Children who fail to read independently by 3rd grade rarely catch up later. Research has shown that reading aloud to children is one of the greatest predictors of reading achievement and school success.
As part of a wide-reaching campaign to improve children’s literacy since 1993, the SAG Foundation created Junior BookPALS, a service learning program, which brings together students from disparate demographics, across grades and schools. High school drama students are given the opportunity to read aloud to and tutor under-served elementary students in low performing public schools. The program engages high school students in activities that encourage compassion, caring, inspirational and intellectual stimulation for children in distressed communities.
Trained Junior BookPALS volunteers will be placed in under-served classrooms where they read aloud to and tutor children for one hour each week of the school year. Each participating classroom will receive a Book Basket containing twenty new, quality books to build classroom libraries. Leadership training by professional actors and certified teachers will encourage positive youth development. Adult-to-student and student-to-student mentoring relationships will be fostered as high school students engage in meaningful civic leadership activities that benefit the broader community.
As a result, children increase literacy skills, gain confidence with reading, and increase the amount of quality time spent reading. Children, Jr. BookPALS and teachers also increase affiliation and communication among their different communities. Through growing awareness and acceptance, stereotypes and prejudices can begin to break down.
Fourth graders from Catalina shine with Disney's Cheryl Boza, Community Relations Manager and Natalie Rogers, Florida Program Director