WHO WE ARE
Partners in Literacy is a Denver, grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011. Its mission is to create communities of readers in schools. Our superpower is coaching volunteers to meet their reading “buddies” where they are. Through strong relationships and carefully chosen books, we boost school culture so that every child can become a reader.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Kids need adults to see them, hear them, and care about them. Adults need children in their lives. For kids, reading to adults and being read to by adults is the surest way for young children to fall in love with books and reading. In these caring relationships, it is easy to have informal conversations which eliminate kids’ confusions about the relationship between letters and sounds, word parts, and word meanings. Volunteers and kids enjoy conversations about books. Kids’ reading proficiency, in the broadest sense, increases.
WHAT IS THE READING VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT?
We ask volunteers to commit to reading with one student (or two for middle school kids) for one hour a week for the duration of the school year. (No worries if you need to miss a session, volunteers are very ready to fill in for each other.) The backbone of each session is for the volunteer and the student to take turns reading to one another. Books chosen for your student’s interest and reading level are supplied. On going training is provided. Some schools have a remote option.
