In Person

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Let’s Read Workshop Volunteer

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Inspire Families with Young Children to Love Reading

High need for Haitian Creole Speaking Volunteers!

A Words Alive Let’s Read Workshop Volunteer supports our Family Literacy Program, which we are committed to making highly accessible for the parents, families, and partners we serve.  Let’s Read Workshop Volunteers meet children and families where they are with engaging programming and valuable resources that will set them on a path to become life-long learners.

Through our Let's Read program, we nurture book-sharing habits at home by celebrating the power of play as we explore books, talk, write, and create art anchored in a new story each week. Parents learn research-based strategies to make reading aloud interactive and joyful. This program is developmentally appropriate for kids ages 3-8 years old, delivered in English and Spanish and includes copies of the books for each child to keep. 

A Words Alive Family Literacy Program Teaching Artist delivers high-impact programming in a way that is most accessible by the parents, families, and partners we serve.  Teaching Artists help families with small children learn why exploring books is important for child development and ways to make it a fun family habit while ensuring families build their home libraries. Words Alive Teaching Artists meet children and families where they are, with engaging programming and valuable resources that will set them on a path to become a life-long learner.

Through our Let's Read with Words Alive Family Literacy program we nurture book-sharing habits at home by celebrating the power of play as we explore books, talk, write, and create art anchored in a new story each week. Parents learn research-based strategies to make reading aloud interactive and joyful. This program is developmentally appropriate for kids ages 3-8 years old, delivered in English and Spanish and includes copies of the books for each child to keep. 

 A Let’s Read Workshop Volunteer is:

  • A positive, playful person who can engage with, virtually or in-person, a room of adults and their children.

  • Friendly, likes helping people and loves to learn.

  • Well-organized and pays attention to the details. They stay focused and can think on their feet.

  • Reliable and always on time, since consistency is key when helping families build new habits.

  • Committed to eyes-wide-open focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

  • Deeply motivated by the power of reading!

A Let’s Read Workshop Volunteer supports the Let’s Read Program Manager and Instructors in delivering a 6-week series of once a week 45-60 minute sessions, which include an interactive read aloud and accompanying craft. For workshops delivered in person, responsibilities include supporting craft projects, classroom communication, book and supply drop offs as needed. Virtual responsibilities may include but are not limited to monitoring the chat, language translation as needed/when possible, and book deliveries to families.

Let’s Read Workshop Volunteers are not required to lead sessions and may often work in partnership with the Program Manager and Instructor to deliver the programming. In fact, no previous classroom experience is necessary!

Training, curriculum, and all accompanying materials are provided by the Program Manager.

Note: We have a high need for Spanish-speaking and Haitian Creole-speaking Let’s Read Workshop Volunteers.  

Commitment: 

Fall and Winter 2023: Six-week sessions begin in October and February (includes a 1/2-day volunteer training and supporting delivery of one 45-minute session per week for 6 weeks, days to be determined with partners/schools).

Required Paperwork and Training:

  • Volunteers will need to submit a completed application

  • Volunteers must be 18 years or older

  • Attend a 45-minute volunteer orientation for all Words Alive volunteers

  • Complete a background check

  • Complete an online training about preventing, identifying, and reporting child abuse and neglect

  • Attend a 1.5 hour training on program fundamentals and using strengths-based, empowering language

  • Attend a 1-hour training specific to the Let’s Read Family Literacy Program

  • *(In-person commitment) COVID requirements: provide proof of full vaccination and complete COVID waiver.

  • *(In-person commitment) Submit a negative TB test.

To Get Started: Email [email protected] or call us at 858-274-9673 to sign up for the next orientation and training.

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Adolescent Book Group Volunteer Facilitator

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Do you love provoking thoughtful discussions, wrestling with deep topics in text aloud and in writing, and helping teenagers make connections to one another and the world around them? We’d love to have you volunteer to support our Adolescent Book Group Program (ABG)! Through reading new, diverse novels; engaging projects; writing workshops; and discussion sessions, teens in our Adolescent Book Group enhance their critical thinking skills, self-esteem and ability to express themselves.

Our Adolescent Book Group program serves 300-500 teenagers in schools and after-school programs throughout San Diego each year. Many of the teens with whom we work are facing extraordinary life circumstances such as homelessness, violence, teen pregnancy and impact by the justice system. Words Alive's commitment to reading diverse and relevant texts provides an avenue for program participants to connect books to themselves and the world while changing the story of their life.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to work with amazing teens IN-PERSON at sites in San Diego for our Fall 2023 Programming.

Volunteer facilitators lead every other week book group discussions with teens using Words Alive discussion guides and enrichment materials to ensure that program goals are met.

