An incredible experience. The organization is in good hands through the teachers and volunteers who run it and the attitude is really positive all around. Brought a group of friends to join in and everyone seemed to have great takeaways from the experience. The kids are active and interested and the books chosen were fitting for each age group. Definitely looking to come back for another reading. read more

My 400th Yelp review! @ReadingtoKids is a grassroots organization that aims to inspire the love of reading to children living in underprivileged areas of Los Angeles. Every second Saturday of the month, volunteers go to different elementary schools in the LA area. At these schools volunteers read books to kids that range in age from kindergarten to fifth grade. (Currently there are seven different elementary schools that Reading to Kids volunteers read at. They are Alta Loma Elementary School, Esperanza Elementary School, Gratts Elementary School, Los Angeles Elementary School, Magnolia Elementary School, Politi Elementary School and White Elementary School). Volunteers come from all walks of life. From students to young professionals, all have a common goal of improving the reading and learning skills of elementary school kids. Reading to Kids volunteers are dedicated to giving these kids the opportunity to succeed in life. At the end of each volunteer session, the kids are given prize books that they can take home. The hope is they can acquire many prize books that will help them further love reading. One of the most endearing moments for me as a volunteer was when at the end of the reading session, a little kindergarten boy came up to me and asked if I could read his prize book to him. As I sat down to read the prize book, more kindergarten kids circled around me and together they listened and pointed to the different pictures in the book. The smiles on the kids faces after was so heartwarming. Soon after one of the parents walked up to me, smiled and said "Thank you." That too was another wonderful moment. Many of the elementary students that come to these reading clubs do not have the privileges that most kids have. They do not have the advantages of having a library, of having a Barnes and Nobles at every corner or of having the latest cell phone. Many come from low income families, they live in impoverished areas and English is their second language. The fortune of these kids comes in attending these Saturday morning reading clubs. These kids go to these reading clubs because they want to learn. They want to succeed. They want the opportunity to have a better life. Seeing these kids so eager to read and to learn, is a humble reminder that learning is a privilege that many take for granted. I love Reading to Kids and I'm thankful to my high school friend who first introduced me to this great volunteering opportunity. The elementary schools kids are simply endearing. I also am amazed by all the good hearted people who volunteer. I am in much admiration of the amount of folks that go out and sacrifice their Saturday mornings to volunteer. (Some stats: Reading to Kids has an average of about 300 plus volunteers reading to an average of 780 plus children every month). I being a volunteer myself know that giving up a Saturday is totally worth it. The opportunity to be able to make a difference in these kids' lives and give them a better chance to succeed in life is simply priceless. read more

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Many moons ago, I worked at a continuation school in Compton. The high school students I worked with didn't know basic multiplication, had no textbooks and were reading at a 5th grade level. Saddened by how badly the educational system had failed these kids I wanted to do something for them. I wrote a letter to Scholastic and they sent over boxes and boxes of books so we could create a library on campus! Around that time I somehow got on the Reading to Kids e-mail newsletter and have been meaning to get involved. I finally signed up and did it! Here's how easy it is to get involved. -Sign up online -Show up (they provide a light breakfast) -Read to the Kids -Do an arts and crafts project with the kids -Go to El Cholo for free appetizers and meet other volunteers -Repeat once a month You can read to kids from kindergarden to 5th Grade. You read in pairs. You get anywhere from 3-8 kids. It's so easy and these kids are so fun to be with, I think everyone should spend one Saturday a month doing this! read more

My second time volunteering had some hiccups with a troublesome kid, but it was still fun and definitely rewarding. Got to meet some new people and this time I was able to make it to the after event at El Cholo and have a few drinks and some appetizers. Even met some fellow Yelpers there, what's shakin' Dawn T. and Megan T.? Thanks to Jessica T. and Jason A. for putting together the Hollywood Bowl event for Reading to Kids! It was my first time and I had a blast! Can't wait until next month and any other side events you guys have going. But seriously folks, this organization is first class and has so many benefits for the kids and you personally. Come check it out, its only once a month. read more

