YMCA READS!

A New Literacy/Mentoring Initiative Targeting First and Second Graders. Sponsored by the Florida State Alliance of YMCA's The Florida State Alliance leadership was awarded $900,000 dollars from the Department of Education to create YMCA READS!, a literacy/mentoring program at 20 sites throughout Florida, working with schools with high rates of students testing below grade level in reading, as well as areas with high rates of students receiving free and reduced lunch.

YMCA READS! seeks to close the gap in students' reading performance and the State of Florida's reading performance expectations. The program is limited to K through third graders specifically referred by the participating schools, and the primary focus of the programming will be on improving students' reading grade level equivalency.

Additional services will be provided to develop the whole child, including meeting each child's need for relationship building and greater self-esteem. Programs will work in close collaboration with the child's parents and teachers to create a seamless plan of action for improvement. Volunteer mentors will deliver the program services.

YMCA READS! uses the Systematic Instruction in Phoneme Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) program. The SIPPS program is a decoding curriculum that helps struggling readers develop word recognition skills and fluency quickly. YMCA READS! will also use AfterSchool KidzLit, which exposes students to a variety of literature that highlights the "big ideas" that are important to their lives.

Click here to learn more about the Volunteer Florida Foundation.

YMCA READS! Brochure

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