Photo Credit: The Tennessean
Okay. This weekend I came across something that I think is great and I immediately knew I had to write a post about it. If you live under a rock, United Way is non-profit organization that raises money for all kinds of programs from helping women escape abusive relationships to providing care for the elderly. They do something for everyone.
The program I’d like to tell you all about is called Reading Together. I’m not sure if it’s currently in every part of the country or not, but we’ll get to that in a second. Reading Together was started after a series of surveys conducted by United Way found that half of 4th graders in Texas are not as proficient in reading as they should be. So Reading Together is the result of those studies.
What is it? The program matches an adult volunteer with an elementary student for an entire school semester. The volunteer reader and the student will then spend an hour each week reading together. So easy and yet so important.
This came to my attention during a work meeting in which a United Way representative spoke to a number of our employees and said that her experience as a volunteer in the Reading Together program was something she’ll never forget, and I believe it.
See, I know a lot of people on here don’t like how I write my posts and I bet even more people don’t like how I interact with other bloggers. I’m perfectly fine with that, but this is important and it’s easy. Who cares what you think of me? If the numbers she gave are true about kids in Texas, then I’d be willing to bet that most states face similar struggles in getting students reading at the appropriate level. If you read my blog, then you likely love books and everything that has to do with them at least as much as I do. Show it. An hour a week for a single school semester is nothing. And there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll cherish the experience.
I’m not sure if Reading Together is operating in all parts of the country. I tried to find information on the website about it, but it just asks you to donate rather than volunteer. If you’re unable to volunteer a single hour each week to help a young student get reading, then this is one of those programs that you may consider donating to. Here is the link to the United Way volunteer page, perhaps you can donate your time to one of their many programs.
Johnny Reads 
The inability to read at an adequate level has been a problem for our educational system for many years. Any attempt to encourage children and teenagers to read is worthwhile for the good of this nation. We need to write stories for them, too. I don’t mean “run, spot, run.” I’m talking about easy-to-read stories with characters and plots that interest them. Think about it. You can do it, I bet.
LikeLike
I forgot to say this: What a great post, John!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Yep. And no I can’t. I can’t even write what I think I’m okay at. Eh. Oh well.
LikeLike
Your book was good, John. You can do it, young adult, adult, everybody could have enjoyed your book. Don’t let discouragement get you down.
LikeLike
Hmmm. Well thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
This is a nice post. I love to volunteer. When I was working, I donated to United Way, they are one of my favorite charities.
LikeLike
Thanks. A couple years ago they set it up at my job and I automatically donated a few dollars every check.
LikeLike
Right. That’s how I did it too.
LikeLike
Ah I’m in the UK… but it’s a grave problem here too. We already have a volunteering system put in our school. Volunteers come in from corporate workplaces in their suits and ties, and they read for an hour with the kids. It’s amazing. I once tried it out with a kid, and even years later he’s a lot more confident in himself and more confident OF himself and I believe it’s because of the program we have. And considering that our school has many children who come to England speaking little to no English and a 98% success rate in English I’ve got to say that it must be working.
LikeLike
That sounds exactly like the United Way programs I read about. A program like that can only bring about positive results.
LikeLike
I used to live in the UK and I was offered a reading pack for my baby girl from a Government program called Bookstart. (http://www.bookstart.org.uk/) The idea is to get the kids started with reading at a very young age, parents get free packs with books to read to their babies. It’s a great idea and it worked very well for my family, My three children love books 🙂
LikeLike
I forgot to mention that there is something similar in the Netherland too, where we lived for a couple of years. It’s called Boekstart (http://www.bibliotheekutrecht.nl/pagina/67535.boekstart–baby-s-houden-van-boeken.html) and if you register your child before turning 2 years old, you can get a free book start bag with your library card. The program is called Baby’s houden van boeken = babies love books.
This gives children a very good start in their lives.
LikeLike
I’m seriously jealous right now. Stupid US.
LikeLike
Why don’t we do this over here?! I’m calling the president. That sounds like a great program!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great program! I’ll have to see if the mitten state has something like that. I love reading with kids! It was one of my favorite parts of babysitting. I’m glad you heard about this and shared it!
LikeLike
I was sitting there waiting for the meeting to be over so I could ask her about it!
LikeLike
I would have been the same way.
LikeLike
I told her about my blog but not my book. Shows which I like more. Lol
LikeLike
Haha!! You goof!
LikeLike
And I didn’t want her to be like “oh what’s it about? Where can I get it?” She just participated in the program, I have no idea how much she reads.
LikeLike
I gotcha. As much as I love my book, I’m not very good at talking about it.
LikeLike
What’s it about? 😉
LikeLike
Haha! I hope that’s a joke… Seeing as I’ve mentioned it a *few* times on my blog. 🙂
LikeLike
You were supposed to try to tell me in like a sentence and then find it impossible to do so. Duhh. Since you said you’re no good at talking about it.
LikeLike
Oh. Right. Guess my intuition via blog is not so good. 🙂 Oops.
But it would be very difficult to describe in one sentence.
LikeLike
Oh well. Now tell me a story. 🙂
LikeLike
Okay. I nearly have myself a heart attack a few weeks ago. I was in the shower and there was this huge hairy thing in the tub. My contacts were out and I couldn’t see too well, so I shrieked out loud and jumped backwards, but it followed me. Thinking it was a huge spider, I squashed it with a bottle of shampoo.
That clump of hair really raised my heart rate a bit. Then I laughed at myself, but I’m still tempted to wear my contacts when I shower just in case there is a huge spider there some time.
LikeLike
Bahahaha I hope you didn’t pull down the shower curtain in your state of terror. Haha
LikeLike
One hook came loose. But otherwise it stayed intact.
LikeLike
Haha you were really scared. Scaredy cat.
LikeLike
The United Way program sounds great. If for some reason the program is not in your area, those interested could still help a child with their reading. Many schools welcome volunteers who work with struggling readers. You could always phone a local school and ask for more information.
LikeLike
[…] On this day in 2014 I published United Way’s Reading Together Program. […]
LikeLike