundaries of their family and schools. It’s also a fun opportunity for volunteers to dust their school gear out of the closet and wear it with pride – as for myself; I have more school spirit on this day than on any USC football game!

Volunteers show off their college gear.

At Los Angeles Elementary School where I regularly volunteer, besides the usual California schools there were many volunteers representing colleges outside the west coast. My reading partner was a college student who was also a Los Angeles Elementary alumnus!

The first grade book and craft supplies.

As usual, we had a bundle of crafty joy ready for our first graders, thanks to our amazing GLCs (Grade Level Coordinators). We also had Autumn & Thanksgiving themed stickers, which were perfect for our post-reading craft time, during which the kids made colorful hand-Turkeys and drew their own Thanksgiving dinner table.

The best part of the day for me was when a student who has been long attending the reading clubs encouraged a first timer to come out to next month’s club. I’ve met several shy kids and it is amazing to see the change and growth every month: watching them begin to use “big words”, become actively engaged in the book and our discussions, and watching as they become Reading to Kids’ own little ambassadors to their peers. At every reading club, I further discover how meaningful the reading clubs are to me and to the kids, and how volunteering is contributing to a greater cause.

Soyoon Choo proudly shows off her certificate for volunteering 10 times!

This month was particularly meaningful for me, as I received my Outstanding Volunteer – Ten Saturday Mornings certificate! It is hanging proudly on my fridge and reminds me how much I love to be part of this amazing community. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Reading to Kids for not only enriching the kids, but also my life as well. Here’s to ten plus more amazing Saturdays to come!

-Soyoon Choo, Volunteer and Special Events Committee Co-Chair

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, Nicole DiCiccio

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 10:56:00 -0800

Being relatively new to Los Angeles, it had been recommended to me that I join Meetup.com to find others in my area with similar interests. I did just that, and am so glad I did, as it has led me to this amazing organization, Reading to Kids!

I was a bit nervous and unsure of what to expect prior to my first adventure at Alta Loma Elementary. Upon arrival, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the number of fellow volunteers, enthusiasm, positive vibes, and organization. Check-in was a breeze, and there were even some yummy bagels to help settle any nerves. The new volunteer orientation provided all of the necessary info and answered every question. I was feeling confident before I even saw a child!

At our November Reading Club we gave away college spirit items, like these cute UCLA Bears!

The third grade was a personal favorite of mine, as it was the year I was finally in the same class as my best friend, got my first puppy, and started writing short stories. Needless to say, I was pretty pleased when I discovered that I had been assigned to read to third graders at Alta Loma. I had purposely not specified a grade when registering, as I wanted to be flexible and available wherever the need was greatest, but I took this pairing as a sign that it was exactly where I was meant to be. Our third grade coordinator matched readers and we introduced ourselves to our partners. He also provided guidelines about what to discuss with the kids when reading our book, and ideas for our arts and crafts time.

Minutes later, we were outside with more than a hundred kids who were shrieking with excitement. My reading partner, Ed, and I marched our kids into the assigned class room and settled right in. We took turns reading our book, which was not a typical story by any means. It was called The Math Curse, and was full of more math problems than narrative. Not a math whiz myself, I feared the kids would lose interest quickly. They proved me wrong, remaining engaged and eager to solve the math curse with every page we turned.

Crafts from our November Reading Club

At the conclusion of the story, our happy little group set out to make our own clocks out of paper plates, crayons, and construction paper. The kids loved it, got super creative, and it provided us with a nice time to chat as we worked. Ed and I got educated about the typical life of a third grader, learning everything from what time they wake up in the morning, to what their favorite school lunch is, to recent movies they had seen. But the best part was the genuine excitement that poured out from each child when they collected their own book to take home and add to their collection - they all truly love reading.

Thinking back on my Saturday morning at Alta Loma, I can't imagine a better first experience for a newcomer. I have already recommended this program to friends of mine. and I cannot wait to get back and read with this great group of kids. It may just be possible that I had more fun than they did- it really was my favorite Saturday morning in Los Angeles!