Shsssh. . Here's a secret. . Volunteering at R2K qualifies for the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day Promotion. Yup, just wanted to let you know. read more

Amazing place to volunteer. Everything is 1st class in terms of organization. You just need to sign up on their website, show up, and they guide you through the process. So easy. There's no excuse to sleep in on Saturday morning! I was a new volunteer, so I was paired up with 2 returning readers. We read a book to a small group of Kindergarten kids, then spent some time doing craft projects. The kids are happy and enthusiastic. The other volunteers have such positive attitudes. I truly felt that I was making a difference. This really is a fantastic program. Give it a try, you won't regret it! read more

I am a teacher whose students reap the benefits of "Reading to Kids." My students are excited and cannot wait to attend the Saturday Club held each month at our school Los Angeles Elementary which is located in an underserved area of the city. I personally have helped out a few times, given a parent workshop while the kids are with their reading group, and even brought my daughters to help register the students. This group's activities are a terrific way to encourage literacy! They end by giving each participant a free book as a souvenir for attending. What a treasure Reading to Kids is! read more

Stumbled upon this Yelp listing and I had to write a review on it, even though it's been months since I was there. I volunteered at the Magnolia school. This was my first time volunteering since high school. (Gosh, that was decades ago!) When I first got there, all the volunteers and directors were friendly, so that put me at ease a bit. You had people from all walks of life there: young, old, different ethnic backgrounds. After planning out the types of activities and how to go about reading to the kids, we finally got to meet them. There was a total of 8 kids from 1st grade, 4 girls and 4 boys. I was really worried that they wouldn't like me. (You know kids sometimes can be brutally honest!) But after we got to the classroom and started reading, everything went beautifully~ The girls sat there quietly listening to the story, while the boys.. well, boys will be boys. Haha. They were so hilarious! Overall, it was a great experience. Definitely get out there and volunteer! But be sure to sign up early. The list fills up quick! read more

Volunteer bro. 2013, bro. Let's do this, bro. Teaching kids stresses me out. I would rather play hopscotch, color, run, and leap with kids, rather than force them to learn about Abe Lincoln (the book we read our 2nd graders, coincidentally ..YAWN). The kids who wish to participate with Reading to Kids, however, generally come with a positive attitude and readiness to be read to.. also they give up their precious Saturday, which is hard to do at that age (heck, my age). Specifically with the elementary school we were assigned, the majority of students were from low-income families. Series of events 1. Sign in, get name tag, small little meet & greet with other readers of your assigned grade (we were assigned 2nd grade, teehee). Bagels & orange juice were provided 2. Small orientation of what was expected - safety precautions with recent school shootings, evacuation procedures, etc. I sadly realized there is so much to be alert of, it's quite scary to be a kid these days... 3. Meet with your class. I was paired off with 2 other readers to tag team in reading to the class. Keep in mind that we are all visual learners so a lot of picture discussions are recommended, while reminding them of key topics and words. 4. Arts and craft time from what was learned-- SO MUCH FUN to get artsy with kids, cut out and glue construction paper. Our book was about Abe Lincoln, but the majority of students drifted off into making boats... hmm, a little fail here, but I'd like to believe there are no limitations to one's creative mind. * RTK occurs once a month * Expect to be occupied for the entire morning (9-12) on that Saturday * http://readingtokids.org/Home/main.php .. sign up NOW read more

By far one of the best volunteering experiences I have ever had! I volunteered last weekend to read to the 2nd graders at White Elementary School in Los Angeles. The event was well organized. All the volunteers and coordinators were pleasant, enthusiastic, welcoming and really wanted to be there to share a love of reading with some wonderful children. They had plenty of fresh bagels, juices, and coffee upon our arrival. They gave a promt and informative intro to all of the first timers (I was a first timer and will be sure to return) so we would have an idea of what to expect from the day. The children were delightful and excited to be there and the time flew by. To top it off, there is a little get together at EL Cholo on Western following the event. El cholo provided a few appetizers and chips and salsa. Overall, a WONDERFUL experience that made me feel fantastic. I cannot wait to do it again! read more

