Reading Corps Now Hiring

Minnesota Reading Corps is a program that is working to ensure that all Minnesota children are on track to read by the end of 3^rd grade. We do this by training and placing AmeriCorps members in elementary and preschool settings across Minnesota. Now we are poised to draw greater community involvement into teaching all of Itasca County's young people to read. To harness the power of community we need a volunteer coordinator.

Number of openings: 1

Position name: Volunteer Coordinator

Employment type: Full time

Employment start date: August 9, 2010

Employment end date: June 30, 2011

Location: Grand Rapids

By joining MRC, you’ll not only make a difference in children’s lives, but the training and experience you gain will benefit your own career. This is a chance to do your part in building our communities while gaining real responsibility, learning professional communication and other valuable career skills.

Learn more at www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org

Contacts: Kari Gjerde, at kgjerde@theMLC.org

Jaci David, at jdavid@theMLC.org

Application instructions: Apply online at www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org. Interview and selection is a rolling process, and the majority of positions will be filled by early July, 2010.

Description of position

Build your career skills and professional network by being part of a successful program that will help keep 18,000 Minnesota kids from falling behind. Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC) is an AmeriCorps program that is helping improve literacy skills among our youngest generation. Volunteer Coordinators are needed to recruit and manage community volunteers to provide services at local schools Learn more at www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org.

As a Volunteer Coordinator, you will host a minimum of six literacy events held either in school or at community sites. The purpose of these events is to promote literacy to kids, get kids excited to read and connect and engage community partners to the literacy efforts of the site.

You will recruit, train and support community volunteers who provide one-to-one tutoring using Minnesota Reading Corps’ research-based reading strategies. Focus will be placed on tutoring children who are on the waiting lists to receive Reading Corps services or children who have exited the program to ensure their skills are sustained.

By serving as a Volunteer Coordinator with Minnesota Reading Corps, you will build skills and a professional network critical to any career, especially in the nonprofit sector. In addition to recruiting and managing literacy volunteers and their schedules, you will establish relationships with school staff and community partners.

Skills needed for the volunteer coordinator role include: interest in education, strong networking and collaboration skills, comfort with public speaking, self-starter, proven ability to lead and take initiative.

Why join? You can be part of a successful organization that is helping children succeed in school, and gain professional experience at the same time. By serving for one year with Minnesota Reading Corps, you will build career skills, real responsibility and network with professionals. You will receive free health care coverage, federal loan deferment, a biweekly stipend of $490 and an education award of $5,350.

Are you up for the challenge? Online application is available on www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org. Positions for the 2010-11 program year begin in August. Contact Anna with questions at apeters@theMLC.org or 651-251-9075.

Minnesota Reading Corps is committed to the inclusion of all individuals regardless of disability, gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request.

Qualifications

Strong interest in education, specifically helping young children learn to read.

Experience working with children and / or volunteers, preferably in a literacy-related capacity.

Dedication to community service.

Computer skills, including the ability to navigate and use online database systems and e-mail.

Responsible, organized, flexible, motivated, professional.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Ability to make a commitment to complete 11 months of service (August ’10 - June 30, 2011).

High school diploma or GED and must be at least 18-years-old.

U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien.

Preferred: College coursework, college degree, or equivalent work experience

Parent Tip

More than Just Nourishment

Make an effort to eat dinner together as a family. Research shows that children’s literacy rates are higher in families that eat together. A relaxed suppertime is not only fun, but the conversation can help your child build his vocabulary and social skills.

Friday Fun

Restaurant Play (30 minutes)

Need something for your child to do while you prepare dinner? Play restaurant with your child and help them develop lots of skills!