-Nicole DiCiccio, Volunteer

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, Wendy Baker

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:21:00 -0700

Gratts Elementary x 2

Or, My Second Time Reading at Gratts Elementary School

I couldn’t wait to read A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz —the book designated to be read to the 4^th graders on October 12. Sometime during the week I’d fallen under its spell, devouring it in bed each night, and I was dying to read it to the kids.

You see, it’s a prequel and sequel to the Grimm brothers’ tale of “Hansel and Gretel,” and it’s written in the same shockingly horrid style of the Grimm brothers with running commentary from the author that is both psychologically astute and cynically adolescent—something that I knew the kids would love as they got deeper and deeper into the story.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “Really? Psychologically astute comments from the author about the story and the kids love it?” But you’ve got to trust me.

Abel, one of my co-readers that day, read the author’s comments while my other co-reader Andy and I split up reading the story. None of us had worked together before, but judging from the rapport that Abel had with the kids, I knew he’d do a great job. That proved to be an understatement; what a natural! Abel didn’t even sound like he was reading but just sharing his thoughts with the kids. They loved it.

The three of us volunteers had a large group of 15 kids, and many of them had never heard of “Hansel and Gretel,” but it didn’t matter. A good story is a good story. When we came to difficult words, we’d stop and ask the kids what they thought the word meant in the context that it was being used, and I was surprised at how close they came to the definition. We’d also ask them what they thought was going to happen next—a strategy that elicited wild and crazy responses, mainly from the boys. By the time we finished Chapter 1, the kids were clamoring for more.

A volunteer's craft sample at the October 12th Reading Club.

Then it was time for arts and crafts. Fourth-grade Grade Level Coordinator Claudina Soriano had brought foam Halloween cutouts—some already glittered—with adhesive on the back (no need for those pesky glue sticks that always go missing), which were a big hit. The kids made ghostly, ghastly, and other worldly pictures, each one as unique as they are. When the announcement came that it was time for Raul the magician (back in the auditorium), the kids had had such a good time that they were all like little soldiers about cleaning and straightening up. Then they lined up at the door and we passed out The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan to each one of them (their “gift book”).

A few of the kids asked me how many chapters were in The Red Pyramid, which gave me the chance to show them how they could find that out for themselves by looking in the Table of Contents. The fact that The Red Pyramid had forty chapters seemed quite daunting to the kids, so I asked one little girl how many chapters she was used to reading. “Twelve” was her answer. “Just think how good you’ll feel when you can read forty,” I said, her eyes grew wide and sparkled with excitement.

-Wendy Baker, Volunteer

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

Ken Goldstein

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:13:00 -0800

As many of you already know, our reading clubs aren’t just rewarding for the students, but for our volunteers as well. This month volunteer Ken Goldstein had such a wonderful time working with the students at Magnolia Elementary that he wrote a moving entry for his blog Corporate Intelligence Radio. You can read the entirety of his post here, but I wanted to share the following excerpt with you:

These kids were amazing. They have all the potential in the world. They are ready to dream and learn and help each other and work hard. As we drove home and I looked around at parts of Los Angeles where many of us don’t spend enough time, I wondered, where will these kids be in five years when they hit middle school? In ten years when they are in high school? Will they go to college? Will they have the kinds of opportunities that will let their dreams come true? I couldn’t know, but that’s what I wanted to happen.

Ken’s piece serves as a great reminder that our volunteers’ service goes beyond a single Saturday morning. When you read with a child you're making an important investment in his or her future success--that's why we believe that inspiring a love of reading now is so very important. I thank Ken for sharing his thought-provoking piece with us!

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:11:00 -0800

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!

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:29:00 -0700

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

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:50:00 -0800

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

In Memory of Kevin

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:27:00 -0800

"I know the kids enjoyed the day, but I think I received much more from the experience than they did. I sought out a volunteer opportunity in memory of my son who passed away on Nov 5, 2009. This was a perfect way to honor him, as he was a voracious reader."
--Kelly Border, from Magnolia Elementary Grade 4

Thank you, Kelly for sharing Kevin with us- and for reminding us how important reading can be in a child's life. We welcome you to the Reading to Kids family.

