Project READ

A Project READ Family Spotlight: The Castro Family

2012-02-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

As I approach the Castro family, they are all concentrating on their various activities in the Project READ tutoring center (FLIC). Rebecca is teaching Karen, her youngest daughter the sounds of the alphabet using brightly colored magnetic letters. Michele, her middle daughter, is focused on doing her homework. Abril, her eldest daughter, is occupied with her tutor Marie just a few tables away.

Rebecca has been involved with Project READ for over six years. She was the first in her family to receive tutoring sessions in order to improve her English. Rebecca says “the staff is really nice. I don’t speak English well and they helped me. I like all of them, and I really feel confident speaking with them.” She currently works with Sarah, her tutor, once a week mainly focusing on grammar and math. She wanted to describe Sarah to me but felt nice and patient didn’t adequately define her, so I suggested she look up the word nice in a thesaurus. Beaming with certainty she exclaimed, “Sarah is friendly, kindly, lovely and polite.”

Michele’s been going to Project READ with her mother ever since she was a baby. Since starting school, she loves doing homework with Monique, her favorite tutor and a KIP/FLIC program assistant. Little Karen adores Story Hour and playing games with her mother.

Abril loves volleyball, basketball and soccer. When it’s time to study, she receives assistance from Marie twice a week. Marie works as an attorney for Special Immigration Law and Foreign Immigration, specializing in matters involving children. She “helps out on the ground level” with tutoring. Marie goes on to say that, “Abril is a bright and sweet girl, it’s fun working with her.” Abril feels the same way, “Marie is nice and she actually does help.”

Over the years, the Castro family has benefitted from the various programs offered by Project READ. They have improved their reading skills and developed confidence during the process. They have made lasting friendships with the staff, their peers and tutors. It definitely is a family affair when it comes to the lovely Castro clan and Project READ.

Loretta Farris is a Project READ volunteer tutor and writes monthly Project READ blogs about our learners, families, volunteers and events . She has been awarded the "Spirit of Project READ Award" along with her learner Evelyn for their commitment to Project READ.

Emily & Noel-- FIP Pair

2012-02-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

What eight-year-old Emily likes best about school is seeing her friends. She also sees her friends while attending tutoring sessions at Project READ. Noel, her tutor, has been helping Emily with reading and homework for six months and meeting three times a week. “Emily likes to read, but needs help with math, especially her times tables” says Noel. You can tell by Emily’s lovely wide smile that she likes working with Noel; she thinks “he’s funny” and he makes her laugh. Emily not only likes Project READ, she enjoys Project READ’s monthly Story Hour and the magicians and other performers that come to the library each month.

Noel was a volunteer tutor in Great Britain before coming to the United States. A friend from the county of San Mateo and fellow volunteer introduced Noel to Project READ. With some spare time on his hands, he became a tutor over four years ago.

When Noel finishes working with his learner, he’s stays to help out other learners in the FLIC drop-in program. Noel’s enthusiasm for the program is evident when he explains that “Project READ offers a safe environment. It gets the kids out of the house and away from T.V. and gives them a better outlook which carries throughout their high school education and beyond. Project READ is a good program.” He truly believes he’s making a difference.

A Tutor's Perspective

2011-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a dream come true? I have, and my dream is about tutoring. I am fulfilling my dream by tutoring at Project READ. After two weeks of training, I was placed with a young woman named Evelyn to help her become a better reader. I think I was more nervous than she was during our first tutoring session. Now, after working together for more than a year, we have become good friends. I have had the privilege of witnessing Evelyn's progress in not only reading but in other ways. She has set certain goals for herself and is working hard at achieving them. For me, I have met so many wonderful people at Project READ. I have been a drop-in tutor for children, and I have helped out at other events like the summer BBQ and the annual Trivia Bee. Being a volunteer has been the most gratifying because I have grown as well as my learner. Dreams really do come true because I'm living my dream every week.

Loretta Farris is a Project READ volunteer tutor. She has been awarded the "Spirit of Project READ Award" along with her learner Evelyn for their commitment to Project READ.

Project READ 2011

2011-12-27T15:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our Project READ blog. Check in to read about current PR events, learner successes, tutor's stories and more. We've developed this space to be able to share with each other and learn more about our programs, learners, tutors and volunteers. Enjoy!