Part of my Resolution 08. To give back to the community. I wish I had this kind of prviledge growing up. Like a big brother thing. Everything was already given to the volunteers. The books, art and craft items, and free books are already part of the deal. All we volunteers need to do is give 6 hours of our SAturday morning to spend time with the kids and read to them. Here's to '08. PS: lots of eye candies.. read more

I have tried for so long to find a place to volunteer my time... but I never have been able to find the right fit. Either they didn't need me when I was available (after work and on weekends) or they were so awfully unorganized that I ended up standing around like a dork. Then I found Reading To Kids! Reading To Kids is hands down the most organized volunteer organization I have ever taken part of. Reading To Kids is a once a month program for schools in downtown LA where two adults partner up in an elementary class and read to kids. You read to the kids and then you help them do crafts or other fun activity. From the moment you arrive there is someone there telling you where you need to go. Prior to reading they have a short training and QA session for all the first timers. They then partner you up with someone who has been there a few times so they can show you the ropes. You are able to choose what grade you like to read to, or just let them put you where they need you. They even provide bagels, fruit and coffee to get you started! The people that run it are awesome! You can tell they really love what they are doing. The kids LOVE it!! After the reading is done and the kids have left, they do a Q&A to see if anyone has any questions or comments. After the Q&A everyone meets at El Cholo for appetizers and cocktails! Yum! If you love kids and really want to make a difference, Reading To Kids is a great organization for you! I am looking forward to volunteering with Reading To Kids for a very long time! Join me! read more

Volunteerism is definitely turned into a habit for me. It has been since high school collecting cans of food for the homeless shelters, having different charities that my sorority in college sponsored or even now in my adult life spending some time with Reading to Kids. Kudos for the person(s) who volunteered their time and resources to create such a useful website that any non-profit would be jealous of. It really has been one of the most organized events I have been a part of. I also believe that if you aren't one to have a disposable income, you can still give your time to a cause that you feel worthy. *ok-going to step off the soap box now* When moving to SoCali, I thought it would be difficult to find the outreach programs that I could see as worthy of my time & effort. After looking into a couple of other opportunities, I saw that Theo had posted this event on Yelp. It truly is the easiest event to make fit into your schedule. You don't have to come every month, but it would be nice to. You don't have to participate in the socializing afterwards with lots of like-minded volunteers at El Cholo, but its fun. The name of the organization says it all: you read to kids. Kindergarten to 5th grade. Its this once a month program for me that I get to spend with these kids that I forget about all the other adult problems of bills, relationships, jobs.... you just want to make them happy. You want them to talk. You want them to listen. You just want to make sure you're absorbing it all and living in that moment of super heroes, spaceships, animals and monsters. Its like going away to camp to be a camp counselor and all the sudden the tables are reversed and you have learned more than the kids. Just try it once, you'll be hooked and know that you walked away a better person for it. read more

Reading to Kids is a great organization. I highly recommend anyone who can spare a few hours a month to join. It's rewarding and fun. I look forward to going every month - esp this month with the Disney pass give-away! But of course, the true reward is making a difference in those children's lives. Hope to see you there next month :) read more

You know what is cool about this? It's so easy. You spend the second Saturday morning of each month reading to a bunch of kids. They get free books. They go home and become interested in reading. They go on and maybe stay interested in reading and become more educated, more aware. Their imagination is stimulated. Their vocabulary is enriched. They may become interested in the current world around them or in the civilizations of the past. You may have helped facilitate a skill and love that will persist for the rest of their lives, all of which may not have happened in other circumstances. You go out and still have the majority of the weekend free. A weekend morning to you, but very possibly a lifetime of enjoyment for them. read more

