A unique mentoring program in the metro requires only one lunch hour a week. Rebecca Christian has been part of it for six years.
"Oh it's so much fun! It's a great break from the work day and I love to read -- especially with Maggie!" This is Maggie and Rebecca's third year together at Windsor Elementary and it's paying off. "When there's dialogue she reads it like she's on Broadway," says Rebecca, "and I tell her she should be!"
That's the point of the Everybody Wins power lunch program -- and teachers see its impact, too. "Absolutely! The students become more fluent because they're practicing reading out loud," says fourth grade teacher Becky Mason, "we don't have time to do that."
Mason's classroom has 26 kids in it, which means she's hard-pressed to give each of them the one-on-one attention they might need. "They love it. They love having someone to talk to -- another adult to look up to."
Fourth grader Majid Garibovic explains how our time together works. "Erin sometimes reads to me and sometimes I read to her." When we first started reading together, Majid was not crazy about books. It's been fun to see that change. Now he has a favorite series -- "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" -- and he has a goal. "We're going to try to finish all the books," he says with confidence.
Kathy Holdefer says the program makes it easy to volunteer. "It's just over lunchtime and it's so simple. They even found a school close to my workplace." It's Kathy's first year with Everybody Wins and she says the name says it all. "I'm having a blast," Kathy explains, "when I leave after reading with Austin my heart is light and I'm ready to get back to work."
Volunteers feel good about spending time here and students improve in the classroom. "Oh, great growth," says Rebecca, "Maggie really reads very fluently now and picks more sophisticated books." And before they know it they actually like reading!
"So tell me what you think about reading now?" I ask Majid. "Ummmmm," he says, "I feel like I can read better." "And it's fun?" I reply. "Really fun!" he says with a big grin. And that's the payoff.
If you're interested in joining the Everybody Wins Power Lunch program visit www.everbodywinsiowa.org and click the volunteer tab.
"Oh it's so much fun! It's a great break from the work day and I love to read -- especially with Maggie!" This is Maggie and Rebecca's third year together at Windsor Elementary and it's paying off. "When there's dialogue she reads it like she's on Broadway," says Rebecca, "and I tell her she should be!"
That's the point of the Everybody Wins power lunch program -- and teachers see its impact, too. "Absolutely! The students become more fluent because they're practicing reading out loud," says fourth grade teacher Becky Mason, "we don't have time to do that."
Mason's classroom has 26 kids in it, which means she's hard-pressed to give each of them the one-on-one attention they might need. "They love it. They love having someone to talk to -- another adult to look up to."
Fourth grader Majid Garibovic explains how our time together works. "Erin sometimes reads to me and sometimes I read to her." When we first started reading together, Majid was not crazy about books. It's been fun to see that change. Now he has a favorite series -- "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" -- and he has a goal. "We're going to try to finish all the books," he says with confidence.
Kathy Holdefer says the program makes it easy to volunteer. "It's just over lunchtime and it's so simple. They even found a school close to my workplace." It's Kathy's first year with Everybody Wins and she says the name says it all. "I'm having a blast," Kathy explains, "when I leave after reading with Austin my heart is light and I'm ready to get back to work."
Volunteers feel good about spending time here and students improve in the classroom. "Oh, great growth," says Rebecca, "Maggie really reads very fluently now and picks more sophisticated books." And before they know it they actually like reading!
"So tell me what you think about reading now?" I ask Majid. "Ummmmm," he says, "I feel like I can read better." "And it's fun?" I reply. "Really fun!" he says with a big grin. And that's the payoff.
If you're interested in joining the Everybody Wins Power Lunch program visit www.everbodywinsiowa.org and click the volunteer tab.
