Student Spotlights

Read about two of our students' successes and progress with YES Reading this year!

DeJion

In December, our YES Reading students participated in our bi-annual Reading Recital, which calls for our young readers to rehearse a text selection and present it in front of an audience.  DeJion, a 4th grader and avid Star Wars fan at Belle Haven, was especially nervous to read in front of a group of people. He decided to choose Bunny Cakes, a familiar and comfortable "Read Aloud" book his tutor had read a few weeks before.  There were several words in the story, such as “squirters” and “grocery” that were difficult for DeJion, but with practice he was able to read the entire selection smoothly.  With only a few days left before the Reading Recital, DeJion decided to forgo the safe book, and challenge himself to read from a more difficult book, a book more aligned with his interests - a Star Wars book!  Although he had little time to prepare, his tutor encouraged him to take on the challenge.  As a result of this support, DeJion confidently read Star Wars Episode I-Dangers of the Core on the day of the Reading Recital.  We are so proud of you DeJion!

Julia

Julia is a sweet 1st grader who started the program this year at a pre-K reading level.  She struggled with her alphabet sounds and only knew a handful of sight words.  Initially, Julia’s teacher worried about her even learning the alphabet, but notes that she is now making great progress and is considered to be one of the top writers in her class. She can write complete sentences and is able to read short books on her own. Recently she has been commenting on the books she has read with her tutor, and asking lots of questions, in a fashion similar to the character in her favorite book, Curious George. At Selby Lane’s latest Reading Recital, she read from the book Big and Little. Julia’s mother was in attendance, and was glowing after Julia’s performance. Excellent work Julia!

Volunteer Spotlights

Susan Anthony

Susan is a dedicated tutor who began volunteering last year at YES Reading's Horace Mann Reading Center. Earlier this year, she also began tutoring 4 students at the new Montague Reading Center. Students love to come and work with Susan, who listens intently to the students' stories, and is continually trying to help students make connections to the stories they read together. Her friendly nature, gentle demeanor, and knowledgeable instruction make for a winning combination at YES Reading! 

Why did you become a volunteer with YES Reading?
" I chose to volunteer for the Yes Reading Program for several reasons.  As a former teacher, with Reading Literacy training, I wanted to combine these interests and skills with..."

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Sue Buff

Sue began tutoring at Mariano Castro Elementary a little over a year ago. To ensure the success of her students, she has elected to tutor each of them 3 days a week. Jamie, a 5th grader, and Selena, a 3rd grader know how lucky they are to work with Sue. She has been a supportive and dedicated volunteer, committed to helping her students succeed. Sue's effectiveness with her students has helped them build their self-esteem and confidence in reading. This is what Sue had to say:

Why did you become a volunteer with YES Reading?
"I was previously involved with a mentoring program for at-risk youth and really enjoyed the experience helping children.  I was looking for..."

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Winter Reading Recitals

In December, each of the six YES Reading Centers hosted a Winter Reading Recital to celebrate the achievement and accomplishments of all of our students. Families, friends, tutors, and teachers gathered to honor the 240 students who stood bravely in front of audiences to read their selected pieces of literature.

Each student spent time with his or her tutor preparing for the recital.  Students carefully selected a passage, practiced difficult vocabulary words, such as “chlorophyll” and “marshmallow”, and rehearsed public speaking skills.   Students picked from a wide range of literature, including brilliant pieces of poetry by Shel Silverstein, as well as passages from books...

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A Letter From YES Reading's Board
YES Reading Welcomes a New Executive Director

Dear Supporters of YES Reading,

As some of you already know, this January as we rang in the New Year we also welcomed a new Executive Director to YES Reading.

Michael Lombardo comes to us from the University of California, Berkeley where he served as the youngest Director of Scholarships in campus history.  During his time at Berkeley, Michael built the largest alumni volunteer network in the country, bringing together thousands of Cal grads nationwide to handle an unprecedented surge in scholarship applications...

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