This Book Buddy event will take place at Oak Academy on Tuesdays from 9:30am - 10:00am.
The opportunity will last from October 21st through April.
Hundreds of central Iowa four-year-olds are at risk of not gaining the skills they need to start kindergarten ready to learn. And research shows that children who start behind, stay behind. Book Buddy reaches children in the critical year before kindergarten, helping them build the pre-reading skills they need for a strong start in school. For 30 minutes a week, volunteers read one-on-one with four-year-old students at early childhood centers in Des Moines.
Using an engaging curriculum and library of 25 books developed in collaboration with Des Moines Public Schools, volunteers follow the book insert to teach a specific literacy skill.
Book Buddy extends learning beyond the classroom to support family literacy. Children bring home their own copy of the featured book every Friday—the start of a budding library in homes where reading materials are often scarce.
Student assessment results are compelling—91% showed improvement last year—but the increasing confidence in students is the most convincing of all. Their bright smiles will be the highlight of your week!