Reading to Kids is an amazing organization and I tell all my friends about it. I have been volunteering for about 7 months now and I'm always excited to go back. It is such a heart warming experience and it's even better when you can see that the kids enjoy it too. read more

Reading to Kids - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Yay! Reading to Kids! This is such a fun event that I miss now that I am not in LA. So fun. All you have to do is dedicate one Saturday a morning a month to go read and do a craft with fun kids. You go to an elementary school in LA, get assigned a partner, and get a group of 3-6 kids in K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade. And at the end, the kids get a book! They offer volunteers complimentary breakfast and then you are invited to socialize at El Cholo afterwards, where they have complimentary appetizer plates. The organization is great at this event, and it's just a feel-good time :-) read more

Considering how Yelping brings light to how selfish & self-absorbed an epicurean lifestyle can be, I felt it worth reviewing this stellar organization. The volunteers were well organized & absolutely fantastic people. Between the emails & informative website to new volunteer training, they are on the ball. I think no matter which location you go, you will see how passionate the people that make up this grassroots organization are. The kids in my class were sweet & adorable and after reading to them, we all sat on the mat making hearts for Valentines. : ) Plus I haven't played duck duck goose in ages & loved it! Sleeping in is good but this is well worth it and I highly recommend it. You will find it really rewarding! read more

Fun. Easy (although patience is an important quality). Low time committment. All around valuable, low-maintenence way to help out. These kids have lots of energy and I think it's valuable helping to show them how to use it positively instead of destructively. I tend to read to the 5th graders, so sometimes they come from a place where reading "isn't cool" anymore, and it isn't something they've been very exposed to, so while it takes time, you can see them valuing it more and more every month. read more

"Does anyone know what sound a fly makes?" "Bzzzz! Bzzzz!" say the students. "What about the sounds that a frog, pig, donkey, or a dog makes?" At once, the students make animal noises over one another. A student offers, "Can I be the sound of the dog? This is how my dog sounds like, "grrrr...grrrr..."" as he growls and furrows his eyebrows. Their eyes light up at the idea of adding their own "music," as their respective animals appear in the book. After finishing the book, the kids take a quick stretch break and move onto the arts and crafts activity: creating "flymobiles," modeling the sample craft provided. When asked if any of them read at home on their own, Nathan, who wastes little time grabbing construction paper to start his project, says he borrows books from the school's library. As his big-round eyes pop out of his dark brown skin, this energetic seven-year old adds, "I have to read in the closet...my baby cousin cries a lot." He is elated to receive this month's prize book, as he flies his flymobile, running rapidly around the classroom and back to the cafeteria; Nathan looks forward to collecting prize books as he has every month, when he and his older brother attend Reading to Kids. This is a typical Saturday morning at Reading to Kids (R2K). I've volunteered at Magnolia Elementary for over two years, often times as the 1st grade level coordinator (GLC). When I first started, I was impressed with how highly organized they were. Even with over 60 volunteers at Magnolia, l never felt like I was just another volunteer and on top of that, the kids make you feel like you're really somebody. R2K is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to spend your Saturday morning because: 1) There is no long-term commitment. 2) Training is provided. 3) It as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. According to the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, in total, low-income children hear only half to one-third as many spoken words, in comparison to children who come from higher-income families. It is fundamental that schools, like Magnolia, have their students be exposed to reading as much as possible. By noon, most volunteers are finished, but others choose to unwind and socialize at "El Cholo" for their free appetizer platters and talk about what else: reading to kids. read more

I didn't feel like they needed me. There are way too many volunteers compared to the number of kids they have and even though you're there for hours, you're only reading for a fraction of the time. Sorry, I know I'm a total party pooper, maybe it's because I don't like kids that much. Now if it were Reading to Puppies....!!! I've done RTK a number of times starting from almost a decade ago when I was a youngster in college. The most recent time was probably a couple of years ago but I just couldn't get into it. I'll look for opportunities elsewhere and I suggest you do too because there are so many other organizations that really NEED your help. This one doesn't; it's already popular enough. read more

