
ReadingPals Volunteer Registration

Volunteering just 60 minutes of your time a week to read to a child makes a lifelong impact — in their life and yours.

ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for students from Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) to 3rd grade who may need extra help, utilizing one-on-one or small group settings. In Miami-Dade, ReadingPals offers volunteers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with preschool children. ReadingPals volunteers help children improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills through interactions with two children 3 – 5 years old.

WHY IS READINGPALS IMPORTANT?

45% of children in Florida are not ready for Kindergarten and 43% of Florida students cannot read at a minimally proficient level by the end of third grade. Additionally, studies show that children with mentors are more confident and have fewer behavioral problems.Early intervention and individualized attention gives students the best likelihood of success.

READINGPALS THREE PILLARS

MENTORING: To build genuine and impactful relationships between students and our volunteer.

EARLY LITERACY: To improve students’ understanding of the fundamental building blocks of early literacy.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: To help students build a strong social-emotional foundation through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.

The next ReadingPals session will begin the week of September 23, 2019 and will run weekly through May 22, 2020.

ReadingPals is managed by The Children’s Movement of Florida and administered through 17 United Ways — with the help of numerous community partners across the state.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS: PREPROGRAM

Attend a two-hour orientation training prior to the first reading session
Complete and pass a Level 1 background check online through the Miami-Dade County Public School District. There is no cost to volunteers for completing this screening. Returning volunteers must update online profile yearly.
Agree to read for 60 minutes on the same morning each week for the duration of the program

DURING PROGRAM

Read with a set of four students for 60 minutes once a week
Use provided books and activities that support early literacy skills
Review ongoing tips and tools to be a successful and effective reader
Accurately fill out an online timesheet

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the ReadingPals program. Please complete the application below.

Demographic Information

Upload a picture (Optional)

Prefix *

Legal first name *

Preferred name

Last name: *

Suffix

Birth date: * +

Employer 🛈

Title

Email: *

Secondary Email

Primary phone *

Secondary phone

Address *

City *

Zip *

How did you hear about the program? *

Who referred you?

Are you a new ReadingPal? *

Yes

No

Years as a ReadingPal: * 🛈

ReadingPals is 1 hour of reading a week. Is this okay? *

Yes

No

Would you be interested in reading for 30 minutes once a week? *

Yes

No

What is your preferred method of contact? *

Phone call

Text message

Email

What is your MDCPS username ID? 🛈

PLEASE SELECT ONE READING LOCATION

Centro Mater East
Time: 9:00 - 10 am
Address: 418 SW 4th Ave, 33130
Area: Downtown

I want to volunteer at Centro Mater East

Select Day: Centro Mater East

*

Greynolds Park Elementary School
Time: 10 - 11:00 am
Address: 1536 NE 179 Street, 33162
Area: North Miami

I want to volunteer at Greynolds Park Elementary School

Select Day: Greynolds Park Elementary *

Southside Elementary School
Time: 9 - 10 am
Address: 45 SW 13 Street, 33130
Area: Downtown

I want to volunteer at Southside Elementary School

Select Day: Southside Elementary School

Centro Mater West
Time: 9:00 - 10 am
Address: 8298 NW 103 Street, 33016
Area: Hialeah

I want to volunteer at Centro Mater West

Select Day: Centro Mater West *

Treasure Island Elementary
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 am
Address: 7540 E Treasure Drive, 33141
Area: Miami Beach

I want to volunteer at Treasure Island Elementary

Select Day: Treasure Island Elementary *

iPrep Academy
Time: 9 - 10 am
Address: 1500 Biscayne Blvd, 33132
Area: Downtown

I want to volunteer at iPrep Academy

Select Day: iPrep Academy *

Resource Room Childcare Center
Time: 9 - 10 am
Address: 3050 NW 183 Street, 33056
Area: Miami Gardens

I want to volunteer at Resource Room Childcare Center

Select Day: Resource Room Childcare Center *

Natural Bridge Elementary School
Time:10:00 - 11 am
Address: 1650 NE 141 St, 33181
Area: North Miami

I want to volunteer at Natural Bridge Elementary School

Select Day: Natural Bridge Elementary School *

Culmer Head Start Child Development Center
Time:9 - 10 am
Address: 1600 NW 3rd Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
Area: Overtown

I want to volunteer at Culmer Head Start Child Development Center

Select Day: Culmer Head Start *

Miami Shores Elementary School
Time:10:20 - 11:50 am
Address: 51 Northeast 5th Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33138
Area: Miami Shores

I want to volunteer at Miami Shores Elementary School

Select Day: Miami Shores Elementary School *

St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center
Time:9 - 10:00 am
Address: 3465 Brooker Street, Miami, FL, 33133
Area: Coconut Grove

I want to volunteer at St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center

Select Day: St. Alban's CEC *

Cherry Blossom
Time:9 - 10 am
Address: 2935 SW 3rd Ave. Miami, FL 33129
Area: The Roads

I want to volunteer at Cherry Blossom

Select Day: Cherry Blossom *

La Scuola
Time:9 - 10 am
Address: 7412 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL 33143
Area: South Miami

I want to volunteer at La Scuola

Select Day: La Scuola *

Due to number of volunteer opportunities per reading location, we request that you choose only one reading location. *

I have selected only one reading location.	Please help me find a location close to work or home.
Please contact me. The location I would like is full.

I am interested in serving as a substitute reader in addition to my assigned session. *

Yes

No

ReadingPals was designed by and is currently managed by The Children’s Movement of Florida – a nonprofit, nonpartisan movement of Floridians advocating for high-quality early learning opportunities, access to children’s health care, and parent support programs. Through your volunteer experience, you will see firsthand the importance of high-quality early education and why The Movement wants to give our youngest Floridians a strong start. Unless you “opt out,” you will receive updates directly from The Movement on statewide ReadingPals efforts and what is happening in the area of early education in Florida.

Opt out of Children's Movement updates.