Only 30% of Phoenix’s 3rd-graders are reading at grade level, and you can help fix that. If you’re at least 50-years-old, have a high school diploma and can volunteer two days per week for 5 hours, this is for you.
“This is a great volunteer opportunity for older adults,” said volunteer tutor Chuck Emmert. “As a senior and as a retired person, this is a way to give back not only to Phoenix, but also to the students. You’ll be making a real difference.”
The Experience Corps is an easy program to get involved in, and there is training provided ahead of time.
“We’ll start with some simple games where for example I’ll read a sentence, then the student reads a sentence,” added Emmert. “We’ll go over difficult words, and then we read together. The kids learn about punctuation; how to add inflections in the sentence. All of those skills necessary to learn how to read in a better way.”
“Experience Corps volunteers help children build confidence and essential reading skills,” said Timothy Valencia, City of Phoenix Youth and Education Director. “If you're 50 or older, this is your chance to make a lasting impact in a child’s life. Join us and help more children reach grade-level reading for their future success.”
Watch video about the program in action, and to get involved, please email ecphx@phoenix.gov or call 602-256-4388.
