Providence is seeking bilingual volunteers for Leyendo, a new tutoring program named after the Spanish word for ‘reading.’
Leyendo is a service-based initiative to boost reading levels for Providence students who are not reading on grade level and speak a language other than English at home. The program will serve 50 second- and third-grade English Language Learners at Carl Lauro Elementary School who have been identified as struggling readers. The program is funded by a $25,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ ‘Cities of Service’ initiative and builds on an existing reading intervention program run by Inspiring Minds, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes volunteer tutors and mentors to help the school district’s neediest students.
What volunteers can expect:
- This is a one-year commitment during the school year from January 2013 to January 2014
- Volunteers will tutor students for at least 2 hours a week in school, while serving as personal mentors
- Volunteers will receive 2 hours of initial training as well as ongoing support and training by Inspiring Minds and Providence Public Schools staff
- Each student will be connected to a summer academic enrichment activity matched to their background and interests to prevent summer learning loss
Volunteers must be:
- Bilingual and able to read and write in both English and Spanish
- Able to pass a criminal background check and National Sex Offenders check
- Able to deliver reading curriculum content: sounding out words, vocabulary, etc.
- At least 18 years old
- Preference will be given to volunteers who reside in or come from the communities served
To apply, please contact Lindsey Spenser at lspenser@inspiringmindsri.org or Brandi Jackson at bjackson@inspiringmindsri.org.
