Six weeks ago, our Summer Leadership Academy began revealing entirely new realms of possibility for our teen tutors. The six-week program was designed to give them a first-hand, insider look at a myriad of career opportunities, both known and previously unknown to our teen tutors. Through on-site tours and hands-on activities at businesses and organizations across Jacksonville and in-person discussions and presentations at the Schultz Center, our teen tutors’ eyes and minds were further opened to all the possibility that lies ahead of them in college and beyond – and the experience during these past six weeks has impacted them for a lifetime.
The feedback we have heard from our teen tutors, Summer Leadership Academy directors, and program volunteers has been exceptionally positive while also providing constructive suggestions to build upon the Academy’s successes in future years. We are honored and humbled to share some of the inspiring feedback we have received:
“Coming into this program I didn’t have much confidence when it came to public speaking. This program allowed me to be able to speak to crowds and speak up to higher professionals to further my own profession.”
“With READ USA I learned a lot more about myself and my dream career of becoming a pediatric nurse and was able to learn all the steps to get there. From being able to go to FSCJ, UNF, and talking to Baptist Health nurses, I learned so much about the career and the steps to get there.”
“Everyone is flawed; it’s okay to show your flaws in public. When you make a mistake, take it in stride: Apologize if you did wrong and keep on going. Not to repeat it, but to learn from it.
“I really enjoyed the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] ACE [Arts, Communications, and Education] breakout sessions because I got the opportunity to talk to persons in science and technology and I learned that there are free technology certifications that you can obtain.”
“At the Summer Leadership Academy, I entered with a dampened spirit unmotivated and lost in terms of what I wanted to do and pursue in life. As I progressed through the program, I became inspired by all the professionals and areas of the city that I was introduced to which helped motivate me to work towards my passions. I’ve also learned to speak up and continue pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I really appreciated all the experiences and the support from Ms. Ashlea and the advisors in addition to any of the guest speakers. The career board project was also very educational because I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t have the research to understand how exactly to get to the career I desired. Thank you for this opportunity!!!!!”
And finally, we are grateful to Gayle Adams, a long-time READ USA supporter and Tutor Coordinator, for sharing this life-changing experience with us:
“On Wednesday when I was fortunate enough to attend the Summer Leadership Academy presentations, I had conversations with many tutors. Multiple participants were telling me how the summer opportunity had changed the trajectory of their life. Several told me that, at one time college was not an option and now they are confident the future is brighter, and that college will happen. One of my spring tutors told me she had lost both of her brothers to violence. How they had gone down the ‘wrong’ path. She let me know she was on a different path because of READ USA. She told me she wants to be a NICU nurse, hoping these babies will grow up and be told how their nurse helped save their life. She later texted me to thank me for listening to her story!❤️ These young people just need someone to hear their story! There are so many testimonies of hope and passion.”
We are so grateful for our donors, partners, and supporters who helped make all that our teen tutors learned through the READ USA Summer Leadership Academy possible. To our donors and partners, thank you for your investment in our teens’ futures!
Free Family Literacy Workshops in July & August
Looking for Literacy Help? Mark Your Calendar!
READ USA is hosting a series of FREE Family Literacy Workshops designed to empower parents and caregivers with the tools and strategies needed to support children’s reading and literacy development outside of school. These workshops will be held at different Jacksonville Public Library branch locations across the city in July and August.
At these workshops, you will have the opportunity to learn fun, engaging ways to help your child enjoy reading and build their reading skills at home. You will also receive free resources and reading activity guides and have the opportunity to connect with other parents to share experiences, ideas, and successes.
July
August
To RSVP for a workshop, either scan the QR code below or click here:
We look forward to seeing you there!
Want to share this info with others? Feel free to download and send this flyer to your fellow parents, caregivers, friends, or colleagues:
READ USA Participates in School Attendance Summit
On Monday, partners from across the city gathered for Part II of a School Attendance Summit. Conversations focused around improving on-time arrival to school and overall school attendance – two issues that partners across the city are working to address. Local leaders in attendance included representatives from Mayor Donna Deegan’s Office, Jacksonville City Council, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, READ JAX (the local grade-level reading campaign), Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), and READ USA.
The Summit, facilitated by Strategist Tina Wirth, was a continuation from last week’s initial discussion – which our teen tutors had the opportunity to participate in! (You can read more about that here.)
Part I and II of the Summit yielded highly productive discussions and input for DCPS leadership and other partners to consider as we collectively work to improve school attendance! Many thanks to DCPS, Tina, and all our partners for including READ USA and our teen tutors in these valuable discussions!
Calling all (Future) Tutors!
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through July! For READ USA, that means we are getting that much closer to the start of school – and to the fall semester kickoff of Literacy Tutoring!
