Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child has been selected to participate in a children's literacy program called Reading Together. Volunteers from our school and community help children in this program improve their reading comprehension, fluency and confidence.

Your child will meet with an adult volunteer for one-to-one reading sessions twice a week for 12-24 weeks. All volunteers have successfully completed a criminal record check and have received at least 2.5 hours of training in effective reading strategies.

Please note that spaces are limited. If your child doesn’t secure a spot, they will be placed on a waitlist and may join when a space opens. Waitlisted students may also fill in for absent participants.

If you would like your child to be involved in this literacy program, please fill in the following form.

Reading Together Program

Reading Together (previously known as One to One) has been supporting elementary aged readers in Vernon since 1996. It is modeled after the One to One Literacy Society’s program developed in Vancouver in 1989.

Students are typically in grades 2-4 and are developing skills in one or more aspects of their reading. They are not receiving other specialized reading help from School District staff. Each student receives one to one reading sessions for 30 minutes twice a week for up to 24 weeks. Trained volunteers provide a supportive environment, offering the time and space for students to improve their fluency and comprehension.

Volunteer Readers must be at least 18 years old, have good reading and English language skills and a desire to make a difference. Schools require all volunteers to receive a criminal record check clearance prior to working with students.

The Volunteer’s Commitment is 2 hours, one morning or afternoon per week from October to May. All reading is done at school during school hours. Substitute volunteers may be available to fill in when a student’s regular volunteer is ill or on vacation.

Volunteers are Trained in a variety of effective reading strategies. This training, as well as a school orientation, are compulsory prior to reading with students.

The Program is facilitated in the Vernon area by The Literacy Society of The North Okanagan in partnership with School District 22. The program has helped thousands of children achieve greater reading confidence and success thanks to the countless volunteers who support the program.

Please see www.literacysociety.ca for more information about the program, to make a donation, or to sign up as a volunteer!

Volunteers Make A Difference!

School *

Free Literacy Workshops

Would you like to be contacted when workshops for parents and/or students are offered by the Literacy Society?

Student Photo Release

From time to time, the Literacy Society may take photos of program participants for promotional purposes. Do you consent to your child's image being used either digitally or in print for promoting our free Literacy programs?