Spark the Joy of Reading in a Child: Everyone A Reader Volunteer Program Training 

Since 1995, the Everyone A Reader (EAR) volunteer program has invited parent and community volunteers to work one-to-one with 1st through 3rd grade readers who need additional reading support. Students are carefully monitored as they move up reading levels to achieve proficiency at their grade level. This is a way to help improve literacy and invite the community to your campus.

Teachers identify students who need additional reading practice. Each participating school has a coordinator, who manages the program for their site. This person could be a teacher, principal, or volunteer. EAR volunteers get two hours of training on strategies to support students' text comprehension and spend at least 90 minutes a week reading with students.

The first step in setting up the EAR program at your school is to identify and train a site coordinator. 

EAR site coordinators manage the program at the school site. EAR coordinators:

• Recruit and support volunteers
• Assist teachers with student placements
• Coordinate tutoring schedules
• Manage books and materials

Your site coordinators can be teachers, librarians, aides, parents, staff members, and/or community volunteers. They are trained and supported by SDCOE and need approximately two hours per week to manage the program.

Site coordinator training or the 2023-24 school year will be held virtually on Oct.17 from 9 to 11 a.m. Coordinators must register for this free event. 

For more information about Everyone A Reader, visit the webpage or email Cindy Dunlevy.