You'll need
*paper *pencils, markers, crayons or pens *apron *tray *napkins *notebook or paper

What to do:

1. Together with your child, plan a special restaurant menu poster for the evening meal including prices for each dish
2. Encourage him to make a poster of the meal and display for the rest of family members
3. Invite him to seat everyone as if they are in a restaurant, and pretend to take their orders on a slip of paper
4. Perhaps your child can serve drinks or salads on a tray
5. Remind him to serve from the right and pick up from the left when he clears their dirty dishes
6. Remember to leave him a big tip when the meal is over

While you are having fun together, your child is developing reading, writing and social skills!!

Quote

No parent should expect more from their child than to have them fulfill their full potential in life. There is nothing more critical in helping this become a reality than being able to read.

-Alan and Wendy Pesky

Do you have books to share?

It's time for spring Cleaning! We know the closets in the community are full of children's books that need a new home.

Why not donate those books to Project READ? We will distribute all your gently used children's books at the annual Children's Fair on April 24 or on our Bright Red Bookshelves.

Drop sites are located in many of our local elementary schools and middle schools or at the following businesses:
-Brewed Awakenings
-Reed Drug
-Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
-Minnesota Reading Corp offices at the Old Central School
-Edward Jones Financial at 72 SE 7th St.

The drive continues until April 13.

Project READ Monthly Meeting

The next Project READ meeting is March 25 at 8:00 AM at the District #318 Administration Building. Come and join us to find out more about what we do!

20 Minutes A Day

By: Richard Peck

Read to your children

Twenty minutes a day.

You have the time,

And so do they.

Read while the laundry is in the machine.

Read while the dinner cooks.

Tuck a child in the crook of your arm

And reach for library books.

Hide the remote,

Let the computer games cool,

For one day your children will be off to school.

"Remedial?", "Gifted?"

You have the choice;

Let them hear their first tales

In the sound of your voice.

Read in the morning;

Read over noon;

Read by the light of

Good Night, Moon.

Turn the pages together,

Sitting as close as you'll fit.

Till a small voice beside you says,

"Hey, don't quit."

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Mr. Martinson was "Cat in the Hat" for Cohasset Elementary's celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday. You can go to his blog and see pictures.

IASC Community Education has a few costumes including "Cat in the Hat" that can be checked out to enhance your literacy events.

Gotta Keep Reading

Ocoee Middle School in Ocoee, FL partnered with Full Sail to create an inspirational music video to get students across the country excited about reading. This video was inspired by the Flash Mob Dance on the Oprah Winfrey Show performed by the Black Eyed Peas and several thousand of Oprah's fans.Full list of credits is at the end of the video.

Thanks to Mr. Martinson at Cohasset for posting it on their school web site!

Is your child learning to Love to Read?

Check out this podcast from "Good Enough Moms".

As people around the world prepare to celebrate World Read Aloud Day on March 3, Pam Allyn, founder of LitWorld and author of What to Read When, and Meredith Sinclair, star mommy blogger of Hoo-dee-hoo.com, join Dr. Marti Erickson and daughter Erin Erickson to share tips on how to ignite the joy of reading in your daughters and your sons. You also will learn fun and creative ways you and your children can join with others near and far to celebrate World Read Aloud Day.

10 Tips for Choosing Books for Children of All Ages

1. Have children choose their own books as soon as they start showing a preference for one over another.
2. Find the children's section of your local library. Get to know the librarian, who can be a great resource.
3. Find out what your child is interested in, and help choose books that are related to his or her interests.
4. Ask friends, family, and teachers what books their children have enjoyed; try a book swap.
5. If your child does not like a book you are reading together, put it away. Reading is a fun time to share, not a time to fight.
6. Again, Again, Again! Children may want to read the same book many times, even if you think they have outgrown it.
7. Use book lists generated by various literacy organizations; they usually have good suggestions. For example: American Library Association, International Reading Association, Children's Book Guild
8. Look for books that you will like reading aloud. Your enjoyment will shine through and become contagious.
9. Try out different kinds of books to see what appeals to your children.
10. Have fun! Show your children the joy of reading and how it can open up a brand new world!