Most people agree that a quality education is a building block for a good quality of life. But, many parents don’t realize they are their child’s first teacher. When children enter kindergarten without fundamental reading skills they begin school already behind. Studies show that if a child is not reading at their grade level in 3rd grade, it greatly reduces their ability to graduate on time. When kids don’t graduate, most lack skills to succeed as self-supporting adults.
In the past few years, our public schools have faced im-mense budget cuts. Critical cuts include paid volunteer co-ordinator positions and the number of paid para-educators, which typically provide extra help to struggling students. Increased classroom sizes challenge our teachers. But clearly, schools cannot manage the needs alone.
Communities must now become involved even more to en-sure that each child gains the important tools needed to be-come productive adults.
Nationwide, United Way has launched a three-year commitment to recruit 1,000,000 volunteers to provide early academic support to school kids in need. Ambitious? You bet. But United Way believes it can be done.
Being a reading buddy is a commitment of just 25 minutes per week and requires no formal training. Volunteers provide an essential role in a child’s academic development, by practicing literacy and comprehension, while encouraging an appreciation of reading for a child who may be feeling discouraged.
United Way and RSVP hope to instill the value of reading in the earliest grades, which will carry them through high school graduation and beyond. Let’s be ready to go when the fall school bell rings and the 2012-2013 school year begins! Sign up today, recruit your friends and be part of the change in our schools. Common good for our youth is common good for all. It’s for the kids and our community!
For more tips about volunteering and a list of openings available in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties, visit www.unitedway-thurston.org/rsvp or call (360) 943-2773 ext. 21.
Story by: Kelly Lux, RSVP volunteer