Reading to Kids...an amazing grass root program that directly impacts and instill the love of reading within kids. I started 21 months ago and haven't missed a beat since. Every reading club is just as fresh as the first one. Courtney and Faruk are fun people to work with. The kids reaction and faces will make getting up at 8 am on a Saturday morning worth while. I would recommend this group to anyone that desires to be a positive influence for their community. read more

I love, Love, LOVE Reading to Kids. It is such a basic concept, you just read to kids. Its so simple and so rewarding. Its totally unobtrusive in that it is only once a month. I have found that the school you volunteer at can make an enormous difference in your 2nd Saturday of the month. So, go- and if you don't have a superb experience, try a new school next month! read more

I've been working with Reading To Kids for over 3 years now. There are very good reasons for that. First and foremost, it's all about the kids! When their eyes light up with anticipation and excitement when I'm nearing the epilogue of a story (altering my voice according to the characters, of course), it truly warms my heart. Knowing that our reading to them is contributing to their oral language skills, along with their auditory and comprehension aptitudes, makes each reading club something truly special. The arts and crafts after the reading sessions are even more fun, and I get to admire all these little burgeoning artistes, expressing themselves with crayons and construction paper; exhibiting their personalities through color, creativity, and cooperation. I really love it! Talking with the kids about their lives and interests is great too. Once accepted as more of a friend than an adult, they really open up the conversations to you, often in very impressive ways. Some of their observations about the stories we read are quite insightful, and have occasionally been surprisingly poignant. What kids come up with these days, I swear! I really love engaging them in conversations about the stories through relevant questions, and then letting them go off on their own tangents, often times sharing personal stories and experiences that really give me the impression that we're making a difference in their reading comprehension abilities, and how they can relate to books on a personal level. Reading to Kids as an organization is a wonderful thing to be a part of, and the volunteers I work with are great people to be around. I find many of my fellow volunteers share similar interests, and even though the commitment is fairly minimal when put in perspective, I'm still impressed that so many people come back month after month, and get involved with our events and planning so often. There's some damn good people 'round here, I tells ya. Yesterday I attended Hamburger Mary's Legendary Bingo Night, benefiting Reading To Kids for the night, and had a great time. It was just one of several special events put together by the Reading To Kids team, and there seems to be another event going on every few weeks these days! Volunteers are given the opportunity to get involved with every aspect of the organization, from strategic planning, to curriculum, to volunteer recruitment (Co-Chaired by yours truly, in case you've got some questions). After the monthly reading clubs, all of the volunteers from the different schools we read at are invited to gather at El Cholo on Western Ave. to relax, chat, and enjoy some free appetizer platters, courtesy of the fine folks at El Cholo, and their undying love for us volunteers. Just a note to those who partake of this gratis abundance: PLEASE TIP! We like to give love back, ya know? Reading To Kids is a great opportunity to have a great time doing something easy, fun, and extremely beneficial to kids. Give it a try. I bet you'll come back. GRATTS ELEMENTARY ROCKS! read more

This is a wonderful activity. The kids are terrific. I've been doing this on and off for about 3 years. One little boy didn't finish his craft activity - I told him he could finish it at home. "I don't have crayons at home" he told me. That's when I realized how critical their time with us was. I just assumed all kids had access to crayons and paper to express their creativity. Never assume, that's the lesson I learned. The orientation they provide is excellent so no need to feel nervous if you're joining for the first time! read more

I have been volunteering with Reading to Kids for over five years. I've never been involved with a program that has not only enriched my life but the lives of the students that we read to, the schools and the downtown community. For new volunteers and those interested - Check out the reading to kids website (www.readingtokids.org). The website is very straight forward and easy to navigate. Signing up for reading clubs takes no more than five minutes. The site also has aids to help you prepare for the Saturday club. Come join us and share your love of reading! read more

