BookPALS is built on the well-known concept of “pen pals” and targets reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The overarching goals are to increase children’s reading and language skills and motivation to read while building bridges between students who come from very different socioeconomic communities. Second and third graders from under-resource schools participate, along with peers from different communities.

Volunteer experience: 

Serve as a reading mentor to small groups of 2nd graders to motivate them in their reading and support them in being reading proficient by 3rd grade. We meet with children right at their schools in Washtenaw County, and online through Zoom! Volunteers commit to working with children for at least one half of the school year. 

Donations:

$25 provides a group of BookPALS their books for one month of the program.
$100 provides an entire classroom with their personal, leveled reading books.
$300 supports the purchase of the BookPALS “shared” books for an entire school.