Volunteer army doing great work to boost children’s reading scores

Getting thousands of books into the hands of children in Kansas City has been part of a communitywide, yearslong effort to boost reading scores.

A volunteer adult army puts its “boots on the ground” to provide the second wave of help. Workers at area companies sacrifice their lunchtime to go to 30 classrooms in nine schools in three districts and two charter schools to read books one-on-one with kids.

It’s done through Lead to Read, a five-year-old Kansas City literacy program that has recruited more than 720 volunteers to read books to children.

It’s a superb and worthwhile use of time.

Pauly Hart, Lead to Read director of reader development, wants the number of adult volunteers in schools to jump to 1,200 by 2017. The vision by 2020 is for every urban core Kansas City area student in first through fourth grades to have a Lead to Read volunteer making weekly school visits.

The program is aligned with Mayor Sly James’ 2011 initiative, Turn the Page Kansas City. When it started, only 33 percent of third-graders in Kansas City schools were reading at or above grade level. In 2015 it increased to 49 percent.

Last year alone, first-graders in Lead to Read classrooms enjoyed an 11 percent increase in reading scores. The improvements are headed in the right direction. But a lot more is needed.

“We have schools that are not lowering the expectation bar for kids but instead providing additional supports to help kids achieve at high levels,” James said in his March 29 state of the city address.

Turn the Page, the United Way of Greater Kansas City through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and the Local Investment Commission have worked to get thousands of books into the hands of children for them to keep so they will get excited about reading.

Lead to Read provides a vital connection by showing children that adults beyond teachers and parents really want them to have a lifelong love for books and the wonders they contain.

The hallway walls at Garfield Elementary School in the Northeast area of Kansas City are decorated with students’ essays and pictures. On a recent Wednesday around lunchtime, volunteers from area companies showed up to read books. Many come from well-known companies such as DST and Central Bank.

Some of the adults get down on the floor with kids and read books like “Horton Hears a Who!” one of the “Clifford the Big Red Dog” series or a “SpongeBob SquarePants” story. It’s important that the books are what the children want to read, and the volunteers know it.

Garfield Elementary is unique because it has children from kindergarten to sixth grade who are from about 20 countries. English is not their native language. But they really warm up to adults who come once a week to read with them.

Nothing could be more exciting. The exposure also is great for the adults who undergo background checks before they are partnered with a child. They get to see what schools are like, what teacherscontend with and some even help provide supplies for classrooms.

“It can dispel myths and illuminate concerns,” Hart said.

In many cases the children also read to the adults to show what they have learned.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Julia Daily with DST, who was sharing books with 7-year-old Angel. “I’ve noticed a big difference.”

Sarah Cousineau, marketing director at Central Bank, was reading with 10-year-old Brian.

“This is the best part of my Wednesday,” she said.

At Boone Elementary School in the Center School District, volunteers from Burns & McDonnell filled the hallway of warm, calming colors before heading to read to children. The adults sat in student desks on carpeted or bare floors in classrooms to share books with kids.

Relationships are developed, and the children can see that through hard work and reading they can grow up to be like the volunteers.

“I love kids and to give back to the community any way I can,” said Grant Malone with Burns & McDonnell.

“It’s really heartwarming,” said Marilyn McCahon, a volunteer who’s retired from St. Luke’s Hospital and now reads to 9-year-old Tristin at Boone Elementary.

School staff members are fans of the extra community effort to help their children become lifelong readers.

“It’s great for the kids to have professional people who care about what they are doing,” said Anson Baker, Boone Elementary School principal.

“It’s a great help,” said Rosario Woodward, a second-grade teacher at Garfield Elementary. “My kids love it.”

And keep this fact in mind: Volunteers who give their time and attention to share the joys of reading also get a lot in return. To volunteer go to www.leadtoreadkc.org.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 8:07 AM with the headline "Volunteer army doing great work to boost children’s reading scores."