"A current tutor, Meredith, has been a preschool teacher in Austin for 14 years. Their goal has been to turn preschoolers into passionate pre-readers, who love being read to. Meredith regretted not being able to also help students become amazing readers. Working as a K-3 Reading Corps tutor has been an amazing experience for this long-time teacher, because now they are able to see readers blossom each day and in real time. Describing their experience, Meredith said, “Each day, my students and I take a minute or two to discuss what we are reading at home or in class. We are excited to share how reading makes our lives better. Then, we get to work. In the few short months that I have been working with my students, I have seen huge growth. I LOVE being able to work one on one with each student and see their excitement and confidence grow as they discover that reading IS fun and that they ARE good at it. I love every day that I get to work with my students. I love doing so through Reading Corps, where my students aren't boxes to be checked off, but kids I am building relationships with, and who are building their relationship with reading.” Reading Corps has a profound, positive impact on both students and tutors. Passionate service members, using our evidenced-based, highly effective model, know that they are making a real difference in the lives of the students they work with. Together, we work to close the opportunity gap and we foster life-long confidence in and enjoyment of reading."
