Retired city employee Michele Lobl spends her mornings volunteering at Newhall Elementary School as part of the Santa Clarita Valley Education Foundation’s “Read with Me” program. This weekly initiative aims to provide targeted reading skills support to students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.
Lobl, who has been a volunteer for about five years, joins teachers and other volunteers in 32 classes across 10 schools, working with 24 educators. She focuses on one-on-one and small group sessions with students, addressing pronunciation, comprehension, inference, and critical thinking skills.
The program’s coordinator, Matt Laughlin, notes that RWM volunteers work closely with children from diverse backgrounds to address gaps in literacy due to summer break or language barriers. Lobl’s regular visits help bridge this gap, allowing her to witness progress over the course of the year.
During a recent visit, Lobl engaged students with activities like Alphabet Bingo and discussed topics such as turtle shells for protection. Newhall School District Superintendent Leticia Hernandez praised the program’s impact on students, highlighting the exceptional patience and care shown by volunteers like Lobl.
For Lobl, volunteering is rewarding, allowing her to form connections with students despite not knowing their names initially. Her experience underscores the value of community-based initiatives like RWM, which promote innovation and excellence in education through local partnerships and support.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2024/12/read-with-me-program-bridges-gaps-in-literacy