We're buzzing with activity this spring.

April 2022 Newsletter

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is just starting to be felt. The need for literacy intervention has never been greater. Reading Power is made for this moment.

April is National Poetry Month

Poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature dating back thousands of years. It uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to tell a story. Poetry helps us appreciate the world around us and empathize with one another.

Partner School Spotlight: LEARN 6, North Chicago, IL

"It’s always hopping in here." Brooke Davis, Assistant Site Coordinator at LEARN 6 quipped as a group of kindergarten students joyfully bounced into the Reading Power room. They quickly found their tutors waiting for them and in a matter of minutes, laughter and most importantly learning were radiating throughout the room.

LEARN 6 is Reading Power’s largest partner school program. Tutoring nearly 60 kindergarten, first, and second grade students each day under the watchful and dedicated eye of Site Coordinators Andrea Glickman, Marla Guziec, and Assistant Site Coordinators Katie Burdiak and Brooke Davis and powered by over 70 weekly volunteer tutors.

Since starting at LEARN 6 three years ago, the Reading Power team has had a close working relationship with the school administration and teachers. Always in support of classroom learning. Kindergarten teacher Lindsay Sobinsky agrees, "Having Reading Power come into our school has been the best thing for our students. The leaders are very knowledgeable and work collaboratively with us to help our students succeed." And succeed, they do. Nearly 80 percent of Reading Power students are expected to finish this academic year approaching or meeting grade-level literacy.

This spring, the LEARN 6 first and second grade program will be tackling a new project: writing poetry. "April is Poetry Month and it’s an excellent opportunity to teach and celebrate the expressiveness, delight, and pure charm of poetry." Marla shared. “After an introduction to poetry and its many forms, students will work each day on a different type of poem including a senses poem, a feelings poem, an acrostic name poem, a cinquain poem, and a shape poem with their tutor. Once their collection is complete, students will read their work aloud at the annual Author’s Day with their classmates and tutors. "It’s a wonderful way for students to share their creativity, add to their vocabulary and articulate their thoughts and feelings." Katie stated. 

"The LEARN 6 program is such a special part of Reading Power." Andrea surmised. "Fostering the promise of literacy, instilling a lifelong love of reading and making personal connections, for tutors and students alike."

Join our Summer Team Now!

Reading Power will be offering summer school for our students this year, both in-person and virtually. If you are interested in helping students continue their literary growth and help prevent the “summer slide” this 4-week opportunity is for you!

Reading Power Tutors - Making Connections, Leading the Way

Connections allow the Reading Power family to DO MORE together to foster the promise of literacy. The relationships between students and Reading Power tutors help make learning possible. Below are comments from two LEARN 6 tutors.

Beep-beep!

"Each session I try to connect with my students," longtime tutor Sally C shared. "A kindergarten boy was reading a book about cars to me. Each time he came to the word beep, he’d say honk-honk and smile. The next time I saw him, the first thing he said to me was beep-beep. The kids keep me smiling." Thank you, Sally, for your dedication to Reading Power and your students.

Keep On Smiling

"My favorite part of tutoring is being present and engaged with my students," LEARN 6 kindergarten tutor Sally S. said with a smile. "While reading a book or playing a game, they open up and share something important with you from their life. Those conversations make me smile all week!" Thanks for sharing part of your week with us, Sally!

National Volunteer Month

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our 174 volunteer tutors. Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and energy. We cannot foster the promise of literacy without you.

Play for a Purpose

Reading Power is hosting our second annual Play for Literacy Golf & Games event on September 12, 2022, at Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, IL. Contact Nancy Duffy for more information on available sponsorship opportunities.