Read to Children Aged 3-5 in Orange County VPKs!

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About: Heart of Florida United Way - Reading Pals

Did you know that nearly 40% of Central Florida’s third graders attending public school cannot read at the appropriate level? This puts these students at a distinct disadvantage throughout their scholastic careers. These children are four times more likely to drop out of high school if they continue on this path.

ReadingPals connects passionate volunteers with students who need extra help developing essential literacy skills!

- Commit to spending 30-minute sessions with your pal once per week throughout the school year at an Orange or Osceola location.

- Pass a background check.

- Attend a volunteer training session.

- Get matched to your pal.

- Work with your pal to develop valuable reading skills with the provided materials.

- Become a friend and mentor.

- Change a life while enriching your own.

ReadingPals impacts Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) classrooms. Generally, your pal will be 4 years old and will need your help for school readiness. Students will be identified by their teachers at the beginning of the year based on their performance on the Fall VPK assessment.

Using a blended curriculum of digital and traditional books, volunteers will help students work through specific 'lessons’ to enhance learning. These lessons will build valuable pre-literacy skills such as rhyming, combining syllables and beginning sounds by reading the book together, answering follow-up questions and other supportive learning activities.

VCI’s part in this opportunity is to provide volunteers with a (free!) comprehensive benefits package-CIMA Supplemental insurance, a Life Insurance benefit, free workshops and more! Call your RSVP Coordinator, Kelli Robertson, for more information: 407-298-4180, x110 /407-617-9481.

RSVP, a part of SeniorCorps, is America's largest volunteer network for people 55 and over, with more than 300,000 volunteers tackling tough issues in communities nationwide. RSVP shows you how you can apply the skills and wisdom you've acquired throughout your life to make a positive difference in the lives of others. RSVP is federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.