How We're Different

One-on-One Tutoring & Mentoring:

When students come to Reading Partners, they get individualized reading instruction by a trained volunteer twice a week.  Teachers agree that students thrive with the caring attention of one person who serves as both tutor and role model.

Instruction with a Structured Curriculum:

Instead of just reading aloud with a student, volunteers without experience are equipped to provide instruction at the student's individual reading level by following a structured curriculum.  Developed in 150 short lessons, the curriculum breaks down reading skills in manageable steps to help the student progress from one level to the next. Read more about the curriculuM

Team Approach to Child Success:

Reading Partners establishes its reading centers on the campuses of high-need schools.  These schools offer Reading Partners dedicated space (often a classroom or private section of the library) to operate its reading centers in exchange for a free reading intervention program.  Thrilled to have the support where resources are often scarce, the principal and teachers team with the on-site Reading Partners staff member to address the individual needs of every child in the program and to ensure each child's success.

Measurable Results:

At Reading Partners, we don't rely on intuition alone to tell us children are improving; we deliver tangible results.  As schools test students to ensure progress, so does Reading Partners by assessing each student at the start of the year.  This assessment is critical to determine exactly where the student needs assistance and to chart a course of tutoring lessons for the remaining year.  At the end of the year, we reassess students to measure how much they've progressed and how much they've narrowed their reading gap.

Volunteer Support:

Though Reading Partners welcomes tutors with prior education and teaching experience, the program is designed to give volunteers the support they need whether or not they have experience. To begin, volunteers receive 90 minutes of basic skills training.  In day-to-day tutoring, the curriculum allows volunteers to facilitate a lesson with no preparation. Whenever volunteers need more support, an experienced Reading Partners staff member is available to assist.  Finally, throughout the year Reading Partners offers additional training to deepen volunteer skills.