Kids are great mentors - especially when it comes to helping people younger learn to read or build skills. Studies have been done that paired 5th graders with 2ndgraders to help the second graders build reading skills. What happened was not only did the 2nd graders become better readers, but the 5thgraders' reading skills improved dramatically, too. Many schools now have buddy style reading programs as part of their curriculums.
From the moment a student can read, he or she becomes a mentor for younger children. We've all seen it. My nephew, even as a kindergartener would come home from school, pretend he was Mrs. Kennedy, his teacher, and read the Little Red Hen to his younger brother. Of course, it was probably because he had memorized the story, but still …. Everyone is a mentor.
Being a mentor is a very important role. Mentors can change a community, a family, a classroom or a school. Sometimes, mentors can even change the world especially when it’s about reading. Reading ability has been shown to be an important factor in the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. Along with changing their communities, there are so many other reasons that make mentoring a great opportunity for students to do something for themselves and others.
For those who are interested in ensuring that everyone knows how to read, the attached clip is Yvette Couser, MLS, Children’s Librarian at the Merrimack Public Library talking about how to read a wordless story to someone younger. Reading to others is a great way to help.
(The clip is also part of HenrysHelpers.com, the free program for public schools to help reduce the impact of bullying. Instructions for how to use Henry's site can be found at EmpoweringLearners.com.)
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