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BTCS Reading Buddies


Welcome to the BTCS Reading Buddies program!

 

Learn More About Being a Reading Buddy


Reading Buddies Bristol TN/VA is a regional community project designed to support students - on both sides of the state line - in kindergarten through second grade with a positive adult mentor relationship and incentives aimed to ensure that students enter third grade as on grade level readers.


The three components of the literacy initiative are:

  1. COMMUNITY MENTORSHIP: Community volunteers undergo a TBI-approved background check to allow for 30 minute weekly literacy/relationship - building sessions at school.
  2.  FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Parent involvement is great, but family engagement is even better! Quarterly Reading Parties allow for families to come together for a light dinner and short coaching sessions on how to best support classroom instruction at home. 
  3.  BUILDING AGE-APPROPRIATE HOME LIBRARIES: All students in participating Reading Buddies grade levels receive the free book of the quarter along with a themed incentive item intended to bring the book to life and encourage reading at home.

THE FACTS:

  • One of the very best scientific predictors for how any child turns out - in terms of happiness, academic success, leadership skills, and meaningful relationships - is whether at least one adult in their life has consistently shown up for them.”  Dan Siegel
  • "Family participation in education is twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status."  Henderson, A.T., & Mapp, K.L. (2002)
  • "A two decade study found that just having books in the home can have as big of an impact on your student’s academic future as your own level of education." Mariah Evans 
  • "Children who are not proficient readers in third grade are four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than proficient readers."  Donald Hernandez 

Reading Buddies Bristol Website

 

2023 Reading Buddies Update

 

All BTCS elementary schools are now Reading Buddies participants! 

  • Anderson Elementary School:  grades K, 1, 2
  • Avoca Elementary School:  grades K, 1, 2
  • Fairmount Elementary School:  grades K, 1, 2
  • Haynesfield Elementary School:  grades K, 1, 2
  • Holston View Elementary School: grades K, 1, 2

Would you like to become a Reading Buddies volunteer? For additional information, contact Kay Ward at (423) 652-9251 or [email protected].

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