Read With a Teen

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2019

Read with a TeenRead with a Teen (RWT) is an interactive program that brings K through 3rd grade students together with 12 to 18-year-old middle and high school volunteers for an hour of reading practice and mentorship. During a program session, teens read and mentor while the K-3 students find encouragement and reading instruction from someone they look up to.Teens attend a training program in preparation for RWT Summer Sessions. During this training they practice techniques to encourage a struggling reader or praise a reader who is doing especially well. This program leverages the relationship between different age groups to the benefit of both. The teen develops mentoring skills and an opportunity for community service. The grade school students enjoy both the encouragement to read and the relationship to the teen mentor. Meanwhile, the library establishes valuable relationships with teen volunteers.This program provides a rare opportunity to meet the needs of many different age groups. After I began sponsoring this program, I was delighted with the positive impact the RWT program had on the teens. This impact is powerfully communicated in their own moving written reflections of the program. The teens describe initial hesitation and worry at being able to connect and work with the younger students. They ultimately enjoy how empowered and accomplished they felt at the end of the eight-week summer session. In summary, this program benefits everyone involved; the teen, the young reader and the library. Teens enjoy an increase in confidence, learn new skills, collect service hours and form new social relationships with other teens and library staff. The young readers develop reading skills and new relationships with older students. Finally, the library supports literacy, social engagement and community service aspects of its mission.