Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 7

Read with U instills lifelong love of reading in students
If you walked past Marshville
Elementary on Sept. 28, chances
are you probably heard the cheers
and laughter of first graders. The
students, along with dozens of
volunteers, were kicking off the
school’s Read with U program in
what one first grader described
as “the best way ever” – a Super
Reader Hero celebration.
“I am a super reader at
Marshville Elementary,” the students
cheered in unison, moments after
being draped in superhero capes
and matching masks by their
reading buddies. With new books
tucked under the arms, the first
graders were whisked away by their
volunteers to begin reading their books together.
“Read with U is more than just about reading – it’s about
the relationship and the reading. Having the desire to pick up a
book and having a companion to read that book with ultimately
expands our students’ options and makes them want to broaden
their experiences,” said Marshville Elementary Principal Janna
Licata.
Launched in 2017, Read with U is a community-based initiative
aimed at helping students develop a lifelong love of reading. The
premise of the program is simple: community members are asked
to spend 30 minutes each week reading with a first grade student
at any school in the district.
Only one year after its launch, more than 1,500 people have
volunteered to serve as reading buddies, cumulatively logging
countless hours to help students grow their literacy skills.
It’s a small commitment that Licata said can yield sizeable and
long-lasting gains in the young students. And, she added, could
also be as rewarding for reading buddies as the students.
Sitting at a table with her reading buddies Caleb Baucom
and Dax Edwards, community volunteer Phyllis Baucom said she
initially signed up to volunteer for the Read with U program at the
urging of her grandson, Caleb.
“I told him that I wanted to work with another student as well,
so Dax joined us. We have such a good time and I just enjoy this
so much,” she said, taking a break from reading a Pete the Cat
book with Dax and Caleb. “I love
to read – I go to the library every
week – so that just makes it so fun
to read with them. Just seeing them
grow in their reading, and to see
how excited they get to read to and
with me, makes it all worthwhile.”
The bond that she has already
developed them are evident as she’s
able to rattle off the boys’ favorite
kinds of books as well as the
reading strategies that she uses for
each of them.
Donning her own superhero cape
as she walked through the cafeteria,
Licata said a 30-minute-a-week
commitment is a great opportunity
for people to make a big impact and
give back to their community.
“This program – Read with U -- makes a child shine. They
beam and light up because they know that someone is coming
to read with them each week,” she said. “To be able to give a
child a book, and sit and read that book with them, that’s what is
instilling that lifelong desire to read.”
Want to join the 1,500+ reading buddies across the district?
It’s never too late to join #TeamUCPS as a Read with U volunteer
this school year.
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Here’s how to get started:
• Visit the UCPS Volunteer Services webpage to complete a
volunteer application.
• Once your application is approved, contact the volunteer
coordinator at your local elementary school to get started.
• Read with your student for at least 30 minutes once per
week during the school year.
• While all schools need volunteers, please consider
becoming a reading buddy at East, Benton Heights, Walter
Bickett, Sardis, Marshville, Wingate, Rocky River or Rock Rest
elementary schools. For more information, contact your school’s
volunteer coordinator.
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Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec
2018 • 5