Who We Are

  ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that connects caring volunteer mentors with students from pre K through third grade who need a little extra support. Through one on one and small group reading time, volunteers help children build strong early literacy skills, strengthen their confidence, provide a responsible adult mentor, and develop a lifelong love of books. According to 24-25 data, across Florida, 43% percent of third graders are not reading on grade level, which means more than ninety four thousand students are not yet where they need to be in reading right before that critical switch from learning to read to reading to learn. At United Way of NWFL, ReadingPals volunteers work directly with local students to help close that gap and lay the foundation for long term educational success.

Volunteer Now!

  What We Do

ReadingPals offers volunteers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with elementary aged students while helping them improve their social emotional development and early literacy skills.

In Bay and Washington Counties, ReadingPals volunteers spend about an hour each week working one on one or in very small groups with students in prekindergarten through third grade in Bay District Schools, Washington County Schools, and Early Education and Care Head Start centers. Books, themed literacy kits, and other developmentally appropriate learning activities are provided to ensure sessions are engaging and impactful. Volunteer and student pairs choose which activities to work on each session to encourage positive decision making skills and to foster independence and creative thinking.

Every student in participating ReadingPals receives at least 12 brand new, quality books every school year to help build their home library.

This year we aim to mentor over 150 kids with 2,700 combined mentoring hours!

  What We Hope to Achieve

•   MENTORING: To build genuine, impactful relationships between students and our volunteer mentors.

•   EARLY LITERACY: To improve students’ understanding of the fundamental building blocks of early literacy.

•   SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: To help students build a strong social-emotional foundation through self-awareness, self-   management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.

  Why It’s Important

 Reading to a child does so much more than teach them how to read. When an adult shares a book with a child, the child hears many more words than they would in everyday conversation, which grows vocabulary, strengthens language skills, and builds background knowledge they will draw on in every school subject. Brain imaging studies show that reading aloud activates areas of the brain tied to language, attention, and later reading skills, even before a child can read on their own. ReadingPals create a calm, connected moment that helps children feel safe and loved, and share stories that give them a way to explore big feelings, practice empathy, and imagine solutions to problems they face in real life.

Mentoring is important to children for many of the same reasons. A consistent, caring adult who shows up just for them can boost a child’s confidence, sense of belonging, and hope for the future. Research on mentoring programs finds that strong mentoring relationships are linked with better school attendance and engagement, improved social and emotional skills, and lower rates of risky behaviors.

The Impact? Early intervention and individualized attention gives students the best likelihood of success long-term, and studies show that children with mentors are more confident, have fewer behavioral problems, and are more likely to succeed in school!

Sign up today to be a ReadingPal and make a difference in the lives of students in Bay & Washington Counties!

Made Possible By:

ReadingPals is managed by The Children’s Movement of Florida and administered through 17 United Ways/supporting agencies -- with the help of numerous community partners across the state. 

ReadingPals at UWNWFL is made possible through the generosity of the Barnett family – with the support of The Children’s Movement of Florida, The Bay County Public Library Foundation, Early Education & Care, Bay & Washington County Schools, our incredible volunteers, and YOU.