reading buddies

Reading buddy helps a child

Volunteer To Be A Reading Buddy

As a Reading Buddy volunteer, you will spend time with students on a regular basis to help them improve their literacy skills and inspire a love of reading and books. You will provide encouragement as a child succeeds, and you will be able to model through your own actions that reading is fun!

Reading Buddies should be patient and encouraging, good communicators with excellent listening skills, able to work one-to-one with young people at their pace, passionate about literacy, fluent in English and a competent reader, and able to interact with children from diverse backgrounds.

Reading Buddies will have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with a child, see a child’s reading skills and confidence grow, share your love of reading and books with children, and use your creativity and innovation to facilitate learning.

All Reading Buddy volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and will be screened through a SLED and National Sex Offender Registry background check.

Volunteers are needed both throughout the school year (September-April), and during Camp iRock (June).

School Year Reading Buddy

The ideal School Year Reading Buddy would be able to serve twice a week for 30 minutes or more from September to April, working with potentially 2-3 students. However, some flexibility is possible. Volunteers will receive training and supervision from the School District of Pickens County and will coordinate all activities with teaching staff of the school to support and extend the literacy learning that is occurring in the classroom.

Camp iRock Reading Buddy

The ideal Camp iRock Reading Buddy would be able to serve twice a week for 30 minutes or more during June. However, some flexibility is possible. Volunteers will receive training and supervision from the School District of Pickens County and will coordinate all activities with Camp iRock teaching staff to support and extend the literacy learning that is occurring in the Camp iRock classroom.

For More Information

Contact Anna Spatafora, Director of Education, 864-826-8107, to learn more.

WHEN

Monday-Thursdays

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

(Possible afternoon hours available)

WHERE

YEAR ROUND OPPORTUNITIES:

Crosswell Elementary, Easley

East End Elementary, Easley

Forest Acres Elementary, Easley

CAMP iROCK OPPORTUNITIES:

2025 Camp iRock Sites coming soon!

COMMITMENT

Prefer a minimum of 30 minutes, twice a week (flexible)

 

Apply Now!

Submit your application by filling out the form below:

Are you applying to be a School Year Reading Buddy or a Camp iRock Reading Buddy or both?
Are you willing to serve more than one site?
What day/days of the week would you prefer to serve during the school year? (Check all that apply)
What day/days of the week would you prefer to serve during Camp iRock? (Check all that apply)
Would you prefer to serve a certain grade? If so, please select below.
Would you prefer to serve a certain grade? If so, please select below.
I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. If this application leads to a Reading Buddy volunteer position, I understand that false or misleading information in my application may result in my release.

If this application leads to a Reading Buddy volunteer position, I authorize United Way of Pickens County to use my photo in print and online materials.

By signing below, I authorize United Way of Pickens County to conduct a criminal background investigation through the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the National Sex Offender Registry as part of its volunteer screening process.
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