Volunteer Responsibilities:  

  • Read designated books prior to attending the monthly discussion group.

  • Attend all ABG monthly (or every six-week) book discussion groups.

  • Using Words Alive discussion questions, facilitate the 60 or 90-minute book group discussions each month (or every six-weeks)

  • Prepare enrichment materials in advance of discussions.

  • Encourage open communication among volunteers and program participants.

  • Support an environment where all program participants feel engaged and safe.

  • Use inclusive language

  • Attend all Words Alive sponsored in-service trainings, workshops, and appreciation events.

  • Communicate regularly with Words Alive staff, school sites, and other volunteers.

Ideal Volunteers Should:

·       Enjoy reading young adult literature

·       Be comfortable engaging in conversation with teens, often wrestling with topics of interest to teens

·       Be culturally sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of our students

·       Have reliable transportation

·       Have a positive attitude

Hours and Locations:

Volunteers work with a team of other volunteers at an assigned school site in San Diego. Volunteers typically spend 2-5 hours per month. Classroom sessions are 60-75 minutes every other week, with the remainder of the time is spent reading the book and prepared guides.

Required Paperwork and Training:

·       Volunteers will need to submit a completed application

·       Volunteers must be 18 years or older

·       Attend a 1-hour volunteer orientation for all Words Alive volunteers

·       Complete a background check

·       Attend a 2-hour training specific to the Adolescent Book Group program

·       COVID requirements: provide proof of full vaccination, complete COVID waiver, comply with school requirements regarding masks.

·       Submit a negative TB test.

To Get Started: Email [email protected] or call us at 858-274-9673 to sign up for the next orientation and training.

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Read Aloud Volunteer Classroom Reader

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Read Aloud with Children and Inspire Life-Long Learners

Do you enjoy reading aloud to young kids? Share your love of reading with young children! The Words Alive Read Aloud Program (RAP) operates on the knowledge that reading aloud to young children is the most important thing we can do to help them become motivated, strong readers. Every month the Read Aloud Program serves approximately 2,000 preschool and elementary school students attending Title I (low-income) elementary schools. Many students we serve live in communities with limited educational resources.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to provide stimulating, shared-reading experiences in our preschool and elementary classrooms IN-PERSON. Our Fall 2023 Programming will start the second week of October.

Our Read Aloud Program volunteers provide weekly shared-reading experiences to help these young students develop the cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills necessary to be successful adults. No prior teaching experience is necessary; curriculum guides offering themed example questions, group activities, and useful tips and tricks for an engaging reading session will be provided to support volunteers in preparing for their sessions.

Goals and Outcomes:

Read Aloud volunteers work to build healthy reading habits, encourage reading comprehension, boost phonological awareness, and provide opportunities for self-expression and world exploration. We explore new and diverse texts using five anchors, read, talk, sing, play, and connect to help foster the love of reading.

Ideal Volunteers Should:

·       Enjoy reading

·       Be comfortable spending time with young children

·       Be culturally sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of our students

·       Have reliable transportation

·       Have a positive attitude

Hours and Locations:

We have in-person volunteer positions available to support children across San Diego County.

Volunteers work remotely at an assigned school site. Volunteers typically spend 30 minutes per classroom reading and providing fun, educational activities. Commitment varies by site; most volunteers commit to 2 or more classes weekly. Preparation for reading sessions can be done in as little as 15 minutes.

Currently, we are seeking out individuals who would be interested in volunteering at these particular school sites:

  • Carver Elementary, Oak Park

  • Hamilton Elementary, City Heights

  • Harriet Tubman Village Charter, College Area

  • Ibarra Elementary, City Heights

  • Rolando Park Elementary, Rolando Park

Required Paperwork and Training:

·       Volunteers will need to submit a completed application

·       Volunteers must be 18 years or older

·       Attend a 1-hour volunteer orientation for all Words Alive volunteers

·       Complete a fingerprint background check

·       Attend a 2-hour training specific to the Read Aloud Program

·       COVID requirements: provide proof of full vaccination, complete COVID waiver, and (if required by school) wear masks during in-person sessions.

·      Submit a negative TB test.

To Get Started: Email [email protected] or call us at 858-274-9673 to sign up for the next orientation and training.

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Prepare Crafts for Families

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Local to San Diego County? Help prepare crafting materials for our Family Literacy Program in a bag! Each bag includes a book and craft tie-in activity to help families build healthy reading habits at home. Pick up the materials from us and prepare them in the comfort of your own home. Drop them off when you're finished!

Interested? Click here to sign up for a volunteer orientation!