| Getting Involved |
| About Us |
| Still have questions? No problem! Email us at rutgersreaders@yahoo.com |
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| 1. Fill out an application Get an application, print it out, fill it out and send it off to the address found in the document. |
| 2. Info session When your application is received, you will be contacted for an info session. |
| 3. Training After the info session, you will be trained to be a Rutgers Reader! Training will last 3 hours, and it is vital that all Readers receive this training. You will learn not only how to be great mentors, but will get a chance to meet your fellow volunteers and hear about our past experiences at Redshaw |
| 4. Start at Lord Stirling The last step is to start reading! Each Reader will pick the best day and time to go to Lord Stirling Elementary. The shifts are either in the morning, from 9-11am, during which you will be in a classroom setting, or during the afternoon, from 3:30-5:30pm, during which you will be in the after-school program. The shift you choose is the same every week. |
| Rutgers Readers is a program in which student volunteers work with children in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Currently, we are working with Lord Stirling Elementary School, located in New Brunswick. Rutgers University students recognize that they can make a valuable contribution to the elementary schools in New Brunswick by helping kids learn to read and love to read. Additionally, we seek volunteers who can be positive role models for our youth. The dedication and enthusiasm of our Readers has had a wonderful impact on the kids we have worked with so far, and the kids' eagerness to learn and their love for the volunteers makes this a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the Readers as well. |
| The Readers: Each Rutgers Reader will visit Lord Stirling Elementary School once a week, for a two hour session. There are two options: the morning session, from 9-11am, and the afternoon session, from 3:30-5:30pm. The Sessions: In the morning session, Rutgers Readers work in a classroom, aiding the teacher during small group work with students who need extra help. In the afternoon session, Readers work with children in the after- school program. We are currently in the middle of improving this program to make it better for both the kids and the Readers. Our hope is to have a separate classroom in which the Readers can work one on one with students who need extra help in reading. The Kids: The levels of reading difficulty vary, depending on your student. Some can read well, in which case our role is simply to continue to encourage them. Others have difficulty reading, and yet others (particularly those in kindergarten and 1st grade) do not yet recognize the alphabet. Another obstacle we face is the fact that 80% of Redshaw is bilingual, so that sometimes we have students who do not know English. In this respect, Rutgers students who have knowledge of Spanish would be a valuable addition to the program. |
| Rutgers Readers depends on committed and enthusiastic volunteers - we know there are many Rutgers students who fit this description and we want you to help us make this program a great success! To become a Rutgers Reader, please follow the steps below. |
| Updated February 2008 |