Inspiring Comments from New Readers!

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:09:00 -0800

Reading to Kids would like to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who came out to read on January 9th! Here are just some of the inspiring comments from new volunteers:

"I was so impressed with the number of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who regularly give their time to Reading to Kids."
--Katherine Tolford, reader at Gratts Elementary

"I feel Reading to Kids is a great organization and I admire the coordinators and volunteers for all of their hard work. I plan to stick with this and continue doing what I can to help. My overall experience at Gratts Elementary was great and I cannot wait to continue helping in the future."
--Rudie Galloway, reader from Gratts Elementary Grade 5

"The kids truly connected with the reading material. They came alive trying to guess what would happen next in the story and were eager to help us read along. It was such a wonderful experience and I look forward to coming back next month!"
--Stephanie Bohn, reader from Los Angeles Elementary Grade K

"Thank you for developing such an amazing programm. (I am) honored to be a part of it."
--Anna Aristova, reader from Politi Elementary Grade K

"I cannot tell you what a rewarding experience this was for me. It is one of those things that you walk away from saying: 'they just did more for me than I did for them.'"
--Vince Ponder, reader from White Elementary Grade K

"I worked with a kindergarten class and it went smoothly, the students paid attention and I really enjoyed my experience."
--Rosalva Rojas, reader from White Elementary Grade K

What Reading to Kids Volunteers Are Saying...

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:50:00 -0800

Here are some of the great things that volunteers had to say after the December Reading Clubs:

Alejandra Arciniega, (5x) from Esperanza Elementary Grade K shares:
"We had pre-k and the kids were AMAZING. Some of them translated from English to Spanish and back so all the kids could understand. Like "beach" means "playa" and then all the kids followed along."

Sherry Dadci, (1x) from Esperanza Elementary Grade 4 shares:
"I really look forward to Reading to Kids because I know that I can help them read. They have a better and brighter future."

One anonymous reader shares:
"I really enjoyed my experience with Reading to Kids. It's so inspirational to see the kids' faces light up when we get into the readings."

Kavita Bhuyan,(5x reader) from Alta Loma Elementary Grade K shares:
"It's worth every minute to see the kids happy."

Alejandra Arciniega,(5x reader) from Esperanza Elementary Grade K shares:
"I've never worked with pre-k and I brought my boyfriend with me. When the little kids started crying I was a little bit scared. Once I introduced myself and walked them through what we were going to do, they were great. They really came out of their shells."

Patty Peters, (12x) from Los Angeles Elementary Grade 2 shares:
"Thanks for doing a great job and providing me with the opportunity to volunteer! I know there's tons of work, but it always seems to come together and work great. Thanks!"

Tiffany Tam, (0x) from Magnolia Elementary Grade 1 of UCLA Mortar Board, Agathai Chapter responds:
"Reading to Kids helped me remember way back to the time when I first fell in love with reading. I felt like I had been given a very special opportunity and responsibility to bring the picture book to life and get the kids involved in the story. [This] wasn't hard considering the excellent book I had to work with and the tips that Reading to Kids provided me with. Volunteering with Reading to Kids was so much fun that I immediately shared my experience with my friends after my first day as a reader!"

Why I Donate, by Julie Moskovitz

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 -0800

When I was at UCLA, I became involved in community service as a member of Alpha Phi Omega. Of all the projects I participated in, the one that I enjoyed the most was Reading to Kids.

Reading to Kids was different. Everything just came together. Kids were happy and excited to be at school on a Saturday morning, and volunteers were dedicated and spent their time making sure my experience was great. And the impact that every single person was having on the kids was noticeable.

I volunteered off and on over the years, but the first month Reading to Kids was at Los Angeles Elementary was when I became hooked. I arrived, the Site Coordinator needed help, and I was a GLC for the first time. And I have been at Los Angeles ever since! Slowly I have become more and more involved. First it was volunteering at one of the social events, then joining a few committees, and before I knew it, I was the Special Events Committee Co-Chair!