I haven't done any volunteering in such a long time, that when I found Reading To Kids, I was thoroughly excited to get down to it. I love books. And I think I'm okay with kids, I think. For first timers, they do a little orientation to get you up to speed on the process. This I found really helpful and successful. You're usually separated into pairs to take a small group of kids of the same grade level to one of the school rooms for the session. The first half of the hour, you're reading a few passages to them. The second half of the hour, the kids get to get all artsy craftsy and make cute drawings and things related to the book. Yes, you're allowed to get all artsy craftsy too. It's really great to connect with these kids, and to see them smile as you read to them and you're using your storybook voices. You know, where one minute you take on the high pitched damsel in distress voice, then the next, you're the deep voiced knight in shining armor to the rescue. Plus, you connect with the other volunteers as well! I've been so busy lately, and I haven't had a free Saturday in a while (except for this one... :) ) But I definitely want to come back and do this again. read more

It's what all the cool kids are doing on the second Saturday of every month. Get onboard: www.readingtokids.org read more

R2K is such a great organization and a fun way to really make a difference in kids' lives. I've volunteered about 20 times at Hoover Elementary when it was one of the reading sites, and man are those kids excited to be read to on a Saturday morning! They're all great but I have a soft spot for the second graders. They think you're sooo cool! (I still have drawings from "my" kids with notes like "You're the best teacher!") R2K's concept is to foster a love for reading and developing reading comprehension skills by creating art projects related to the story. It's the most rewarding feeling to see these kids' eyes light up when you open the book and captivate them with your story telling. I love it and truly miss it (maybe I'll check out a new school next month!). Oh, and these kids (many of whom are from not-so-great neighborhoods in LA) get to take home a book to add to their personal libraries at the end of the reading circle. How great is that?! Check it out - you won't regret it :) read more

The "easy," but valuable volunteer experience ... I have been a reading to kids volunteer for two years, and this is one of my first reviews on yelp. I joined reading to kids as part of a new year's resolution to contribute more to the community. I enrolled on the website and was given clear directions to the school. I arrived on Saturday morning, I went to training, and was reading to third graders by 10 am. The experience was great! The children were enthusiastic about reading, the other volunteers were friendly, and getting breakfast was an added benefit. I have stayed with reading to kids for a number of reasons. *The clubs are always the second Saturday of the month, and if you cannot make a Saturday or two, its ok. You will be very excited to return the following month. *The kids are great - and after a few clubs, you will see returning kids that will recognize you and say the most endearing things! *The other volunteers are "good people." It nice to be reminded of the truly nice people out there - especially after a week of commuting on LA freeways. *And of course, the main reason I stay, the reading to kids' staff is awesome! read more

Do you want to do something that is rewarding, noble, and just plain fun! Reading to kids is the place to be! Why? The kids are open to learning and listening. Volunteering is a noble cause. The kids always remember these sessions! read more

R2K is a wonderful organization. I heard about this agency last summer, but I only came around and began volunteering this past March 2012. Already, I've enjoyed working with the kids. The volunteer staff at Politi Elementary, where I go to read, is enthusiastic, though sometimes so busy at each grade level that after a (very short) orientation, the newbies are often left out or without introductions to returnees. In any case, I am a supreme advocate of literacy, and I believe R2K has the potential to really go somewhere great not only as a grassroots org but also as a nonprofit agency. It serves a great community of kids and families in Los Angeles. R2K already uses its volunteers very, very well, but I believe it can leverage our experience even more. I look forward to continuing my work with this organization! read more

On the second Saturday of every month I take a few hours and get to make a difference. I have been volunteering with Reading to Kids since 2001, and since you only sign up for one month at a time, it's been flexible enough to fit with my schedule. What's kept me coming back (40 times so far!) has been how happy the kids are to be there on a Saturday morning. You can see each month the positive impact it is making in the kids, and volunteers lives. Sign up on the web site is easy, and make a difference in your community, and your life. It's worth not sleeping in! read more