Literacy Tutoring will take place in at least 15 Duval County elementary schools starting in August, and we are seeking teens who are interested in making a positive difference in the lives of elementary students across Jacksonville – while also earning a $15/hour wage!
How Literacy Tutoring Works:
Teen tutors are trained how to use pre-written lesson plans to deliver high-quality reading lessons to help elementary students improve their literacy skills. READ USA provides extensive training, onboarding, on-site support, and resources to teen tutors. Tutors have one-on-one access to supervising teachers during all tutoring sessions, who oversee, coach, and guide tutors in lesson delivery.
Who We Want:
Teen Tutors Can Expect:
Want to hear from fellow tutors about their experience? Click here to watch.
READ USA Celebrates “Greg Burton Day”
Long-time READ USA supporter and Emeritus Board Member Greg Burton received a very special recognition this past Sunday: Mayor Donna Deegan proclaimed Sunday, July 14, 2024, as “Greg Burton Day” to recognize and celebrate Greg’s outstanding service and contributions to our community! We are elated for this incredibly well-deserved recognition of Greg’s dedication to our fellow citizens, and particularly his dedication to our local youth!
Presented by Mayor Deegan’s staff members – Dr. Parvez Ahmed, Chief of Diversity and Inclusion, and Dr. Tracye Polson, Director of Strategic Partnerships – the official proclamation acknowledged Greg’s leadership, compassion, and dedication to justice, reading in part:
Greg Burton has exemplified the highest standards of service and commitment throughout his distinguished career in law enforcement, demonstrating unwavering dedication, courage, and integrity…
Greg Burton has made significant contributions to the City of Jacksonville, not only through his professional excellence but also through his active involvement in community initiatives, fostering strong relationships between law enforcement and the community…
“We have been honored to have Greg’s deep involvement and support of READ USA for many years and are so proud of this recognition,” said our CEO Dr. Rob Kelly. “Thank you, Greg, for all you do for READ USA, our youth, and our city!”
You can read more about Greg Burton on our website here.
Children’s Book: We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
Illustrated by Michaela Goade
In this tribute to Native resilience, Indigenous author-and-illustrator team Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade invite readers to stand up for environmental justice.
The book opens with a young Indigenous girl collecting water with her grandmother, who tells her that “water is the first medicine.” When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.
Vibrant blues, greens, and purples depict a river as it flows in the background of the beautifully composed spread. With every page-turn, the river continues to flow; it becomes the young girl’s hair as she leads members of her community to where the “black snake” threatens to take over their land and water. The young girl emphasizes the importance of protecting “those who cannot fight for themselves” and understanding that on Earth, “we are all related.” Themes of ancestry, community responsibility, and shared inheritance run throughout. Where the brave girl is depicted alongside her community, the illustrations feature people of all ages, skin tones, and clothing styles. Lindstrom’s powerful message includes non-Native and Native readers alike: “We are stewards of the Earth. We are water protectors.”
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Content Specialist
Parent Education Corner: Fun Phonics Activities to Do at Home
One of the best ways to support your child in learning to read is to provide opportunities for him/her to practice phonics skills.
Phonics is the knowledge of how spoken sounds (phonemes) can be represented by written letters (graphemes). Phonics connects phonological awareness—the ability to hear and work with spoken words, word parts, and individual sounds—to written language.
Let’s dive into these fun activities!
When children are learning a phonics skill (i.e., the sound for the letter m, or the digraph ch), it’s important for them to see examples of the skill being used in real words and books. Scavenger hunts are a fun way to accomplish this!
Practicing writing letters and words is an important part of phonics! You can make it fun by having your child paint, write in shaving cream spread thinly on a table, trace in sand, or use any other type of material that sounds fun. After they’ve written a letter or word, have them tell you the letter sound or read the word to you.
For this activity, grab a few of your child’s toys and some other small objects around the house. Place them on the table. Have your child select one object at a time and tell you the first sound (and perhaps letter) in the word.
If this is easy for your child (it may be easy for first grade and up), have them tell you the last sound or the vowel sound(s) instead!
For this game, you’ll need some index cards with alphabet letters or words written on them. Hide the index cards around your home. Tell your child how many cards they must find. When your child finds a card, they have to say the letter sound OR read the word aloud.
Do you have a magnetic refrigerator, cabinet, or cookie sheet in your home? If so, have your child use magnetic letters to practice building words! Just like with the other activities, you’ll want to choose words that have a phonics pattern the child is learning.
Another activity you can have them do with magnetic letters is sorting: make separate groups of consonants and vowels, capital and lower-case letters, tall and short letters, etc.
So, there you have it – five phonics activities for you to do at home with your child, and they’re lots of fun, too!
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Content Specialist
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!