The reason why I've become so involved is, at every level, from the smallest task to planning the Annual Comedy Night, I know I'm making a difference, and my time is valued. I've also made amazing friends along the way, which makes every event, every meeting, and every reading club even more rewarding.

The reason I donate to Reading to Kids is the same reason I volunteer. Every donation is going towards books, supplies, and staff, who work hard to make the reading clubs possible.

You can be sure that your donation will make an impact, make a difference, and in a small way, make the world a better place.

Be Inspired. Donate. www.readingtokids.org

Natalie Shepherd, Readign to Kids Intern

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:58:00 -0700

On my last day as an intern, I can look back on my summer with Reading to Kids as a fulfilling and rewarding experience. I was able to do a lot of work behind the scenes, in the office, as well as more hands on work at the schools. Both arenas helped me learn a lot from my first internship with a non-profit organization.

Like any internship, my work in the office mostly consisted of what everyone else wanted to avoid – counting, spreadsheets, organizing, etc. While this sort of work would normally get old very fast, I found that I didn’t quite feel this way at Reading to Kids. I think the knowledge of the greater cause that Reading to Kids works towards made monotonous work feel more important and worth while. So, while plugging numbers into yet another excel spread sheet, keeping in mind all the children that this organization so positively affects, greatly deterred my instinct to complain, and instead made me feel like I was part of something special.

Though my hands-on experience was pretty much wholly excluded to Reading Clubs, which were amazing experiences in themselves, I was also able to serve as a teacher’s aid once at White Elementary. My day as a teacher’s aid was unquestionably my favorite day of interning. I was assigned to a fourth grade class, and my whole day was dedicated towards administering timed readings to the children one by one. I would set a timer for one minute, and the child would read as much as they could within that time, and I would underline any words that they could not read or could not comprehend. It was explained to me that these exercises help determine if the children are reading at the appropriate grade level, and, given that many of them come from non-English speaking homes, also determine their fluency.

While many of the children read perfectly well, it was very eye opening to see how far behind so many other children were – I remember one child didn’t understand the concept of vowels. After I did these exercises, I pulled some of the worst readers out of class for a more extensive exercise. For about an hour I was able to work with the child who did not understand vowels, and had a very hard time comprehending what he read. While I was technically only asked to evaluate him, another teacher had told me to go ahead and see how quick the child might pick up things I tried to teach him. It was such a great feeling to watch as the child began to understand concepts and strategies that before had confused him. It was an even better feeling to witness how excited he was about his progress. The whole experience helped me to realize how much I would like to work more directly with children in the future.

On a whole, my time with Reading to Kids did not only serve as something to place on a future resume, but it served as an experience that helped me get a better idea of what it is I want to do in the world. It is a remarkable organization and I am very happy I was able to be a part of it.

Reading to Kids Intern, Analee Abbot

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:17:00 -0700

Yesterday I had the pleasure of serving as a classroom helper for two different teachers at Esperanza Elementary School. Teachers are awarded classroom helpers when they are highest recruiters of students for our monthly clubs. As an intern, I spend a lot of my time behind a desk and in an office. Even when I spend time at the schools it is usually in a closet counting books or in the hallways posting flyers. I do not get to spend very much time directly interacting with the teachers and students at our partner schools.

In my first classroom I taped together cardboard dividers for testing season, entered grades onto the computer and put together a poster board full of pictures from a team building exercise the kids had participated in. In my second classroom I graded math tests (using a provided key) and helped a student master addition using coins and creativity. None of these things were hard (and a couple were not particularly thrilling) but it felt good to know that a hard working teacher would get some well deserved rest because of my help. Both the teachers could not thank me enough and the kids seemed excited that somebody from Reading to Kids had come to visit them. As I walked around campus, even my Reading to Kids t-shirt encouraged smiles and friendly greetings from students.