I've been volunteering since the school year began last year. I try to make the commitment to going each month but I have missed a couple while I've been away. At first I was terrified about the planning but after one session, I was fine. I wanted more interaction with kids and I'm getting it! The kids are eager to learn and have fun. They think it's funny that I sound funny and don't speak spanish. Though I know a few words and have made it clear I understand when they are calling each other names. Ha ha! Each Saturday is different and sometimes the kids are more into certain parts of the reading and crafts sections or have ants in their pants at different stages and you may need to refocus them. The mix of kids is slightly different so you always have the various personalities. The reading/craft part is from about 10 - 11:30am. The rest is kind of filler but the organizers are not about to let you run wild with a bunch of kinds with no training :) There is an intro for newbies and a refresher for returning volunteers around 9am. Once you and your reading partner meet, you can sort out the plan and crafts for the session. There is probably too much time spent here but I like chatting with the other volunteers. There is a quick catch up after and then there is lunch afterwards. I've not been to the lunch yet. Anyhow, I enjoy my time spent here and if it helps the kids to love reading and become better at it, I'm all for it. Also, you can be as involved as you want to be. They are always looking for people to pitch in more but I have commitment issues. I am just a reader :) read more

Wow! Before moving to LA, I used to volunteer and was afraid that I couldn't replicate my experiences in this big city. Boy, was I wrong. Reading to Kids has proven to be my salvation. I was seduced by a friend who was involved and have been volunteering ever since. The organization is all run by volunteers without any ponderous top-down management. The people are fantastic and the group is a run like a fine-tuned machine. The website answers most any question a volunteer might have and reminds you when the next event is occurring. It is very flexible, so that if you are unable to volunteer for a particular month, it's not a problem. In fact, you can start and stop participating at will. They meet once a month - on the second Saturday - and it's over by noon, so your Saturday is still intact. And following each reading club, the volunteers are invited to gather at El Cholo restaurant to gab, eat, drink and compare notes. I could ramble on and on about the great things about Reading to Kids. I urge anyone who is looking give something back to visit the website and register to try it out (www.readingtokids.org). If you don't like it, then no harm, no foul. But I'd bet soup to nuts that you'll fall in love with it like I did. read more

At my job, we talk about the WIIFMs - what's in it for me. So let's talk about the WIIFMs for Reading to Kids. What's In It For The Kids o A free book. Even if they wanted to read at home, most of them have no age-appropriate reading material there. One of the teachers at the school where I volunteer said that she taught migrants in the Central Valley and they had more reading material in their homes than her kids do. o A fun experience with reading. Another teacher told me that No Child Left Behind has squeezed all the fun out of reading during the school day. o A more stimulating experience than video games or Saturday cartoons. o Occasional special events that complement the monthly theme like musical performances, magicians and visits from Santa Claus. o A chance to hang out with cool volunteers. What's In It For Volunteers o A chance to make a difference (even a small one) in a child's life. o The glow of children's smiles. o Observing the wonderment of discovery as kids get into the book and the story. o Lots of warm fuzzy or laugh out loud funny moments. o Maybe a special handmade card or present from the kids. o Maybe some exercise from dancing the hokey-pokey or playing duck duck goose. o Breakfast (often with Starbucks coffee) and munchies at lunch. o A chance to hang out with cool volunteers. All of this can be yours for low low price of three hours on one Saturday morning a month. We call that great return on investment. read more

Reading to Kids is a fantastic program! Volunteer to read to these kids on a Saturday morning and you'll be so impressed with how excited the children are about reading. These are sessions that the kids make a conscious choice to attend and are so enthusiastic about the program as well as appreciative of a positive role model like you taking the time to read with them. I challenge you to volunteer and guarantee you'll be happy you did. read more

