Literacy Volunteer

The Early Childhood Volunteer Program, is a literacy program in which individuals and corporate groups volunteer in preschool classrooms with three- and four-year old students. During their visit, volunteers participate in reading aloud with students in a one-on-one arrangement for three 15 minute intervals. The reading sessions take place at the students’ school during the school day. Once a week, adult volunteers travel by school bus to their designated school. Volunteers are greeted by a school coordinator and meet their students in the designated classroom. Volunteers commit to the Early Childhood Volunteer Program for one school year and are encouraged to continue year after year. Currently, we have a program established at Peabody Elementary School (1444 W. Augusta Blvd.) that runs on Wednesday mornings. We are looking to start programs on Tuesday mornings at Haugan (4540 N. Hamlin Ave.) and Hibbard (3244 W. Ainslie St.) Elementary Schools as well as a program at Gladstone Elementary School ( 1231 S. Damen Ave.) on Thursday mornings.

Classroom Assistant: Classroom assistants, comprised of retirees, homemakers and community members, formed the backbone of the WITS program during its initial years. Classroom assistants are assigned to one teacher/classroom and may choose to tutor and mentor one-on-one with students, in small groups or as a whole classroom. Once a week, in 3- or 4-hour sessions, adult volunteers travel to an elementary school and to their designated classroom. Classroom Assistants are visited at their school throughout the year by a WITS Program Manager. Volunteers commit for one school year and are encouraged to continue year after year.


Contact: Marvin English @ 312 606-2039 or marvin@witsonthewe.org