I walked away from the whole experience reminded that our presence in these schools is important for two reasons. First of all, it gives our organization more credit in the community. Every time a kid or a parent or a teacher sees us on campus, we are reassuring them that we are an organization with people who care and that we are eager to help. Every time we say we will come and we do, we are showing teachers that we are appreciative and that, if they are helpful in recruiting a lot of kids, we will help them in return.

The second reason our presence is important is because it reminds us, as volunteers, of the people we serve. The environments and circumstances that surround these children are things that I, who grew up in a fairly nice neighborhood, can hardly imagine. The danger, fear and uncertainty that they face everyday is very real and difficult. I felt that by sitting in their classroom and listening to their discussions I walked away with a better understanding. It is not a complete understanding but it is better than what I had before. I really would recommend the experience to anyone affiliated with the organization.

Reading to Kids Intern, Analee Abbott

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:21:00 -0700

In this week's of edition of "From Behind the Desk," Reading to Kids intern Analee Abbott discusses the art of grant writing and working on social events for Reading to Kids.

This week I finished the Verizon Grant application. We aren't sure how much we will be requesting yet, but in this economy any money would be greatly appreciated. The best thing about the grant is that it does not specify where we need to spend the money. Having the flexibility to use the money for all our program expenses (salaries, books, supplies etc.) is always helpful. The application was a particularly detailed one and it was nice getting to show off all the wonderful things that makes Reading to Kids worthy and valuable.

In addition to learning how to write grants, I’ve been working on a few of the social events. First off, finishing up all the Hamburger Mary bingo prize packages was a lot of fun. We had a large turnout on Wednesday night and one of the waiters told me they even had to turn people away. It was nice to see what a large crowd turned out to support us!

I also got to help Rachel process all of the Hollywood Bowl tickets. I have been managing a spreadsheet since orders began coming in June, but on Thursday we formed a seating chart and mailed tickets out to people we had received money from. We will have at least 50 volunteers at our August event and anticipate that it will be a huge success.

What is Reading to Kids?

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:23:00 -0800

"Reading to Kids is a program that wants to build a lifetime of love for books. This is a volunteer program offered to children the second Saturday of each month at some L A public schools. I found out about the program last year. I did volunteer a couple of times, and due to my hectic schedule, I couldn’t do it anymore; this year I am back, so I sign up for this month reading. The reading was on July 12. I asked my daughter to come with me. She is twenty-two years old, and does not work weekends. She told me that she is busy with her own stuff. How do I wish to take her with me, the same way that I took her to the public library since she was a toddler, but nowadays she is too heavy for me to carry, or give her time out for not listening to me. Yes, it is hard to give up three hours of our precious time to help children with their reading.

These children come on a Saturday morning to hear someone to read. After the reading, the children get a book as a prize for their achievements. These children could stay at their homes and watch T V tackled under their covers. They could stay home and play with their friends, but these children are special. They long for books, they prefer to come to school on a Saturday morning and enjoy their readings.

I saw a little girl going home after the program. I was leaving the parking lot, and she was crossing the street. She was going home all by herself. Home was a little apartment around the corner, a block away from school. She carried a book that was given to her after the program, as something very precious. She was taking her book home. She was going to a place where books are not a necessity. She was going to a place where the T V is in Spanish all day long. She was carrying with her paradise. One day, this little girl will grow-up and the lessons from her books will be stronger that any lessons she can learn on the streets. She will be a professional, someone who will care for her community; who knows, maybe a doctor or a teacher.

Reading to Kids is waiting for more volunteers. This is a beautiful program because it is planting the seeds of knowledge in little minds. This is an extraordinary program because it is giving hope of a better future to little children. Please become a reader because little children are waiting to hear you reading."

The above entry was written by Reading to Kids volunteer Maria Morales

Pictures from the January Reading Clubs

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:53:00 -0800

Thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer on Saturday. Check out pictures from the January 2009 Reading Clubs at Gratts!

Pictures from December 2008 Reading Clubs

info@readingtokids.org (Reading to Kids) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:46:00 -0800

Thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer on Saturday. Check out pictures from the December 2008 Reading Clubs at Hoover!