ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Children and Adults Reading, Excelling, Succeeding (CARES) is looking for volunteers to read to children and make a difference in the local community.
"CARES is an after-school reading program in Prince Georges County," said Kirk Chapman, CARES system-wide coordinator and Calverton Elementary teacher. "It involves second grade students paired with adult tutors. CARES is designed to develop critical reading skills such as comprehension, vocabulary, fluency and writing skills."
There are currently 14 Team Andrews volunteers in the program and more participants are needed for the program's success. "CARES is important to all neighborhoods as it promotes community and school relationships, builds corporate and community identity through volunteering and encourages family literacy," said Mr. Chapman. "These are factors that encourage a healthy view about education in children and fosters an appreciation for life-long learning in adults."
Mr. Chapman said all who participate in the program benefit. "The one-on-one caring relationship between mentor and child offers many benefits - academic as well as social and emotional."
All sessions are held at the school site and currently the program is offered at Princeton, Forest Heights and Springhill Lake Elementary Schools. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes in length.
The next training session will be offered in January. High school and college students, community and corporate volunteers, paraprofessionals, retired teachers and family members make up the core tutors in the CARES program. Persons who are able to read above a fifth grade reading level are welcome to join the program. A two-hour training session is required of and volunteers must pass a background check, at no cost to the tutor, to qualify to work in the school environment. All training materials are provided using the Learning Together curriculum, which can be viewed at www.learningtogether.com.
Persons interested in volunteering can contact Kirk Chapman at
kirk.Chapman@pgcps.org or by calling 301-572-0640 at extension 272.