Get on this quick! This is a very popular volunteer opportunity. Chances are spots will be filled up a month before each session. There are 6 LAUSD schools and 6 grade levels to choose from. Here is the rundown: New volunteer orientation starts at 9am for about 30 minutes. New volunteers are assigned with an experienced volunteer. Regular volunteers can arrive around 9:30am. For the last Saturday of summer, each volunteer team had at least 2-4 kids with them. Expect about 20+ kids for each team during the regular semester. 8) Reading is from 10am-11:15am. Everyone gets together around 11:15am to conclude everything. I chose to read to kindergarten kids at Magnolia Elementary School. It felt very nostalgic the moment I stepped into their auditorium, sat in the teeny tiny chairs, and read what else - Babar The Elephant. We had 4 kindergarteners - 3 cute girls and 1 hyper-wandering-the-room-crawling-under-tables still cute-in-his-quirky-way boy. The reading part went by quick and lasted about 20 minutes. We did arts and crafts for the rest of the session. I was worried that the kids would get tired of arts and crafts for 40 minutes but they absolutely loved it! This is a fun, easy and personable volunteer opportunity. Become a regular, attend 10 times, and you might just earn yourself a certificate with animals and gold stars. read more

i finally got to volunteer for reading to kids...and i'm glad i did! it happens every 2nd saturday of every month. they have a short orientation for the first-timers. i missed a part of it...cuz (ahem, ahem)...my carpool buddy was late. but all good...i was able to catch a small part of the orientation. the kids are separated by grade levels. i didn't select a specific grade when i signed up so i was assigned to 4th graders. i was a little intimidated at first but it wasn't so bad. i got partnered up with another newbie who was super cool! we had 4 kids. the theme that day was superheroes....and i LUVVVVVV superheroes!!! so i was super excited! we read a few chapters to the kiddies and i think we got a little carried away with the book... the kids started gettin bored but i wanted to know what would happen next! one of my kids busted out his PSP and was showing the other kid something. i had to go into mom-mode right quick and gave him the "look" and put my hand out palm up. he quickly put the PSP back in his pocket. oh well.. i should buy the book myself.. haha. we hurried to make our superhero masks before it was time to head back. this is really an awesome program for the kids. they get a story read to them, play with some arts and crafts, get free books, and then gather in the auditorium for raffle giveaways. i got caught up in all the excitement. it was great! afterwards, all the volunteers from all the schools get free appetizers at el cholo and a chance to mingle. it's a win-win situation! read more

thanks theo for this chicken soup for the soul. i came to this thing, very tired, groggy, aggravated, stressed, and in a bad mood. a terrible way to start the day and i would hate to carry that over to the kids. they say at my gym, leave all your stress at home, do not take it out at the gym. it shouldn't be a way to release. but the kids, kids have a weird affect on me. they relax me. they make me so relaxed i normally fall asleep. all the volunteers made it so easy, all we had to do was execute. and they were all personable and happy and welcoming it became contagious. but the best part were the kids. the kids, man everything makes them happy. life is just fun to them. at first they didn't know how to be around strangers, but by the end i made 4 new friends. we did have a cryer and i blame my yelp partner cj for that. i myself just have a way with kids, its probably cuz i am one. we did a lot of warm ups and cals, and had them running and yelling and jumping and kicking and punching and oinking and rolling on the ground. we also did crafts. they also get so involved in the reading and make up their own stories. they always need more volunteers, some of us do it for a group, some of us like myself do it just for our own benefit. we just want to contribute to our future leaders. the kids were so great, just made my day and i totally forgot about anything else. very few times i am ever really there, you know your mind is somewhere else or you don't care or pay attention. but with the kids i was just there, with them, right then and now. amazing. afterwards theres drinks and appetizers at el cholo. i guess thats when you can mingle with the other volunteers, especially the cute ones. but reading to kids is not a dating site! but afterwards during el cholo, it can be a drinking and eating site! read more