Y-Reads!

This is a state-wide literacy mentoring program for children in kindergarten through third grade. Volunteer mentors meet twice a week with students after school to help them improve their literacy comprehension and basic reading skills. This is a free program for students who are referred by their teachers.

VOLUNTEER

Giving the time to mentor a child in reading can have an enormous impact on their life. Your involvement in YMCA READS! can do more than teach reading skills: it can boost self esteem, imagination, and increase a child's ability to succeed in the classroom and make a difference in their life.

No experience is necessary. Training and ongoing support by a certified educator will be provided for you. Student volunteers can earn community service hours while gaining experience working with children in an educational setting. Adult volunteers can gain experience to further their careers, enhance an interest, or simply receive satisfaction for "giving back to the community." A minimum of only 1 hour per week is required.

The READS! Program is always in need of qualified, committed volunteers to help children learn to read. If you have a desire to teach children and a large heart, please help us bring the gift of literacy to a child. Seniors and or High School Students are welcome.

LOCATIONS

Englewood: Myakka River and Englewood elementary schools

Venice: Garden Elementary

The READS Program of the South County Family YMCA of Venice and Garden Elementary will be sending out invitations in May to current Kindergarten students and current First grade students based on need.

YMCA READS! this summer will take place at Garden Elementary in Portable 16, and is staffed by a full-time educator and YMCA volunteer tutors who have been trained to work with your child using research-based reading intervention strategies.

Your child will meet with a tutor four times a week for two hours and will participate in a variety of targeted activities to improve overall reading performance. Because research has shown that it is important to have consistency with reading practice, we ask that you make a commitment to your child’s attendance at all weekly sessions until his/her teacher deems that he/she no longer needs the program.

READS! will be held on Mondays thru Thursday’s from 2:00-4:00 pm from June 25th to July Aug 2nd.

If your child is enrolled in the YMCA summer camp program, transportation to and from that program will be provided by the YMCA staff by bus. If your child is not in summer camp at the YMCA, you will need to pick up him/her at Garden Elementary in Portable 16 at 4:00 pm. Scholarships for the YMCA summer camp are available. For more information about summer camp please call the YMCA at 375-9119.

For more information contact: Shartrina White, Venice YMCA READS! Coordinator, 941-375-9107 or 941-585-9932.