Volunteer Impact Statement:
Strong Start® Charitable Organization is a registered Canadian charity that helps children learn to read. Our programs involve working with children directly in addition to providing resources for families to support the development of strong literacy skills. We work through partnerships with schools, community centres, educators, and volunteers to create lifelong readers. Together, we are helping young children reach their potential and strengthening communities.
As a Volunteer Coach, you can assist young children in learning essential early reading skills. Volunteers work in a school setting. By helping children learn to read, you can help unleash their potential and increase their quality of life.
Position Description:
The Letter, Sounds and Words™ program is an early intervention reading program designed to help children build a foundation for literacy. It is used in schools throughout Waterloo Region. This 10 week program for 5 to 9 year old children uses short games/activities to provide repetition and fun to help young children recognize letters, sounds, how to learn words by sight and how to build a word by using the sounds of its letters.
Volunteer Coaches work with one child at a time and follow prescribed activities using the materials provided. A Vulnerable Sector Police Check is required to work in a school setting.
Working Conditions: School setting - For a list of sites, please visit http://strongstart.ca/programs/letters-sounds-and-words/sites/
Training Details:
New volunteers participate in two, 2-hour training sessions (4 hours total). For more information or to register for an upcoming online or in-person training session, please visit our website www.strongstart.ca.
Time Commitment:
Volunteers are needed for a minimum of 30 minutes, once per week for 10-12 weeks, with one child. If able, you can work for 1-2 hours per week with more children. The schedule would be coordinated with the Site Co-ordinator at the school you volunteer in.