How Mentors Are Transforming Reading in Georgia—And How You Can Too
Using the mentoring program model developed by former grantee MENTOR Georgia, Roan Reads is reshaping the literacy landscape in Dalton, Georgia.
“We’re giving kids more exposure to other adults that care about them,” said 21st Century CLC Programs Director, Amy Sherman. “It’s not just their teachers; it’s not just their family—the world is investing in them. There’s nothing like a one-on-one person reading with them.”
Sherman, program co-leader Scott Ehlers, and Director of Early Childhood Initiative Suzanne Harbin make up the small team that has recently found success with Roan Reads.
It’s a Kid City after-school program at Roan Elementary School, and it’s dedicated to one-on-one mentoring and reading support for children shifting from second to third grade.
This transition is one of the hardest for young children, because it’s when they begin to shift from learning to read, to reading to learn.
“Reading by third grade is so pivotal for children’s success in the future, critical thinking, and basic life skills,” Harbin said. “Everyone deserves the right to know how to read and have access to books.”
Sherman matched each child with their “reading buddy,” volunteer mentors from Engineered Floors of Dalton, Georgia. Before starting, volunteers were trained by MENTOR Georgia and empowered to model reading techniques of good readers.
Executive Director of MENTOR Georgia Leslie Hale personally directed the training of each volunteer, which focused on best practices for mentoring and interactive read-alouds with children.
Anyone can take advantage of what MENTOR Georgia offers, which includes the leadership and infrastructure necessary to support the expansion of quality mentoring relationships across Georgia.
Starting early this year, reading buddies met up once a week to read books together, practice foundational reading skills, and complete fun activities until 6:30 p.m.
Caption: Amy Sherman, right, reads to a child in the Roan reads program.
“The original intent was for volunteers to read a book with the kids and do a little activity in 30 minutes,” Sherman said. “The kids and volunteers were so engaged that it wound up being two to three books with activities lasting 45 minutes to an hour—that excitement was my favorite part.”
Harbin and Sherman would both say the training and support they received from MENTOR Georgia was pivotal in the early success of their program.
MENTOR Georgia is housed within the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia. Executive Director of MENTOR Georgia, Leslie Hale led volunteer trainings for Roan Reads and previously received a grant from the Deal Center to expand the program.
They have opportunities for communities across Georgia: monthly webinars, virtual coffee hours, on-demand training, and other events are just a few ways they could support literacy in your community.
Even better, their offerings are grant-support by organizations like the Deal Center. Be the change, and support literacy efforts in your community by following in the footsteps of Roan Reads.
Want to launch a program like Roan Reads in your town? Reach out to us at galiteracy@gcsu.edu and we'll show you how.