CRESWEL – Did you know that Creslane Elementary School has about 35 adult volunteers working in every K-3 classroom to help children learn to read? We are in our seventh year of operation.
This effort is called the IRC (Intergenerational Reading Collaboration) Program. We work at the direction of the classroom teachers, primarily with small groups of students.
We build relationships with the children and help them master all-important reading skills.
Volunteers work several hours a day for a couple of days per week. The volunteers also meet Wednesdays for an hour of training, problem-solving and support. Some volunteers serve only as substitutes when regularly scheduled volunteers have conflicts. The teachers know they can count on us.
During the summer, IRC sponsors a summer reading program in concert with Food for Lane County lunches at Harry Holt Park. ”Reading in the Park” is one hour on two days each week. Volunteers are needed to read to children; there is schedule flexibility, and children who read with a volunteer earn a book to take home and keep.
The IRC is recruiting volunteers for the rest of this school year, this summer and next school year.
Visit a classroom with an existing member or a Wednesday team meeting.
Experience the joy of reading to children during the summer. It is fun, engaging and gives meaning to our lives.
Contact Laurie Swanson Gribskov, co-team leader of IRC reading program,at [email protected] or call 541-895-6140.