Children Of The City Think Reading Is Cool.
Posted by: Julia Masi, in Children's CharitiesGetting kids to love reading is easier if they have a partner, someone older and wiser to help decode vocabulary, increase comprehension and convince them that reading is cool. New York Cares sent Children of the City five brand new reading partners; Lin, Maria, Sarah, Vanessa and Vincent, to boost the self esteem of struggling, emergent readers.
The kids who come to Children of the City’s Super Saturday events every month live below the poverty line in the up and coming neighborhood of Sunset Park. In this area of South Brooklyn the high school drop out rate remain at 48%.
In an effort to change the culture of poverty, Children of the City provides mentors, role models, and tutors who foster a positive attitude towards academics.
When the reading partners arrived the kids were reluctant, but Maria knew how to break the ice. She formed a special bond with a seven year old from the guardianship program who needs some extra TLC.
Vincent sat down at the table where I had placed a box of new books. He looked at the titles and started reading a book. As soon as he cracked open “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” one of the boys sat down at the table with him. Vincent read the first line and the next thing I knew two other boys were asking if they could have a turn reading with Vincent.
Lin was compassionate and patient as she read with a shy older girl. Vanessa and Sarah entertained the kids with read-a-louds and a few rounds of “Sight Word Bingo.”
After the reading partners left I started packing up the books. The boys who were working with Vincent came back to help me. One of them took a book out of the bag. “Look!” he said as he opened the book and began reading the page aloud. Then he turned to his friend and said “your turn.” The other boy read a page then proudly handed the book back to me. “Does this mean you had fun reading this morning?,” I asked. They smiled and nodded their heads in agreement.
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