Volunteer: Inspire Crown Heights Students to Love Reading

Behind_the_Book

Become a volunteer with Behind the Book, a non-profit literacy organization that inspires New York City public school students to love reading. We bring authors into pre-K-12th grade classrooms in high-needs communities, where they guide students in creating their own writing and art projects. Our rich, innovative programs, which are part of the curricula and meet Common Core Learning Standards, have a successful record of building reading skills at schools around the city.

You need no experience or training to volunteer as a writing, research or art coach to engage and encourage students as they work.

These classroom programs in Crown Heights need your help as a writing coach in November and December:

Program 241TM114

Friday, November 4th from 9:05 – 10:35 AM 

This third-grade class read DeShawn Days, a collection of poems by Tony Medina told from the point of view of a 10-year-old boy living in Harlem. Working with the author, students will write two or three poems, then choose one to illustrate. Writing coaches will assist them in writing final drafts for publication in a book.

Program 241RW128 

Thursday, December 8th from 9:05 – 10:35 AM

Third-graders read Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renée Watson, the story of celebrated African-American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian Florence Mills and her efforts to bring positive change to her Harlem community. The engaging story is the students’ inspiration to write about a problem they’d like to address in their own community. Writing coaches will assist them as they work on their current draft. 

To volunteer for a date, please reply with the program code to [email protected].

For more program details, visit www.behindthebook.org/current-volunteer-opportunities/.

To receive announcements of new volunteer opportunities, please complete our brief questionnaire at www.behindthebook.org/join-us/volunteer/.